Psychology master’s students across Australia are profoundly impacted by the lack of payment for their required placements. By the time students begin their Master’s programs, they have already completed a minimum of 4 years of study and often carry significant HECs debts. Many struggle to support themselves financially while dedicating hundreds of unpaid hours to clinical work. Students report skipping meals, moving back in with parents, or even putting their studies on hold because they cannot afford rent. This unpaid structure creates a significant barrier, preventing many talented and passionate individuals from pursuing psychology unless they are financially privileged. The consequences extend to the Australian public: with a critical shortage of psychologists and long waitlists, many people are unable to access mental health care when they need it most. This financial burden, on top of the tens of thousands of dollars students already pay in tuition fees, discourages future psychologists and worsens an already dire situation for mental health services.

If unpaid placements continue, the mental health crisis in Australia will deepen. Millions of Australians experience mental health conditions each year, with alarming rates of suicide and untreated mental illness. Without addressing this issue, the pipeline of future psychologists will remain limited to those who can afford to study, exacerbating workforce shortages and leaving vulnerable populations without access to timely care. On the other hand, if placements were paid, more students could pursue the profession without financial hardship. This would help alleviate the shortage of psychologists, reduce waitlists, and ensure a more equitable system where anyone with the passion and capability to study psychology can do so, regardless of their financial situation.

Immediate action is necessary. Nursing, midwifery, teaching, and social work students have recently been granted paid placements after Education Minister, Jason Clare, introduced new legislation. This was a long-overdue recognition of the essential work they contribute while still in training. It is unacceptable that psychology students, who play a critical role in addressing Australia’s mental health crisis, continue to be overlooked. The inequity between professions cannot be allowed to persist. With mental health services in high demand, there has never been a more critical time to support psychology students so they can help the Australian public. Paying students for their placements is not just fair—it is essential for the future of mental health care in this country.

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