Government-backed Graduate Psychology Internship Program addresses Australia’s critical mental health workforce shortage while providing substantial financial assistance to host agencies
The Cairnmillar Institute has announced enhanced support for organizations seeking to host psychology interns through its Graduate Psychology Internship Program (G-PIP). With funding from the Australian Government’s Department of Health and Aged Care, the program provides up to $9,000 in combined subsidies and incentives for metropolitan placements, with even greater support available for regional and remote locations.
Australia faces a significant mental health workforce crisis, with only 10 percent of interested students currently completing the required postgraduate pathway to become registered psychologists. The G-PIP initiative directly addresses this shortage by removing financial and logistical barriers that have historically prevented provisional psychologists from completing their registration requirements.
“The demand for mental health services across Australia far exceeds the available workforce,” said Dr. Jennifer Bossio, Dean of Academic Programs at The Cairnmillar Institute. “Through G-PIP, we’re creating a sustainable pipeline of qualified psychologists while making it financially viable for organizations to expand their capacity to serve communities in need.”
The program offers host organizations three key financial support mechanisms. First, a supervision subsidy provides up to $6,000 per intern when supervision is delivered by the host organization. Second, an onboarding incentive of up to $3,000 assists with integration and setup costs. Third, for placements in regional, rural, and remote areas classified as MMM3-7, organizations can access up to $14,400 annually to support intern relocation expenses.
Beyond financial assistance, the G-PIP reduces the training burden on host organizations through comprehensive educational support. Every intern receives 60 hours of online Continuing Professional Development and 30 hours of group supervision provided by Cairnmillar at no cost to the host agency. This external support structure ensures interns meet their educational requirements while allowing organizational supervisors to focus on practical, site-specific training.
The program prioritizes placements in high-need areas, with approximately 50 percent of internships directed toward First Nations communities, culturally and linguistically diverse populations, regional and remote locations, youth mental health services, child and family services, and community-funded mental health programs. The remaining placements support community-funded services at state and federal levels and organizations in MMM2 regions.
Importantly, host organizations maintain complete control over their recruitment process. Organizations have direct access to provisional psychologists actively seeking placements but make all final hiring decisions according to their standard practices. This ensures interns align with organizational values, service models, and client needs.
“We’ve designed G-PIP to be a true partnership,” Dr. Bossio explained. “Organizations get the support they need to expand services and contribute to workforce development, while maintaining autonomy over who they bring onto their teams. It’s a win-win approach that benefits providers, interns, and ultimately the communities they serve.”
The program runs until June 2027 and is available free of charge to eligible organizations. Interested agencies can register at any time, subject to funding availability. All G-PIP interns have completed an APAC-accredited fifth year course in psychology and hold provisional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia.
Research indicates that many organizations find interns who successfully complete their G-PIP placement become valuable permanent team members upon achieving full registration. This creates a long-term recruitment pipeline while addressing immediate service delivery needs.
The Australian Government’s investment in the G-PIP reflects broader national commitments to ensuring Australians can access mental health services when and where needed. By supporting both interns and host organizations, the program tackles systemic barriers that have constrained the growth of Australia’s psychology workforce.
Organizations interested in learning more about hosting a G-PIP intern or registering their interest can visit The Cairnmillar Institute website or contact the G-PIP team directly.
About The Cairnmillar Institute
Since 1961, The Cairnmillar Institute has been at the forefront of delivering foundation training in counselling, psychotherapy, and psychology. As one of Australia’s pre-eminent centres for psychological services and education, Cairnmillar is committed to advancing accessible, high-quality mental health care across the nation. The Graduate Psychology Internship Program represents the Institute’s ongoing commitment to strengthening Australia’s mental health workforce and ensuring quality care reaches communities where it is needed most.