1,000 signatures reached
To: South Australian Government
Save SA Public Sector Psychology
Public sector psychology in SA is in crisis. We are underfunded, understaffed, and undervalued.
We are the lowest paid public psychologists in the country. Salary differences between SA and interstate psychologists range between 10-40%. As a result, public psychologists are walking away from the public system - and those who stay are being pushed to breaking point.
There is already a critical shortage of psychologists in hospitals, mental health, education, child protection, and community services. This is worsening each day. Some public services today have up to 50% vacancy rates for psychology roles.
The SA Government's enterprise bargaining offers till now have failed to fix the issues we've raised in years. We need real solutions, not more delays from Government.
We require a better deal in the current enterprise bargaining. SA Government must properly address remuneration, recruitment and retention issues, show respect for psychologists’ skills and training and the value we add to the public service, and ultimately not let the public miss out on essential psychological services.
Why is this important?
Public psychologists provide specialist assessment and treatment to people across the lifespan.
We are essential for:
- learning assessments, determining special school placements, behavioural consultancy, and mental health support in schools
- developmental and autism diagnostic assessments in hospitals
- mental health assessment and treatment for children, adolescents, adults, and older persons in hospital and the community
- psychological and neuropsychological assessment and treatment in hospitals and community settings, for physical health and rehabilitation.
- child protection and forensic assessments for children and young people where there is suspected abuse and/or neglect
- forensic assessments in juvenile justice and adult corrections
- psychological support for perinatal, infant, and child and youth community health
Imagine not having psychologists in the SA public sector to meet these critical needs! South Australians don't deserve to miss out on specialist care. Instead, they are being forced to go without or to access psychological assessment or treatment from the private sector which we know is unaffordable for many.
Without our vital psychological services in the public sector, there will be even more pressure on the health, education, and child protection systems, and it places vulnerable children, adults, and families at further risk. There will be more children on wait lists for diagnostic assessments while missing out on important early intervention, and vulnerable adults will not have the care at the time they need it and fall into acute mental health crisis. SA cannot afford to increase ramping pressure or allow our children to fall behind.
SA psychologists feel privileged and honoured to serve the public; but now we ask for your assistance and support to keep our workforce strong and thriving so that we can continue to help you in the future.
Join the campaign. Sign the petition and let the SA Government know that you want them to respect psychologists and save public psychology.