Don’t make this NPE mistake

The NPE is a source of great stress and pressure. You may study for weeks/months (if not longer) since you stress about failing. Luckily there’s a lot you can do to prepare. You may spend time doing practice questions, for instance the Psychology Squared Kahoot! questions and perhaps attend our amazing NPE study group to prepare. OK, enough of the shameless plugs!

If you fail, the consequence is a 3 month delay until you can resit, another whopping fee and ongoing pressure to keep your study knowledge current. Read on to avoid some common mistakes.

Some more inadvertent mistakes may be forgetting to study all the curriculum material, forgetting to do practice questions or not dedicating enough time to getting prepared. Study smart. Talk to people who have done the exam and get tips.  Did we mention that you should do lots and lots of multiple questions?

However, we think it’s also important to realise that it’s a big mistake to sit the exam at home (if this can be avoided). You may be confused here! Stay with us.  We'll explain. You may have the option to either do the remote option to sit the exam at home, or to sit the exam in an examination centre.

You may be tempted to sit the exam from home due to the convenience of not having to travel to the exam centre. However, there are many problems with sitting the exam from home: 1) The checks to ensure you aren't cheating are significant, time consuming and frustrating. 2) If there are technology issues, you need to wait and wait for these to get resolved, and 3) There are countless and growing examples of assessee having 'technology fails' whereby some kind of internet disconnection has led to them failing the exam. If you sit the exam from home and this happens, we suggest you contact AHPRA immediately to seek a free re-sit, however this may be only in 3 months time.  However, if you need or want to sit the exam at home, allow extra time before starting to ensure you have the right emails handy with the right link for the exam, that you have tested your internet, installed any necessary software, checked on your antivirus protection won’t block your access or know how to troubleshoot it if it goes down, have a back up plan of using your mobile phone as a hotspot, ensure your work area is clean and tidy for them to check your workspace, sit the exam on a day that you can spent time contacting AHPRA and don’t sit the exam on the last day.  That way, if there is a chance to resit due to issues, you have enough time before the end of that exam period.

Our advice: Don't risk it. Go into the exam centre. If you live far from one, make it a 'holiday.' Take the time to prepare, rest and relax and take your NPE on a sunny day in some exotic location!

Good luck with your studies- remember, review your options, and plan ahead.. It isn't worth it for all the risks and hassles involved. Stay safe and be smart when you sit your NPE!

Here are some links to other useful resource to support your NPE studies:

1. Our helpful Free NPE Bookfinder

2. Our comprehensive NPE peer-facilitated study groups

3. We have up to 121 multiple choice quiz Kahoot! questions

4. AHPRA website with more information on NPE
   

When should I sit the NPE?

So you're on the 4+2 and 5+1 journey and perhaps overwhelmed by many tasks, requirements and deadlines. You may be wondering when you should complete the National Psychology Exam (NPE).

We're glad you asked!

 AHPRA would like you to sit the NPE during the 6th year of your studies. For a 4+2 intern, this is in your second year and after 1500 hours of supervised practice. Whereas, a 5+1 intern can sit the NPE anytime while doing their supervised practice, as this is their 6th year. 

 For more information see:

https://www.psychologyboard.gov.au/Standards-and-Guidelines/Codes-Guidelines-Policies/Guidelines-for-national-psychology-exam.aspx

If you are completing the 4+2 you cannot complete the NPE in the first year of your internship (5th year) and you will need to have your client-direct and client-related hours total above 1500 hours. Therefore, so long as you've done the 1500 hours, then the earliest you can sit the exam is at the beginning of year 2.

If you are completing the 5+1 pathway, and you are in the internship year (i.e. the 6th/+1), then you can complete the exam just about any time.

However, there are some strategic considerations that might be helpful to determine exactly when you should complete the exam.

1) Don’t leave it too late

The NPE is run more or less quarterly. Leaving it to one of the last tasks can really drag your internship out, particularly if you don’t pass the first time. Some people also study and decide they are not ready to site the NPE when they were expecting to. You could also end up in a position where you have completed all the AHPRA tasks (e.g. case reports) and

you don't want to be delay your registration waiting for the next exam sitting or your results. Therefore, what we suggest is you estimate a date you want to complete your internship and work backwards to determine the most suitable time you want to sit the NPE.

Let's just say 1 April 2024 you decide you'll be done with all your tasks and other internship requirements. Therefore, work backways to determine when would be the last time to sit the exam. This may help you decide your exam date:

On the Psychology Board NPE website https://www.psychologyboard.gov.au/Registration/National-psychology-exam.aspx , the closest exam period prior to 1 April 2024 should be around February 2024 (dates not yet released). AHPRA may take 3-6 weeks to finalise the exam marking so, we don't want this to delay our internship (you will still need to submit your end of provisional paperwork). However, to be sure to have your NPE marked prior to 1 April, you may want to do the 30 October – 17 November or even 31 July to 18 August. Also, some provisional may consider building in a buffer in case of failing the NPE.

2) Don't sit it too early

Ensure you have enough time to study and prepare for sitting the NPE.

Consider what knowledge and skills you need prior to the exam in order to ensure your adequately prepared to sit it. This is because if you don't pass the NPE on your first attempt, then you need to re-sit it which comes with considerable cost, stress and significant extra effort if you're not ready.

3) Understand the main assessments needed in the exam

You probably want to have used or at least studied the psychometric assessments before attempting the NPE. In the 4+2, you are required to reach competency in 9 assessments. Try to ensure you have an in depth knowledge of these assessments before attempting the NPE. That way your knowledge and study from having completed your psychometric tests will help you with the exam.

4) Don’t forget about case reports.

Many interns have a preference to sit the NPE before finalising their case reports. The case reports take a lot of headspace and each is like a mini-thesis. So your ordering of NPE first then finalising the last or several of the case reports may be your chosen order or you may prefer to pace yourself.

5) If you want to get the NPE over with early

If you just want to get the NPE over and done with, you can take it in the first eligible sitting available to you. This might be a good choice if you are feeling confident and have been exposed to many of the requirements of the NPE. We would always recommend you review the exam curriculum and other documents first before making this decision.

https://www.psychologyboard.gov.au/registration/national-psychology-exam/curriculum.aspx

These are some considerations that may assist you in determining when to sit the NPE. If possible, we suggest sitting your exam well before the end of your internship. That way  you’ll have sufficient time to study and should there be an unexpected delay with the NPE, it won't hold up the completion of your internship. Most importantly though, make sure you are well prepared prior to the exam by having done practice questions or attended one of our NPE study groups. Good luck!

Things you can consider to support your exam preparations

• Psychology Squared have practice NPE questions to improve your confidence available here

• We also have NPE study groups where are a great way to get ready for the NPE exam. You can enrol anytime as there are recordings accessible.

• One on one peer-facilitiated discussions on exam preparations. Contact David at Psychology Squared to organise a session.

•  Amanda Moses also runs exam prep and has her own questions. See: https://www.amandamosespsychology.com.au/  

The AHPRA 4+2/5+1 renewal form blog: Guide

Here are some tips to make the AHPRA 4+2/5+1 renewal form [Form:ARPR-76] easier to complete and to ensure you don’t make mistakes that can delay your renewal. The purpose of this form is to renew your provisional registration, ensuring you can continue practice and therefore complete your internship! If you do not have an active registration then you cannot work as a provisional psychologist.

While most of the form is straightforward, there are common mistakes that provisional psychologists make when completing this form and at worst, they may not be allowed to work for a while because they haven’t managed to renew in time. 

Let’s discuss each section step by step.

The most common issues for interns are:

A.2 - Inadvertently NOT renewing registration on page 4

C.9 - If you do NOT have any complaints against you that you are aware of, select “N/A”

See below for more details on this.

This first section is asking you about whether or not you want to renew your registration as a psychologist, provisional or otherwise. Therefore, you are formally advising them via this form what your intentions are. Read this section carefully, so that you don’t make an error.

A.1: Complete this section If you wish to renew your registration as a psychologist/provisional psychologist/registered practitioner. Complete this by putting a cross in the box: ‘I wish to renew my registration’.

A.2. If you DO NOT wish to renew your registration, complete Section A.2. You will need to enter your name, sign and date it. To be clear, DO NOT complete A.2 if you wish to stay registered!    We’ve found that some supervisees get A.1 correct but A.2 is mistakenly completed by provisionals who wish to maintain their registration (they should instead leave it blank).

Sections A.3 to A.7 are all about your personal and contact details. Check what’s already there, answer the appropriate sections and make the necessary amendments:

 A.3: Enter your personal details i.e., date of birth, country of birth, city/town of birth, state/territory/province of birth.

A.4: Check whether your contact details currently held by the board are correct. If ‘yes’, mark the box ‘yes’.
 If not, select the box ‘no’ and make those amendments.

A.5: Check whether your current residential address is correct. If yes, mark the box YES.
If not, select the box ‘no’ and make those amendments.

 A.6: Check whether your principal place of practice details is correct. If yes, mark the box YES.
 If not, select the box ‘no’ and make those amendments.

A.7: Check whether your mailing address is correct. If yes, mark the box yes.
If not, select the box ‘no’ and make those amendments.

Section B: Provisional registration requirements.

B.1. Indicate YES if you are currently undertaking an internship in the 5+1 or 4+2 internship program. If you select ‘no’, got to the next question.

B.2: indicate whether you are currently enrolled in an approved postgraduate qualification that is accredited at fifth year level or higher. If you select ‘YES’ you must attach an academic transcript, enrolment record or letter from your Head of Department confirming your current enrolment. If you select ‘no’, you cannot renew your provisional registration.

Section C: Mandatory – Annual Statements

This section is about your AHPRA mandatory requirements such as recency of practice, indemnity insurance arrangements, impairment affecting your capacity to practice and criminal history.

C.1: If you have had large gaps in your practice  (minimum of 250 hours in the past five years) or you feel that you have not completed the minimum number of hours, you will need to indicate ‘no’ and provide details of why your recency of practice requirements have not been met. Otherwise, select ‘yes’.

C.2: You must always have professional indemnity insurance. Sometimes this is covered by your employer and other times you may be required to organise this yourself. Whatever the arrangement, double check these details and respond accordingly.

C.3: Again, this is about the board’s professional indemnity insurance. You will likely need to commit to this to be able to practice.

C.4: If you have an impairment that detrimentally affects or is likely to affect your capacity to practice, you will need to note the details here. Otherwise, mark ‘no’ and move to the next section.

C.5: If there has been any change to your criminal history in Australia, you will need to declare it in a written statement that has been signed, dated with accompanying proof of identity.  Otherwise, mark ‘no’ and move to the next section.

C.6: If there has been any change to your criminal history in one or more countries, you will need to obtain an international criminal history check. Then  note the details with their respective reference numbers from each country and provide the details on the form. If you require more space than has been provided you can attach it as a separate document. You must also attach a written statement with the details of any change to your criminal history, in each of the countries listed and an explanation of the circumstances.  Otherwise, mark ‘no’ and move to the next section.

C.7: Here, you must declare whether, in your preceding period of registration, your right to practise at a hospital or another facility where health services are provided has been withdrawn or restricted because of your conduct, professional performance or health. If not, mark ‘no’ and move to the next section.

C.8: Here, you must declare whether, in your preceding period of registration, your billing privileges have been withdrawn or restricted. If not, mark ‘no’ and move to the next section.

C.9: If there are or have been any complaints against you, this will need to be disclosed. You will need to provide the details of these complaints to AHPRA as a separate document. If you are not aware of any complaints, select N/A and move to the next section.

It’s very often an issue that interns select “yes” or “no” for C.9, which for most interns is not a correct response. 

Section D: Consent and declaration.

 -                   Before you sign and date the form, check all the sections again. Re-read through the statements and ensure the answers are correct or have been responded to the best of your ability.

D.1: Your principal supervisor will now need to complete this section.

You’re almost at the end!

Consent to nationally coordinated criminal history check. On this page, you are being asked to consent to a national criminal history check. Please read through this page and then complete the declaration at the bottom.

Section E: Payment.

Now you just must pay the fee! Enter your credit card/bankcard details at the bottom and that’s it! You’re all set for your registration to be renewed!

Pro tip: Do not send your credit card details here to your supervisor.  It is not necessary for your supervisor to have your credit card details, so you will forward these details to AHPRA, not your supervisor.  Leave it blank when you are sending it to your supervisor for their signature.

I hope this has helped you demystify the form.  Good luck.

Step by step guide to the 4+2/5+1 internship (PART 1: Job seeking and starting in your role).

The 4+2/5+1 internship has lots of steps, forms, requirements and processes. We hope to provide you with some useful insights so you can feel more prepared with getting started and getting comfortable in the internship. Lots more below!

Job seeking and starting in your role

1)  Research: Research the type of internship that you are interested in. Find out what types of internships are available and determine which one will work best for your goals. Consider what is your preferred work area (e.g. Occupational Rehab, NDIS, Mental Health or School counselling). Would you prefer to work with adults or children?

2) Know what type of requirements you need in a job role as a 4+2/5+1 provisional psychologist.  I.e. it must be employment (you cannot be a contractor in the 4+2/5+1), you need a day manager and professional indemnity insurance.

3) Prepare: Before applying, prepare all relevant documents to ensure a strong application. This includes a resume, cover letter, recommendations, and any other materials required by the employer.

4) Start applying for jobs. Utilise online job boards, personal contacts, networking websites, LinkedIn, and other resources to identify potential employers.

5) When you are offered a position for a 4+2/5+1 internship, be sure to read through the formal agreement carefully. Make sure that you understand all terms of the contract before signing it.

6) After signing the contract, seek out the appropriate resources to help you succeed in your new role. This includes finding a Board Approved Supervisor, attending professional development, training modules, and, building relationships with other interns or mentors.

To learn how to find a supervisor-->Blog coming soon

7) Get familiar with your role: You'll need to know: where to find the forms you need such as informed consent/confidentiality, consent to exchange forms, initial intake and assessment proformas. You’ll also need to identify who your day to day management is and know who to go to when you need help in different kinds of situations. Ideally, your role will allow you opportunities to shadow other clinicians, administer tests and interventions, work with a range of client groups as well as provide you with a caseload so that you can improve your professional practice in a supervised setting.

8) Once you are comfortable with your role, start doing it!  Learn how to complete your AHPRA log book effectively (with your supervision).  Psychology Squared have an amazing Log Book which can automate a number of calculations for you.  See here.

9) Celebrate successes: As you gain experience in the internship, use it as an opportunity to learn new skills, develop existing ones and work towards self actualising professionally.  This means considering your preferred areas of learning and setting up good routines.  In due course, you may also develop a preferred client base of particular age groups (e.g. adults or children), or diagnoses.  Your current workplace may already have a particular niche.

10) Consider joining a Professional association for Psychologists (e.g. the AAPI or the APS). More on this soon.

Part 2: Coming soon

Why Group supervision is super helpful

Individual supervision with your principal supervisor is a main supervision requirement for the 4+2/5+1, however it can be helpful to shake things up.  Consider how you can make things more motivating and interesting for you by including a range of types of supervision to your monthly mix.

Group supervision is helpful for the following reasons (see below):

1) You hear from a range of perspectives.

Group supervision provides you with a chance to hear from a range of perspectives from provisional psychologists working within a range of areas, which can provide valuable insight on different approaches or strategies to solve problems.

2) You receive constructive feedback in a (somewhat) non-judgemental environment.

Fellow provisional psychologists are sympathetic to the learning experience and can provide honest, but not necessarily critical feedback.

3)  With the focus being on other provisionals, you can sit back and take the opportunity to learn through the experiences.

4) The price: Group supervision will always be more affordable since the cost of supervision is typically less than individual supervision.

5) You get exposure to questions you may not have thought to ask but would benefit from the answer. 

Group supervision can certainly be a valuable addition to your principal supervisor and provide an informal exchange of ideas with other provisional psychologists in the same stage as you.  Even if fellow group members are behind you in the internship process, they may ask more fundamental questions that make you question your process (e.g. in areas you may have become complacent about). If fellow participants are more advanced, they may give you some emotional preparedness of what's to come.  If you're feeling a little stuck in your work and supervision, think about incorporating group supervision into the supervision mix. Group supervision offers time for reflection and consideration of best psychological practice in a supportive and constructive space. 

You can access group supervision by contacting:

a) Psychology Squared here

b) Amanda Moses: See https://www.amandamosespsychology.com.au/

c) The Provisional Psychologist Hub offers group supervision https://www.provisionalpsych.com.au/

Reflecting on Reflections!

You have to do a fair bit of reflecting within the 4+2, 5+1 internship, so it's important to have some ideas of what to reflect on; how to reflect; and, what your supervisor's expectations may be.  You have to reflect as part of your weekly activities, e.g. within the log book (for the 5+1) or depending on which log book you use.  The Psychology Squared log book, purchasable here, includes a reflection section within the log book for your ease of use, but if you prefer, the AHPRA reflection sheet is also able to use if you wish to keep them separate.  You also need to reflect within the Case Reports.

What sorts of things should I reflect on? See below.

There are lots of different broad areas to reflect on:

Personal/Self-reflections:

1) What do I find personally challenging?

2) What do I like about this experience?

3) Where can I improve in all areas?

4) How have I grown as a person from my experiences?

5) How was some part of my personal identity affecting my role in client work?

Reflecting on assessment, for example:

1) How did the assessment process go?

2)  What did you learn from the process?

3) What did you find challenging in the process and what strategies do you have to manage this?

4) How could other stakeholders be utilised?

5) Did any ethical or administrative issues arise and how were these handled?

Reflecting on interventions:

1) How did this intervention work or not work for your client?

2) Was there anything about the intervention that surprised you or made it ineffective?

3) Was the modality of treatment suitable?  Why or why not?

4)  What did you learn from the experience?

5) How could this have been done differently or more effectively?

6) How did perpetuating factors perhaps affect the impact of treatment?

Reflecting on communicating:

1)  How effectively did you communicate with the client?

2) What could have been done differently to improve communication between yourself and the client?

3) How was the relationship with the client? What could have improved your therapeutic alliance?

4) How were reports made to be more appropriate for the audience?

5) How could you have been more clear and concise with your communication?

Reflection is a crucial part of the internship experience.  It helps you to grow and develop as a clinician, while ensuring that you are delivering the best possible care for your clients.  The more thought you give to your reflection, the more valuable it will be.

The Psychology Squared log book, which has heaps of features to make your internship easier, also has lots more suggestions for reflections- it's just $33.00 To purchase See here:

What does a secondary supervisor do (in your 4+2/5+1)?

It can be very confusing knowing how to distinguish between activities that are to be completed with your principal supervisor and what are to be completed with your secondary supervisor.

Let's clear this up (see below).

Firstly, it's important to note that any time with your secondary supervisor is generally optional.  However, here are some important considerations around how you involve your secondary supervisor:

1) How available is your principal supervisor?

If you can't meet your required supervision ratio with your principal then it's likely you will need to utilise your secondary (or secondaries) to obtain sufficient hours of supervision.

2) Are there specialised learning needs that your secondary supervisor can assist with?

If your principal supervisor is unable to support areas of learning that you require, you should try to book in time with your secondary supervisor.  You should identify your learning needs and aspirations and seek supervision from your secondary to gain this specialised assistance.  Likewise, they may have specialised knowledge in the 4+2 or 5+1 internship - e.g. in completing case reports or assisting with assessments.  econdary supervisors may therefore be helpful in charting your career development.

3) There's no limit to the number of secondary supervisors you can add so if you find it more beneficial to have multiple secondaries to get the most out of your internship, then this is easy to action.

4) What if your principal supervisor were to disappear tomorrow?

If you are heavily dependant on your principal supervisor, it's a bit problem if they get sick, overbooked or for a variety of possible reasons, are just unable to continue with you.  Therefore periodically touching base (e.g. 1 session every few weeks) with a secondary is helpful, to just have them on top of how you're progressing.

In summary, secondary supervisors can play a great role in ensuring that you make the most of your 4+2/5+1 internship. 

Psychology Squared are available for principal and secondary, individual or group supervision.  Contact us here if interested.

Self-care

Arguably, the most important part of surviving 4+2/5+1 Psychology internship is remembering self-care.

The workload demands are significant, the internship requirements are unrelenting so it is critical to remember that you are valuable and deserve time for yourself. Although there will never be enough hours in the day, carving out a small amount of personal time can help keep your sanity and make the internship much more manageable.

Think for yourself about what self-care means for you.  This is especially important if you're feeling run down and fatigued. It could mean focussing more on breaks, remember to undertake social activities, or keeping fitness time in your week.

If the stress becomes too much, consider talking to your supervisor or a psychologist.  It is important to remember that seeking help is not a sign of weakness.  Mental health support should always be utilised if needed - especially when it comes to surviving the 4+2/5+1 Psychology internship!  Seek out people who can act as mentors or provide advice, and just talk to those you trust.

Overall, taking care of yourself is a priority when it comes to surviving 4+2/5+1 Psychology internship.  It can be hard to balance the demands with your personal wellbeing but by considering self-care early on in the process, you will be able to stay balanced and keep up the momentum.  Remember that the internship is a marathon.

If you'd like some hints and tips for getting started in the 4+2/5+1 internship see here

This is more of a joke, but if you need some light hearted ideas around coping with the log books, see here

More practical tips for completing the log books are here

Blog: Why Peer study groups are a great way to prepare for the NPE

Full transparency- Psychology Squared run NPE peer study groups currently running quarterly. So we're a little biased because we think they're great. 

You can sign up for $184 (Early bird price) or full rate: $264 which you can sign up for here: 
So you're studying for the NPE and anticipating many more hours slogging away and not making much progress because there's just so much? Don't worry, there is a better way and that's peer study groups! More details below

 10 reasons why NPE peer study groups are the way to go.

1) Peer study groups allow you to hear from people who have sat the exam, have thought deeply about ethical situations, assessments, interventions and modalities of communication within the field of psychology.

2) You can learn from their insights which will make your study more effective.

3) Peer study groups provide an opportunity to ask questions, discuss scenarios and are interactive throughout. 

4) Your motivation may increase through others asking their own questions or through the consideration of issues and relevant readings.  Likewise, when peers disclose their challenges, you can work together to understand unfamiliar concepts.

5) You can also learn from your peers who may have a different perspective, experiences, and background to you. They may have spent more time studying sections you didn't dedicate as much time to.

6) The Psychology Squared peer groups are recorded so you don't have to stress about missing a session.  We strongly encourage you to try to attend but totally understand if sometimes it is too hard to make it.

7) The groups are based on the NPE curriculum and each week is dedicated to working through learning areas systematically.

8)  The facilitators have generated a number of novel scenario-style questions that are responded through facilitated open discussion to help hone in your applied knowledge.

9) The groups are short and sweet, typically only an hour long for the content weeks and two hours for the scenario discussion weeks, so you don’t have to set aside too much time to reap the benefits.

10) Our peer group is affordable: only $184 (Early bird price) or $264 (Full rate)

To join the NPE peer study group, please sign up here: 

By the way you can access NPE online practice quizes for a fee and there’s a free NPE book finder and lots more here:

Hope to see you there.

Effective Communication Skills

Effective communication skills are important tools that can help you get ahead in life. They allow you to express yourself clearly, listen closely to the other person, and build strong relationships with others.

Frequently, our clients find that their communication with others is not working well.  They may find that they tend to get into conflicts easily, that they are not getting their needs met, that they are lonely and can’t make friends ,or, they have a history of broken relationships. 

Learning to improve communication style is often very helpful in enabling people to gain confidence and improve their self-esteem.  It also helps people to feel in control of their interactions with people and to be more effective, while being authentic. 

There are 3 main styles of communication: 

• Aggressiveness or aggression

• Assertiveness or assertion

• Passivity

Aggressiveness

When you are being aggressive, you put your needs before the other person’s.  It seldom works as it often results in two people in a confrontation with each other. 

An extreme form of aggression is war, for example.  It can seem harmless as in teasing but can be an aggressive act if it humiliates or makes the other person uncomfortable.  Sarcasm is another form of aggression and sulking is passive aggression.

Aggression may work, for example, where someone is threatening you and is not willing to listen to reason, but, on the whole, aggression is to be avoided.

Passivity

 A person is being passive if he puts the needs of others before his own. This may work well for a while, for example, where you always go to the restaurant your friend chooses or you always agree with his opinions. 

The problem with being passive is, that resentment can grow and passive people often have a build up of anger and resentment that may be expressed sporadically in a burst of temper or nastiness

Assertiveness

Assertiveness involves standing up for yourself while still respecting the other person. Assertive communication can help you get your point across effectively, without resorting to aggression or being too passive. 

Assertiveness is the communication style that works best most of the time.  It doesn’t work all the time because some people may react adversely whichever communication style is used.  It is, however, the one that has the best chance of getting a positive result.  In assertiveness we take care of both our own needs and the needs of the other person.  We are after a ‘win win’ situation. 

What should the first supervision session involve?

There's a lot to be discussed in supervision in terms of the AHPRA requirements, client presentations and your plan for the internship.  However, what is a priority?  How do you know where to start as a new provisional psychologist (or new supervisor)? Lots of ideas are below:

Well, we're here to the rescue with some ideas:

1) Supervision Agreement.

You should come to an agreement with your supervisor about what supervision involves. What time is billable? Is there support between sessions?  When are log books reviewed?  Some supervisors prefer to do this between sessions.  Need a supervision contract?  We have you covered here.

2) Task planning

There's a lot to know so why not be organised from the beginning.  Discuss what tasks are required when. What is sent to AHPRA? What isn't?  What needs to be completed weekly? You should discuss what should be completed in the first 6 months, second etc.

3) Develop a plan for addressing main learning needs 

Discuss and prioritise learning needs with your supervisor..  For example, new graduates especially need to develop skills in risk assessment.  They need to know what questions to ask.  What forms to use?

4) Discuss the log book requirements

The importance of this can't be overstated because starting early means you don't fall behind.  Discuss what constitutes direct client work,  client related and how you like the log book to be completed.

It helps that there's a totally amazing log book here put together by Psychology Squared to potentially save you hundreds of hours and much heartache. 

Soon thereafter, ensure you discuss

5) The Professional Development Learning Plan

A professional development plan should be established at the first supervision session.  This should include a plan for the year, including any courses you might want to do, or conferences and events you may wish to attend.  Any resources that your supervisor can provide are also invaluable in helping you become a better clinician. There AHPRA professional learning plan is here under the 4+2 section:

https://www.psychologyboard.gov.au/Registration/Forms.aspx

6) Start looking at practice documents

This helps to ensure that the quality of your written work up to a professional standard.  Discuss and review the documents that you have written so far (e.g. your case notes, emails to professionals and reports).  It is important to understand what is good practice and what should be avoided.

Must see advice for provisionals sitting the Australian National Psychology exam (for the 4+2/5+1)

If you're sitting the National Psychology Exam soon, you're likely stressed, feeling overworked and perhaps quite worried about failing. This is a very common experience for even the most prepared provisional psychologists. That may not be so comforting sure, but please be assured, there are lots of support options available to you.

Best to start here on the AHPRA site but there lots of other hints and tips below which may help:

https://www.psychologyboard.gov.au/registration/national-psychology-exam.aspx

1) The most important advice we can suggest is the importance of going into an exam centre to sit the exam (as opposed to doing it at home). There are countless horror stories of provisionals having the technology fail mid way through the assessment when completing the NPE at home. Don't risk it. If AHPRA doesn't run any assessments for you locally, perhaps an interstate 'holiday' can be timed for when you have an exam.

2) Join an NPE course or study group. There are lots of options around. We run a comprehensive multi-week peer group program here:

This is available to access live or by accessing the recordings. Check out the NPE page on our website for the next start date: http://psychologysquared.com.au/products-for-provisional-psychologists

3) It is super helpful to get some practice with practice exam questions. Practice exam questions are fantastic because they can help you become more comfortable with thought provoking questions. Plus, it gives you a heads-up on what topics you may need to brush up on. You also get practice in working under pressure and seeing how quickly you can answer the questions, and then manage your time accordingly. If it's been a while since you've sat exams, these practice questions can be invaluable in helping you adjust.

Amanda Moses has produced some awesome questions:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083218767761

Psychology Squared also has Practice quizzes (2 are up at the time of writing but further to come soon) on Kahoot! which are online and practicable with a 2 minute limit per question. Challenge your friends. Details here: http://psychologysquared.com.au/products-for-provisional-psychologists

4) Social media groups. Check out Facebook pages for the National Exam, for example the National Psychology Exam Australia Support page:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1422558734468549

5) Use tools to help with finding Exam resources.

On the National Exam Australia Support page on Facebook, a Google Sheets page offers easy links to the Reading list. Also, the Psychology Squared Book Finder has a direct link to all the NPE books and it's free :)

http://psychologysquared.com.au/products-for-provisional-psychologists/npe-book-finder

5) Plan your learning needs

Have a look at the reading list to decide what you need to prioritise. Identify the key topics that you need to focus on and use a range of techniques to learn them (e.g. use diagrams, make notes, test yourself-as above).

6) Give yourself enough time

Allow plenty of time for studying and practice questions. This is a critical success factor in passing the National Exam, so make sure to build in plenty of time for revision.

7) Seek individual help

If the group supervision mentioned above is insufficient, then consider seeking an experienced Supervisor for individual supervision on the NPE.

8) Get plenty of rest

This is another important factor in passing the National Exam. Make sure to take breaks from studying and get enough sleep each night.

9) Remove distractions

Create a study environment that is free from electronic devices, TV and noise. You need to be able to concentrate when studying for the National Exam.

10) Believe in yourself

It's easy to feel overwhelmed when studying for the National Exam, but try to focus on the positives and don't forget to believe in yourself.

11) Finally, make sure you are familiar with the exam instructions before you begin your examination.

You don't want to waste precious time on the day of the exam reading through the instructions!

Have a great night's sleep the night before your exam and get to the exam centre early.

Good luck and best wishes

How to cope with the AHPRA 4+2/5+1 log books

Please note that this page is intended as a joke to make light of the enormous workload that is the AHPRA log book.

For more practical tips on completing the log books see here

We all know that the AHPRA log books are a lot of work so maybe some hints and tips for coping are in order, let's run through what might help. See the tips below.

1) Defusion strategies

You could say "log book" over and over a hundred times, maybe a thousand. Say it so often the words have no meaning. This way you can 'defuse' the boogeyman that is the AHPRA log book and make it just a little less intimidating.

2) Manage any cognitive distortions

Maybe you exhibit some dichotomous thoughts like "I'll never finish this log book" or "This is too hard, I can't do it". You need to challenge these irrational thoughts and remind yourself that you are capable of completing the logbook, even if it takes a while.

3) Break them down into smaller chunks

Sometimes we can be intimidated by the enormity of a task, in this case it may help to break down your log book into say Part A, Part B and set some small goals.

4) Take a break

Log books can be tedious so it might be a good idea to take a break between logging sessions. Do something fun, like playing video games or doing arts and crafts. Procasti-bake, procrasti-clean- go nuts!.

5) Find a friend

You don't have to go through the AHPRA log books alone. Find someone who is also struggling and work together. Maybe you may find some benefit of the body doubling effects

6) Reward yourself

After every completed log book entry, have a reward. This could be anything from a piece of chocolate to a night out with friends. Doing this will put the focus on the end goal and give you something to look forward to.

7) Keep a positive attitude

Remember, the AHPRA log books are there to help you become a better practitioner. Keeping a positive attitude and reminding yourself of why you're doing it can make the process much more bearable.

We hope these tips come in handy. What's your best tip?

Practical tips for getting through the AHPRA 4+2/5+1 log books

Let's face it the AHPRA log books are no fun. They can take ages to complete, they're required just about every week, and can feel quite repetitive over time.
However, there are some ways to make your life a little easier for powering through them. Spoiler: They don't just go away! So take some steps right away to avoiding falling behind. Here are 8 tips below:

If you wanted some more light-hearted tips for coping with the internship see here

1) Talk to your supervisor about their requirements for the log book right away, ideally before you start in your internship.
You need to know what's required as early as possible. Talk to your supervisor about their expectations. If there's anything you don't understand, ask for clarification.

2) Gather the data from key places

The ideal way to keep up with your log book is probably progressively as you do the work through your work day. However, if you need a reminder or prompt:

a) Check your calendar for what you did during the week

b) Check you client emails and texts for your meetings, appointments. Ensure you put all meetings and work into your calendar

c) Check your notes and billable listings/client invoices

d) Check your invoices for a record of your PD

3) Set aside time regularly to do the log books and stay organised.

It can be very hard to find time to do log books on top of your workload and personal commitments but let's call a spade a spade. Time does not magically appear - you can set aside time before or after your work day, or do them in a batch at the end of the week. It's difficult letting things slide by more than a week because then it's tricky to remember what you did in the week.

4) Day 'off'

Further to the point above, if you have the ability to do a less than full time week, time off could be dedicate to the internship which could include time completing the log books, and other internship tasks (e.g. the Case reports).

5) Make use of the tools and resources around you.

AHPRA provide an example log book on the forms page

6) Consciously take steps to avoid falling behind

Falling behind can make your life extra difficult. It can be hard to remember what you did, you'll stress out your supervisor and this can make it impossible to complete your progress report until you've caught up.

Log books are a required part of the internship so if you fall particularly far behind, I suggest taking leave from work to catch up.

7) Talk to peers

Speaking to other provisional psychologists may help you understand how others managing the log books.

8) Shameless self promotion

You do not just have to use the AHPRA log book. It can be very fiddly and requires a huge amount of unnecessary extra work.

The Psychology Squared log book will save you hundreds of hours as it has these features:

a) Track your internship progress. You can see pretty graphs and percentages of your progress

b) Automatically generates the numbers you need for your progress report

c) Auto-calculates totals for client direct and client related time, PD, supervision

d) Allows you to create a client master list so you don't have to keep writing new client information

e) Hints and tips on what constitutes client related and client direct activities

f) Lots more :)

See here: It's just $33 (inc GST)

Welcome to the 4+2/5+1 Pro Tips by Psychology Squared

Welcome to the Psychology Square Pro Tips page. We know how hard it is as a Provisional Psychologist to get the information you need to know about the 4+2/5+1 internship programs. We hope to provide lots of helpful information.

Psychology Square pro tips can help you navigate the complexities of the 4+2/5+1 internships. We provide essential information on getting started, coping with the internship requirements and everything you may need to know to make the internship as stress-free as possible.

Over the next few weeks, you’ll be able to find answers to questions such as:

- What forms and documents do I need to complete getting started? Here's the AHPRA link for the main forms you'll likely need.

- What does the timeline for the 4+2/5+1 internship program look like?

- How do I complete the log book?

-What does supervision look like? What supervision options are there?

-What should I expect after I've successfully completed my internship?

-What are the most helpful resources for your internship?

-How do I overcome imposter syndrome?

We will also provide advice on how to make the most out of your internship experience, such as fostering relationships with supervisors and peers, setting goals and objectives, seeking feedback and professional development opportunities.

There are heaps of resources for Provisional Psychologists here.

Have a browse and take advantage of all the content we have to offer. Lots more articles to come. What would you like information on?

Comment below :)

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