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A Commentary on the Current and Future Status of Educational and Developmental Psychology in Australia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 May 2013

Linda Gilmore ,
Janet Fletcher  and
Alan Hudson
Linda Gilmore*
Affiliation:
Queensland University of Technology, Australia
Janet Fletcher
Affiliation:
University of Western Australia, Australia
Alan Hudson
Affiliation:
RMIT University, Australia
*
Address for correspondence: Linda Gilmore, Child and Youth Research Centre, Queensland University of Technology, Victoria Park Road, Kelvin Grove QLD 4059, Australia. Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Educational and developmental psychology faces a number of current and future challenges and opportunities in Australia. In this commentary we consider the identity of educational and developmental psychology in terms of the features that distinguish it from other specialisations, and address issues related to training, specialist endorsement, supervision and rebating under the Australian government's Medicare system. The current status of training in Australia is considered through a review of the four university programs in educational and developmental psychology currently offered, and the employment destinations of their graduates. Although the need for traditional services in settings such as schools, hospitals, disability and community organisations will undoubtedly continue, the role of educational and developmental psychologists is being influenced and to some extent redefined by advances in technology, medicine, genetics, and neuroscience. We review some of these advances and conclude with recommendations for training and professional development that will enable Australian educational and developmental psychologists to meet the challenges ahead.

Keywords

educational psychologydevelopmental psychologytrainingfuture directions
Type
Article Commentary
Information
The Educational and Developmental Psychologist , Volume 30 , Issue 1: Educational Psychology: Looking to the Future , July 2013 , pp. 1 - 12
Copyright
Copyright © Australian Psychological Society Ltd 2013 

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