Full title: Widening participation across the undergraduate program: increasing access to internships for students with a caring responsibility or a disability, and supporting international psychology students.

The presentation details findings from two research projects that aim to widen participation in psychology among students with a disability, caring responsibilities, or those that have acquired English as an additional language.

We acknowledge that Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) experiences develop beneficial professional skills (Jackson & Dean, 2023). However, only around 12% of students engage in these experiences at The University of Adelaide; this is due to competing demands such as caring responsibilities, or a disability (Lasrado, Dean & Eady, 2023; Peach et al., 2016). To address this, the first project reports on an interview study that drew from three stakeholder groups (students, past students, and internship hosts), to explore ways to widen access to psychology internships. The goal was to explore how the internship could address core inclusion and diversity concerns (Boye, 2022; Itano-Boase et al., 2021). Recommendations were co-created with students to increase flexibility among interns with caring responsibilities or a disability. These recommendations were presented to hosts to discuss feasibility/consensus. A series of resources were then developed to support increasing flexibility among internship experiences. Importantly, resources were created to scaffold and support students in advocating for their needs with hosts.

The second project also co-created solutions with Students-as-Partners (Kaur & Newell, 2024). The focus of the project was to identify ways to increase the diversity of the undergraduate student population. Psychology, as a STEM+ field, has a reputation for being English language-heavy. For students that have learned English as an additional language, studying psychology is a challenge. However, international students bring valuable cultural knowledge and can bridge language-barriers for future clients. In a multicultural community context, they are valuable practitioners (Borrego, 2018; Callahan et al., 2018). Solutions for supporting these students through psychology will be presented. Key recommendations for postgraduate admissions panels will be raised, as well as targeted writing support services, and building a sense of community for international students in psychology.

Dr. Willow Sainsbury will give an overview of the unique landscape of educational psychology in New Zealand (Abraham et al., 2015; Jimerson et al., 2009). She will outline the practice model used by educational psychologists and the strengths of attempting to decolonise psychology, including being culturally affirming and responsive. Dr Sainsbury will unpack ecological, inclusive, collaborative, and holistic indigenous models of practice (Abraham et al., 2015; Berman et al.; Escott & Abraham, 2021; Macfarlane & Macfarlane, 2015). She will highlight challenges of learning support in New Zealand and dichotomies between private and public and teacher and family expectations of educational psychology practice (Abraham et al., 2015; Hood, 2024). Dr Willow Sainsbury will subsequently present the preliminary findings of the 2024 survey of educational psychologists, which repeated the key questions from the previous survey from 2006 (Jimerson et al., 2009). These findings might shed further insight into the educational psychology landscape in New Zealand. The survey's purpose is to ensure there is evidence to support a training curriculum that fits the current needs in the field. These needs might include supporting neurodiversity, understanding current key skills and gaps, and using artificial intelligence (AI) in educational psychology. It is hoped that the evidence from this study will lead to innovation in training educational psychologists at a tertiary level, which is greatly needed to support this in-demand occupation in New Zealand

This session will illustrate clear and effective pathways for training and achieving aspirations in the psychology industry. This presentation will provide aspiring psychologists with a comprehensive roadmap, blending theoretical knowledge with practical, real-world applications.

Participants will engage in interactive and immersive learning experiences designed to enhance their understanding of the various training pathways available. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the skills and strategies necessary for a successful career in psychology.

The presentation will address and provide solutions to the primary challenges faced by practicing psychologists, including:

1. Sourcing of Clients: Strategies to build and maintain a robust client base, generate wait lists, and expand referral networks.

2. Administrative Support: Efficiently managing administrative tasks to focus on delivering exceptional service, and creating effective processes, procedures, and tools.

3. Flexibility and Creativity: Balancing work-from-home, office, and telehealth options while innovating in service delivery.

By the end of this presentation, participants will understand how to navigate the complexities of running a psychology practice. They will learn how to leverage both the autonomy of a sole practice and the support of an existing practice for optimal results.

This session is designed to:

A. Equip aspiring psychologists with practical tools and strategies to overcome common challenges.

B. Foster a deep understanding of various training pathways and their real-world applications.

C. Empower participants to build successful, fulfilling careers in psychology through innovative and flexible approaches.

Be prepared for an engaging and enriching experience. We aim to provide attendees with the knowledge and confidence to achieve their professional aspirations.