The grant program will support provisional psychologists to practice by increasing the availability of internships.

The Australian Government has announced a total of $47.6 million over three financial years from 2026-27 for Addressing Critical Psychology Shortages - Supporting Provisional Psychologists to Practice extension.

This grant opportunity was announced as part of the Australian Government's election commitment to provide funding for an additional 1,500 one-year internships for provisional psychologists in the '5+1 training pathway' - a pathway to general registration which involves a five-year sequence of accredited study (e.g. Master of Professional Psychology) followed by a one-year internship.

This pathway is hindered by a lack of supervised internships available and the cost of these internships to interns, supervisors, and practices. Funding will be available in 2026-27 and is anticipated to support approximately 500 internships each year until 2028-29.

To be eligible you must be one of the following entity types:

• Indigenous Corporation (registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and /or Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006)
• Company
• Corporate Commonwealth Entity
• Non-Corporate Commonwealth Statutory Authority
• Corporate State or Territory Entity
• Non-corporate State or Territory Entity
• Non-corporate State or Territory Statutory Authority
• Local Government
• Cooperative
• Incorporated Association
• Sole Trader
• Statutory Entity
• Partnership
• Person, or
• Unincorporated Association.

Applications can only be accepted from above noted organisations that meet all the following criteria:

• organisations that have experience operating in the mental health sector
• organisations that have established, or access to, networks and relationships with psychology graduates to source and engage 5+1 candidates for internships, and
• organisations with demonstrated networks and connections across the mental health service provider landscape to facilitate internships.

• Email: Grant.ATM@health.gov.au