The University of Otago’s psychology assistant training programme has been delayed a year after it failed to gain accreditation in time for its planned Semester 1 start. The Auckland University of Technology and the University of Canterbury have both confirmed their respective courses are on track for Semester 2. But many in the sector opposed the training going ahead at all; fearing psychology assistants could replace the more rigorously-trained psychologist workforce. The one-year postgraduate diploma was developed as part of efforts by the Government to train 500 more mental health professionals a year.   A year ago, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey announced the new psychology assistant role, saying they would help ease workforce shortages and ensure more people are receiving the support they need. It would also offer an opportunity for psychology students who graduated with an undergraduate degree to continue pursuing a career within the mental health and addiction workforce.   Those who completed the training would become registered health professionals working under supervision within services, with the goal of freeing up registered psychologists to focus on more complex cases.   At the start of last month, Doocey told Newstalk ZB the three universities were developing programmes for the Psychology Assistant training pathway.     The University of Otago was working to start their programme in February while Auckland University of Technology and University of Canterbury were on track for a Semester 2 start.   But two weeks later, Director of the University’s Clinical Psychology Programme, Associate Professor Richard Linscott, confirmed the first intake for the Postgraduate Diploma in Psychological Assessment and Intervention programme was now expected to be at the start of 2027.   Despite being ready to run the programme this year, the University was still awaiting a formal response to the application made to the New Zealand Psychologists Board in November.   The Board said the process for all applications involves a detailed review against its published standards, which might include requests for further information or clarification.   When Newstalk ZB put the delay to Matt Doocey, he said the Board operates independently and makes decisions separately from him.     He also reiterated his earlier belief that Auckland University of Technology and the University of Canterbury courses would go ahead as planned.   Doocey expressed confidence in the programme making a real difference, calling it a common-sense move. He said widening the pipeline into psychology could help drive down  vacancies, reduce wait times, and improve outcomes for New Zealanders in their time of need. Many in the field, however, felt it warranted significantly more thought, especially before psychology assistants were rolled out into the public domain. Vice President of the New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists, Laura Barkwill, said the predominant concern was the risk of these graduates filling up vacancies for registered psychologists. She said the Government and our health service should instead be looking into why so many psychologists are dropping out of the public system. Barkwill pointed to a lack of clarity over the psychology assistant’s place within services, which patients they could work with, and  whether their supervising psychologist would be present or remote. She also questioned the rigour of the training, noting clinical psychologists, in comparison, undertake Masters or Doctorate-level training and supervised practice over several years, covering clinical assessment, formulation, diagnosis, and evidence-based, psychological interventions for specific difficulties. The programmes set to start Semester 2 would involve a blend of online and in-person teaching, as well as practical experience, and require at least a Bachelor’s degree in psychology fo...