Expanding Clinical Training and Supervision Programmes for Students of Clinical Psychology to Increase Future Headcount in Public Healthcare System
Ministry of HealthSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Mr Leon Perera’s inquiry on expanding clinical psychology training and providing financial support similar to medical tuition grants to increase public healthcare headcount. Minister for Health Gan Kim Yong stated that the government is reviewing national supply plans, noting that public sector psychologists grew 4% annually to reach 190 by 2020. He highlighted various financial aids, including the Healthcare Graduate Studies Award, NCSS scholarships, and the newly introduced 2020 NUS-Mental Health Counsellor Scholarship. Local Master's programmes currently intake an average of 27 students yearly, while students can also utilize Post-Secondary Education Accounts or apply for overseas recognized programmes. In-service psychologists may further their education through the MOH In-service Scholarship or the VWOs-Charities Capability Fund to acquire recognized post-graduate clinical psychology qualifications.
Transcript
9 Mr Leon Perera asked the Minister for Health whether the Ministry will consider (i) expanding clinical training and supervision programmes for incoming, existing and graduating students of Clinical Psychology with the goal of increasing future headcount particularly in the public healthcare system and (ii) facilitating access to tertiary education for current and potential psychologists and counsellors through financial support along similar lines to the various tuition grant agreements available to medical and dental students at some local universities.
Mr Gan Kim Yong: Locally, the National University of Singapore (NUS) and James Cook University (JCU) Singapore offers Master’s programmes in Clinical Psychology. In the past three years (2018 to 2020), both schools took in a combined average of 27 students per year. There are also overseas programmes recognised by employers.
As of September 2020, there were 504 psychologists registered with the Singapore Psychology Society1. Within the public healthcare sector, the total number of psychologists and clinical psychologists increased by four percent annually, from about 160 in 2016 to about 190 in 2020, as a result of ongoing efforts to expand psychiatric and counselling services. The Government, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, is also reviewing the national supply plans for psychologists.
There are various schemes available that provide financial support for students pursuing local and overseas studies in clinical psychology. MOH Holdings offers the Healthcare Graduate Studies Award (HGSA) which covers tuition and other compulsory fees, monthly allowances and approved developmental courses. The National Council of Social Service (NCSS) also offers scholarships and awards for psychologists joining the social service sector. Students in the NUS Master of Psychology (Clinical) Programmes could tap on their Post-Secondary Education Account (PSEA) to pay for the programme fees. They can also apply for the NUS-Mental Health Counsellor Scholarship, which was newly introduced in 2020.
In addition, in-service psychologists working in the public healthcare sector can apply for MOH In-service Scholarship (ISS) to take up a Master’s programme in Clinical Psychology. Similarly, NCSS also offers support for in-service professionals to acquire recognised post-graduate psychology qualifications though the VWOs-Charities Capability Fund (VCF).