Press Release: Decision on Proposed Psychology Assistant Role
Press Release START
The New Zealand Psychologists Board’s statutory responsibility is to protect the public and ensure safe, effective psychological care. This decision on a proposed role has been made with that responsibility at the forefront.
The Psychologists Board has carefully considered the proposal to establish a new Psychology Assistant role within Aotearoa New Zealand’s health regulatory framework. After consultation, review, and refinement, the Board has determined that the proposal is sound and that the role can be introduced with clear safeguards in place.
The next step is the development of the training programmes that may be considered for accreditation by the board and extending the board’s accreditation framework from its current format. There will be further consultation on this out to the public and profession, and this will include consultation on the proposed prescribed qualifications for the Psychology Assistant scope of practice . The Psychologists Board will continue to engage with the profession, employers, and consumers to support safe implementation and to monitor the role’s contribution to improving access and mental wellbeing outcomes.
The concerns expressed by some psychologists reflect the deep commitment of the profession to protecting the public and maintaining high standards of practice.
To inform its decision, the Board undertook two phases of consultation: an initial survey in late 2024, and a full six-week consultation in 2025. Input was gathered through surveys, written submissions, and focus groups, including a consumer group convened with the support of the Health Quality & Safety Commission. There were 441 submissions, a mix of individual and group submissions contributed their views.
The Board wishes to emphasise that every submission was read and considered. Consultation was an important step in shaping the proposal. Several refinements were made during development, directly in response to the feedback received.
The main concerns voiced through consultation were:
- Workforce substitution risk — that some services might replace current psychologist positions with assistant roles which require less training and budget allocation.
- Supervision pressures — the risk of overburdening psychologists already stretched by workforce shortages and demand.
- Career development — whether the role would provide meaningful progression or become a “dead end” rather than a pathway to becoming a psychologist.
These are serious concerns, and the Board has weighed them with care.
The Board’s reasoning
After analysis, the Board concluded that the Psychology Assistant role is:
- An avenue to improve access to mental wellbeing and addiction supports — specially for people with mild or less complex needs, who often wait a long time to receive support.
- A role to be structured for safe, team-based care — the role cannot exist outside a team which includes a registered mental health professional; ensuring oversight and integration into multidisciplinary health care.
- A response to workforce shortages — enabling psychologists to focus on complex work while assistants support the wider service.
Psychology Assistants are not psychologists and the name Psychology Assistant has been chosen to avoid any confusion about this. The scope of practice for Psychology Assistants has been designed to remain clearly distinct from that of registered psychologists. Assistants will not diagnose, formulate, or practise without supervision.
The Board recognises that concerns about substitution and supervision are genuine. For this reason, strict safeguards have been built into the scope proposal:
- A defined scope of practice that does not duplicate or replace psychologists.
- Mandatory supervision for all Psychology Assistants.
- Where any additional tasks are carried out by Psychology Assistants under delegation from their supervisors, supervisors retain professional accountability.
The Board also acknowledges the concern about career progression. While the role is not yet positioned as a guaranteed pathway to becoming a psychologist, experience gained may support individuals who later choose to pursue further post graduate training.
The Board received a wide range of feedback. Some practitioners saw potential for the role to strengthen teams and increase reach. Consumers provided mixed views — some believed the role could increase access, while others expressed concern that it might be a barrier to receiving care from a registered psychologist.
The Board has carefully weighed perspectives and remains committed to monitoring the role’s impact once implemented.
The decision to proceed with establishing the Psychology Assistant role and scope of practise has not been taken lightly. The Board acknowledges the passion, expertise, and dedication shown by registrants and academics in engaging with this process, even where views diverged.
The Board thanks all who contributed their views, acknowledging the robust dialogue. Where perspectives differ, the shared goal remains the same: improving the wellbeing of people and communities across Aotearoa New Zealand.
ENDS
