Overview
Clinical neuropsychology is one of the nine psychology areas of practice defined by the Psychology Board of Australia. Practitioners examine how brain conditions affect cognition and behaviour. Examples of these conditions are traumatic brain injuries, strokes, dementia, epilepsy, developmental disorders, and psychiatric conditions.
As a clinical neuropsychologist, your job is to assess, diagnose, and treat neurological problems. You use tests to measure cognition and guide treatments. The goal is to devise treatment plans that improve the lives of patients affected by brain impairments.
What is Neuropsychology?
Neuropsychology is a discipline that examines how brain injuries, diseases, or developmental disorders impact cognitive functions and behaviours. It merges the study of brain functions with human behaviour, incorporating principles from cognitive psychology, clinical psychology, and neurology.
The goal is not to obtain a test score. The goal is to understand how brain injury has affected higher cerebral functioning and how that information can be used to help the patient. This is the art and clinical practice of neuropsychology.
Psychologists in this field seek to understand connections between neurological conditions and psychological outcomes.
Role of Neuropsychologists
Neuropsychologists assess, diagnose, and treat clients with neurological conditions. They employ neuropsychological tests to measure different aspects of cognition, such as memory, attention, language, and problem-solving abilities. These assessments help to pinpoint the nature and extent of cognitive impairments and guide treatment plans.
Their work produces interventions such as cognitive rehabilitation, psychotherapy, and strategies for improving daily living activities. Neuropsychologists serve a wide range of clients, including those recovering from brain injuries, strokes, individuals with dementia, epilepsy, developmental disorders, and psychiatric conditions. They aim to enhance cognitive functions and overall quality of life.
The data and insights are useful for many purposes. Clinical neuropsychologists help individuals and families coping with brain issues. They guide medical staff, educators, and counsellors on learning challenges. Their expertise supports allied health, disability services, and legal, insurance, and compensation professionals.
Related: 12 Types of Psychologists in Australia
How Do I Become a Neuropsychologist?
To become a clinical neuropsychologist in Australia, you need a 3-year bachelor degree, a 1-year honours degree or equivalent, a 2-year psychology master's specialising in the discipline, followed by 2 years of partly supervised practice. It takes at least 6 years of education and 2 years of supervised work.
- Undergraduate education. Begin with a 3-year Bachelor of Psychological Science or equivalent degree. If you're a university graduate from a non-psychology background, you can opt for the shorter Graduate Diploma in Psychology.
- Fourth-year psychology. Proceed with an Honours year or a Graduate Diploma in Psychology (Advanced) to further build psychological research skills and knowledge. This qualifies you for provisional registration as a psychologist.
- Postgraduate training. Enroll in a 2-year Master of Psychology or a Doctorate program in Psychology that offers a Neuropsychology major. You'll receive specialised training in neuropsychological assessment, diagnosis, and therapeutic interventions.
- Registrar program. After postgraduate studies, complete a 2-year registrar program. Experience as a neuropsychology registrar develops your clinical skills and ability to handle complex cases.
- Full registration. Obtain general registration as a psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA), followed by specific approval for clinical neuropsychology as your psychology area of practice endorsement.
Related: Psychology Board – Guidelines on Area of Practice Endorsements
Salaries in Australia
How much does a neuropsychologist make in Australia? Clinical neuropsychologists receive a salary averaging $120,253 per year. This is the average salary for a clinical psychologist who has been working within a state health system for 5 years.
Neuropsychologists are not paid differently from other clinical psychologists within public healthcare. The entry-level salary is approximately $92,582 annually, depending on your state or territory. Salaries reach a maximum of around $138,533, with further increases possible by moving into senior executive managerial and clinical roles.