Have you heard of the Working in Addition to Placement program?

Are you completing your final placement within your MPP 5th year studies and have been offered a role? Congratulations! 

We are seeing more and more provisional psychologists offered employment roles within the organisation they undertook placement which is such an excellent achievement and start to your career. 

At Provisional Psychologist Hub we love seeing provisional psychologists engage in the PsyBA Working in Addition to Placement program. We see so many benefits, just to name a few; 

• Gaining experience as a provisional psychologist
• Working in a paid role as a provisional psychologist
• Putting your skills into practice and gaining confidence
• Growing in a role and settling into employment before commencing the Internship requirements 
• Commencing supervision and building your supervisor alliance 

If you are not familiar with the Working in Addition to Placement program, we encourage you to familiarise yourself with the; 

• Policy on working in addition to placements (September 2015)
• Advance copy: Guidelines for the 5+1 internship program (December 2025)

We have provided some key information below to get you started! 

Understanding the 5+1 Internship Guidelines and the Working In Addition to Placement Policy

Who is this relevant to? 

The Working in Addition to Placement Policy applies to registered provisional psychologists enrolled in approved higher degree programs accredited at fifth year or above who wish to practise as a provisional psychologist in addition to the requirements of their accredited degree. 

The Advance copy: Guidelines for the 5+1 internship program (December 2025) states:

6.7 Psychological practice outside the 5+1 internship

A provisional psychologist undertaking the fifth-year qualification component of the 5+1 internship may undertake additional placements outside their university-approved placements – refer to the Policy on working in addition to placements. Additional placements undertaken in fifth year will not be credited towards the requirements of the 5+1 internship. 

Provisional psychologists commencing the 5+1 internship pathway may continue to work in addition to their university placements, while finalising their 5+1 internship program plan, for up to 28 days after completion of the fifth-year degree. Once the internship program plan has been signed by the supervisor, they can begin accruing client contact hours for the 5+1 internship through simulated client contact and, once the supervisor assesses they are ready, through direct client contact. 

Understanding and adhering to these requirements ensures provisional psychologists gain experience and work as a provisional psychologist whilst in their 5th year and  avoid unnecessary delays in starting their internship. 

Steps to Ensure a Smooth Transition

Transitioning from a Working in Addition to Placement program to the 5+1 internship requires careful planning to ensure compliance with Board requirements. One essential step is submitting the INPP-76 form to commence the 5+1 internship, start logging hours toward it, and transition out of the Working in Addition to Placement. 

Key Deadlines to Remember

• Apply Early: 

The Board accepts the fifth-year qualification to have been completed on receipt of an official academic transcript or letter from the Head of School that confirms successful completion of all required competencies and an eligibility to graduate.

Ahpra will assess the internship program plan and only approve it once the degree has been completed. Provisional psychologists can start their internship immediately after lodging the plan. The provisional psychologist can begin to accrue client contact hours through simulated client contact only. Advance copy: Guidelines for the 5+1 internship program (December 2025)

• Commence completion of the INPP-76. 
• Discuss the transition plan with your board-approved supervisor for working in addition to placement. 
• Confirm a board-approved supervisor for the 5+1 internship pathway - this does not need to be the same board-approved supervisor as the Working In Addition to Placement program. 
• Confirm that the new or same role aligns with the 5+1 Internship program requirements.
• Provisional Psychologist Hub encourages you to take the time to understand the purpose of the INPP-76 document and can provide you with pre-recorded webinars to step you through the process of completing the documentation. 

• 28-Day Transition Rule: Provisional psychologists have no more than 28 days after completing their studies to ensure they have successfully transitioned into the 5+1 internship. After this period, working under the Working in Addition to Placement policy is no longer permitted.
• Mark deadlines on a calendar to avoid missing the transition period.
• Submit all required documentation within the 28-day timeframe to prevent delays and as early as possible to allow time for the board to approve the INPP-76.

We encourage you to reach out to our team to discuss your individual circumstances and decide when it is appropriate to commence your internship. https://www.provisionalpsych.com.au/contact

Get Your Career Started! 

We have Board-approved supervisors ready to oversee your journey, ensuring you meet all requirements smoothly. We may even be able to connect you with funding options relevant to your state to help alleviate some of the costs.

Request a supervisor with us today

or Contact Us for more information!