MELBOURNE

CAREERS

ALTERNATIVES CAREER PATHWAYS

FOR PSYCHOLOGY MAJORS
Diana Edwards
Careers Consultant
Melbourne Careers

WHAT WELL COVER

Options
Careers via graduate or further study
related to Psychology, or new directions
Immediate employment

Resources
Researching careers and courses

ALTERNATIVE CAREERS ONLINE INFO

School of Psychological Sciences:
http://psychologicalsciences.unimelb.edu.au/study/currentstudents/careers

Australian Psychological Society discussion of other careers:

http://www.psychology.org.au/studentHQ/careers/other-careers/

PSYCHOLOGY IN PERSPECTIVE
A highly robust foundation for a great many (if not all) careers, making use
of..
understandings about human behaviour, perception, motivation, emotion,
decision making..and capacity to analyse for understanding
skills in research methodology and quantitative reasoning
general rigor in analysis and evidence-based problem solving and
decision making

MY ALTERNATIVE STORY
Child Protection (Department of Family Services, Q)
Staff Development training, team building, career development
(Department of Family Services, Q)

Career Counsellor (Private Practice)

Careers Consultant (Higher Education)

WHAT WOULD SUIT YOU?

What sector is of most interest?
eg business, health, education, community, personal development, protective services.

What type of work activity would suit you?

eg face-to-face service delivery, technical/analytical, big picture roles such as policy,
promotional/advocacy..

PSYCHOLOGY CAN GO ANYWHERE!

FASHION PSYCHOLOGY
Fashion Psychology is the integration and utilization of the science
of psychology and the industry of fashion to create manageable
therapeutic tools that ultimately assist in the development of
desired results in both clients' perceptions of self, their behaviors,
and moods as well as targeted objectives within the business
model....

CAREERS VIA FURTHER STUDY PSYCHOLOGY RELATED

Key sectors:
Personal Development and Community Services

Protective Services
Health
Business
Education

FURTHER INFO ON CAREERS

Professional Association sites:
eg Audiology Australia, Public Relations Institute
of Australia, PACFA

Career Links: http://careers.unimelb.edu.au/student

- Arts, Science, MDHS pages

Course sites

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY SERVICES

Counselling/Psychotherapy
Rehabilitation Counselling
Genetic Counselling
need Genetics subjects

Careers Counselling

Social Work
Community Services
eg families, youth, drug & alcohol,
disability, housing

PROTECTIVE SERVICES
Police - specialty areas
eg Crime Investigation, Child Protection

Community Corrections
Department of Justice and Regulation

Child Protection
Department of Human Services

Defence Force specialty areas

eg Communications, Education, Personnel

HEALTH
Therapies
eg Occupational Therapy, Speech

Audiology - requires added Science

Nursing
Anatomy bridging subject available

Medical Imaging - requires added Science

Public Health/Health Promotion

Health Information Management

BUSINESS
Market and Applied Social Research
Marketing/Advertising
Public Relations/Communications
Human Resources
Occupational Health & Safety
Management Consulting
via Graduate Employment Programs

EDUCATION
Secondary Teaching
need subjects to cover two learning areas

Primary Teaching

Early Childhood Education

Integration Aide

EMPLOYMENT
Many careers require graduate study - however, there are employment
opportunities post-Bachelor degree:
Jobs in general job market
Graduate Employment Programs
NOTE: While there are job types associated with Psychology, always other
possibilities for individuals depending on interests, skills and experiences

JOBS IN THE GENERAL JOB MARKET PSYCHOLOGY RELATED

Market and applied social research market research consultancies
Human resources particularly in recruitment
Program, policy and research support in community organisations
Customer service in human services agencies eg welfare NGOs, government eg
Centrelink, TAC
Student services in higher education eg disability support, student advising

General management - retail (via management trainee programs)

Research assistant roles (though more likely with 4th year)

RECENT POSITIONS EXAMPLES

Human Resources Consultant (local government)
Management Trainee (bank)
Research Assistant (hospital)
Marketing Assistant (market research company)
Project Assistant (mental health support organisation)
Integration Aide (regional college)
Sleep Scientist (hospital)
Science Demonstrator (high school)
Weight Loss Consultant (private business)

GRADUATE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS

Positions for new grads which include significant training and
development; typically for 12-18 months
Generally offered by large commercial organisations and government
Most recruit students early in final year to commence following January
but recent graduates can apply
More info:
http://careers.unimelb.edu.au/student/find_a_job/professional_and_graduate_work

GRADUATE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS PSYCHOLOGY

MAJORS
Public Sector (State and Commonwealth)
Careers in policy and public sector management eg Department of Social
Services

Large commercial organisations specifically targeting Psychology

Human Resources with large corporates eg Qantas, Shell, Telstra, ANZ
Market and Social Research with consultancies eg Forethought Research

Large commercial organisations open to all grads

General business roles and consulting eg banks, management consulting firms

GRADUATE STUDY NEW DIRECTIONS

Many graduate courses in fields less clearly related to Psychology
accessible to BA and BSc grads:
Law (JD 3 years)
Publishing, Communications, Journalism.
Information Systems, Finance, Marketing..

SEE US IN PERSON
Career Express Drop-in Service
10.00am12.00pm & 2.154.15pm
MondayFriday

The Gallery (G04 Ground Floor)

Stop 1 (Parkville)

careers.unimelb.edu.au
facebook.com/careers.unimelb

twitter.com/careersuom