Consequently, treatment for mental illness is being sought more openly. The long-established field of clinical psychology, in which specialists diagnose and treat personal and family problems, is experiencing shortages in hospitals and community health centres across the State. It has been augmented by Government recognition that prevention of mental illness is preferable to treatment of severe conditions and costly institutionalisation. Professor Beverley Raphael, director of NSW Healths Centre for Mental Health, says demand for mental health and community services workers is greatest in rural areas. The relatively new fields of health psychology and forensic psychology have grown as a result of increased funding.
Forensic psychology can involve giving expert testimony in court and counselling offenders.
The Department of Juvenile Justice and the Department of Corrective Services have been the major employers of forensic psychologists. They are also involved in the prevention of illness through health campaigns. NSW Health is the biggest employer of health psychologists. Organisational psychology is also offering interesting employment opportunities. Many corporations are employing specialists to conduct psychological assessment of candidates when recruiting and promoting.