Clinical Psychologist Solveigh has found her forever home in Central Queensland, lured by affordable accommodation and easy access to beaches and stunning scenery, but retained by career progression opportunities in a supportive workplace.
“In a metropolitan area, I lived about 15 minutes from the workplace, and it still took an hour to get to work because of traffic, reliance on public transport, and a lack of parking.
“Here we live in a beautiful place at the beach, right near the rainforest and work in a secure environment with career progression.”
In regional areas like Central Queensland there are more opportunities, and the lifestyle benefits are unparalleled.
Solveigh has been supported and funded to complete the Supervisor Training and Assessment Program (STAP), which allows her to provide in-house supervision to up and coming and early entry psychologists. “I had such a good experience with my supervisors in Queensland Health when I started out and I would really like to replicate that.”
There is a huge variety of work available. Solveigh is the Advanced Health Practitioner Suicide Prevention and Post-vention for CQ Health, which means she travels across Central Queensland to support all the different teams.
“While I’m not seeing one client after another, I still do clinical work. I am involved in the Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) Program, and I also have a seat at the table to facilitate change and drive reform in our health service.
“No day is the same. I do psychological assessments, individual and group therapy, while also driving reform and quality improvement and increasing service capacity as well. That’s a beautiful thing. You can still specialise, but you get to know so many different roles and parts of the service.
“Psychologists are highly regarded in multi-disciplinary teams, and we have a lot to offer in consumer care.”
Solveigh is especially happy to have put down roots in Central Queensland while she and her partner are expecting a new family member this year.
“Knowing that I can take a year off on maternity leave and come back into the workforce, with flexible working arrangements, and be supported is a big plus.
“I’m from Germany and living in Central Queensland is absolutely amazing. I lived on the Sunshine Coast and never went to the beach because of traffic, but now here we can go to the beach and Keppel Island. Everyone back home is always jealous.”
Take your health career further in regional Queensland, with access to inhouse supervision for psychologists from staff such as Solveigh and the team.
Apply now for the mental health talent pool.
Applications close: 22 August 2024