The benefits of installing a clinical psychologist in general medical practice, are being assessed through an innovative project being launched in Bathurst this Thursday 20 May.

In a collaborative project between Charles Sturt University’s Psychological Services Centre and the NSW Central West Division of General Practice, clinical psychology masters and doctoral students from CSU’s Bathurst Campus, will spend part of their practical course experience in GP surgeries in the local community.

Federal Minister for Transport and Regional Services the Hon. John Anderson, will officially launch the project, at the Psychological Services Centre at 10 am on Thursday.

The program has received full support from the Australian Psychological Society (APS) and attracted its national president, Bruce Crowe, who represents more than 12,000 practicing psychologists across Australia, to Bathurst on a rare visit for the launch.

Psychological Services Centre Director Robyn Vines said the project is unique in its approach to the delivery of mental health services in regional areas.

"This is a new model of service delivery that we are trialing, one which to my knowledge has not been tried in any country or metropolitan area on such a systematic basis," Ms Vines said

"The aim is to get GPs and clinical psychologists working more collaboratively in assessing and treating patients’ psychological needs. We would like to see GP’s referring their patients to clinical psychologists in the same way they would for an x-ray or blood test – as part of their first line of referral."

"It is hoped also that by having a clinical psychologist in a general practice surgery, some of the stigma people feel about visiting a mental health professional, will be removed," she said.

Board member of the Central West Division of General Practice Dr Colin Jamieson, said the project allows GP’s to see first hand the range of services clinical psychologists can provide and improves access for patients to such services. 

"It provides us with the opportunity to liaise with other health professionals in a more cooperative way and the potential is there to have a more formal system established in general practice throughout rural areas," he said. 

Following the launch, Mr Anderson, Mr Crowe and Ms Vines, who is also Director of Regional Affairs for the APS, will meet to discuss the delivery of mental health services in rural and remote areas. They will discuss ways in which the Government may be able to facilitate delivery of professional development to psychologists in regional areas, via the use of new technologies.