Educational psychologists seek better pay and conditions

Taranaki’s four educational psychologists have joined others around the country this month on a partial strike calling for better pay and conditions.

More than 120 psychologists employed by the Ministry of Education to work in schools and early childhood centres around the country are refusing to accept further referrals

Taranaki educational psychologist Shelley O’sullivan said there used to be 12 educational psychologists in this region, but now there are three full-time equivalent positions, filled by four psychologists.

‘‘We have a vacancy for two. Nationally we need 50.’’

And in the more than 25 years that O’sullivan has been working in education, the needs of the children are now significantly higher than they were, she said.

‘‘We’re carrying twice as many cases as we have in the past. It’s ethically unsafe, because you’re not able to work in an effective way.

‘‘You are carrying double your caseload you’re not able to see your students as often or the schools as often or as much as you need to. We work with the top one per cent of students who have special needs, behavioural difficulties, or communication difficulties.’’

Two of the Taranaki psychologists, including O’sullivan, are ex-early childhood teachers and have been early intervention teachers as well, but they ‘‘tend not to work’’ in early childhood now, she said.

‘‘We have those skills. And it’s definitely where you can get a bigger bang for your buck.

‘‘Work with students before they go to school and they can be transitioned into school better.’’

Last year, nearly 3000 children and young people nationally were sitting on waiting lists for learning support from the Ministry of Education.

But the Government has decided to cut student internship placements with the Ministry of Education next year from 32 places to 21 across the country, O’sullivan said.

APEX union national secretary Dr Deborah Powell said it was time to draw a line in the sand – urgent investment was needed by the Government.

The Ministry of Education was ‘‘haemorrhaging’’ experienced psychologists, and unless it fixed safe caseloads and lifted pay rates for senior psychologists by $12,000 to bring them in line with DHBS (from $96,000 to $108,000), the ‘‘crisis will continue,’’ Powell said.

‘‘We’re carrying twice as many cases as we have in the past.’’ Shelley O’sullivan