In just under 12 months of operation, the new UNE Psychology Clinic has treated 300% more clients than the same time last year and waiting lists now exist for some clinical services.

Clinic director Dr Warren Bartik said the spacious clinic – co-located with the UNE Medical Centre on Armidale Hospital grounds – is accessible and increasingly vital to a growing number of clients from throughout northern and north-western New South Wales.

“The clinic has become a community asset and is having a huge impact on the health and wellbeing of our rural and regional population,” said Dr Bartik. “Having five consultation rooms and a higher number of students providing professional services has enabled us to complete some 55-60 clinical assessments every 20 weeks. We expect to be able to provide treatment to as many as 400 clients a year, and at a greatly reduced rate to private practice, which is essential to help support clients whose finances are limited.”

UNE students completing placements as part of their Master of Clinical Psychology treat the full range of rural clients under full clinical supervision. Dr Bartik said more than half of assessment clients during the past nine months have been school-aged children experiencing learning difficulties. Demand is especially high from children suspected of having autism, with a wait list now stretching until February 2020.

“An assessment for a specific learning disorder and definitive diagnosis enables schools and other services to step in and offer children and their families greater support,” Dr Bartik said. “Our comprehensive reports go not just to the parents, but also to GPs and paediatricians, so that these bodies can work together to better support kids in need.”

A growth in UNE psychology enrolments has made it all possible, with up to 22 students now admitted to the clinical program at UNE each year.

“We have more students on placement at the clinic than ever before, which gives us an increased capacity to help our clients,” Dr Bartik said. “In addition to school students, we are also conducting a number of neuro-psychological assessments of adults and young adults experiencing neurological decline as a result of dementia or significant trauma, as well as assessments of people with probable intellectual disability and adaptive behaviour concerns.

“While the clinic is a teaching and learning facility, it is a professional practice environment, located within the community, and we’re very proud of the service we are providing.”