Explore career options in psychological science
Here you can find information on the types of careers and employment roles a psychological science degree may land you.
You can also discover where to look for job vacancies, as well as professional associations, mentoring and international opportunities.
Opportunities
Psychological science is about applying psychological theories to topics such as thinking and perceiving, motivation, stress, health, criminal activity and group behaviour. Graduates of this three-year degree also learn how to evaluate and understand tests that measure intellectual, behavioural and emotional states. You will learn about the principles of counselling and core areas of psychology, and will be able to help people with personal, health, vocational and social difficulties.
To become registered as a psychologist, students must complete four full-time years of academic study in psychology plus two additional full-time years of either postgraduate training in psychology or supervised workplace experience as a probationary/conditional registered psychologist. See APS study pathways for more information.
Career fields
(* denotes further study at postgraduate level likely to be required)
- Government departments
- Private practice
- Community services
- Human resource management
- Childrens' services
- Correctional services
- Employment services
- Family and child welfare
- Mental health services
- Counselling*
- Rehabilitation services*
- Police forces
- Youth services
- Defence forces
- Market and social research companies
- Policy development and research
- Career counselling*
Employment roles
- Case manager
- Human resources officer
- Community corrections officer
- Disability support worker
- Drug and alcohol worker
- Child protection officer
- Youth worker
- Community development officer
- Migrant support worker
- Family services officer
- Employment support worker
- Employment officer
- Training officer
Occupation snapshot
Employed
46,100
Annual growth
4,400
Weekly earnings
$2,054
Part-time share
39%
This data is based on the occupation profile for psychologists and psychotherapists retrieved from the Government's Jobs and Skills Australia website August 2024.
Your employability
In addition to knowledge and skills directly related to your program of study, you will develop a range of other skills such as teamwork, analytical, communication through academic study, employment, voluntary work, sporting and recreational activities and life experience.
Recognising the value employers place on these skills is an important factor in your graduate job search. You can further develop your employability with these resources:
Vacancies
Information on relevant vacancies can be found in a wide range of sources, including:
- CareerHub
- Prosple (formerly Grad Australia)
- GradConnection
- Australian Public Service Jobs
- Ethical Jobs
- Procare Australia
- Services Australia
- Queensland Council of Social Services jobs
- NSW Council of Social Services jobs
- NSW Government jobs
- Queensland Government Graduate Portal
- Seek
- APS Student HQ
- Psychology careers and job prospects (Mallory)
Notable alumnus: Zhariff Afandi
Zhariff Afandi, a remarkable motivator, life coach, public speaker, extreme sportsman, author, father, entrepreneur, and humanitarian, defies limitations despite being born without arms. His vivacious personality and determination have allowed him to overcome obstacles and lead a fulfilling life.
Zhariff’s achievements include being named Youth of the Year by the Malaysian Ministry of Youth and Sports and serving as an advisor for the National Youth Development Council. His impact extends through social enterprises, motivational speaking, and innovative ventures.
Job application resources
Craft a stand-out resume and cover letter, and learn how to prepare for job interviews.
Approach potential employers
Many work opportunities are not advertised, so we recommend approaching potential employers with the aim of researching their needs and how your skills, experience, interests and qualifications could match theirs.
This is called informational interviewing and will benefit you by:
- clarifying your specific career direction
- enhancing your professional network
- increasing your chances of being offered a job.
Industry outlook
The Your Career website includes helpful information such as job descriptions, employment prospects, average weekly earnings and skills requirements. Every job title in the database has a skills section to help you identify and describe essential skills for your future career.
The My Future website also has job descriptions and a useful career insight section.
The Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching website has up-to-date information on graduate salaries, especially the Graduate Outlook Survey (GOS) National Report, which contains undergraduate salary figures.
More detailed information is available at the Labour Market Insights portal.
Professional associations
Joining a professional association is a great way to interact with people in your field who can assist you to explore your career options and potentially find employment opportunities. Professional associations also hold regular professional development and networking events. Relevant associations include:
- Australian Psychological Society
- Australian Community Workers Association
- Australian Health Promotion Association
- Australian Counselling Association
- Australian Society of Rehabilitation Counsellor
Students are welcome to join and often receive a discount on their membership.
Mentoring
The award-winning Industry Mentoring Program provides an excellent opportunity to further develop your employability and build professional networks.
The program is available to students with more than 80CP as well as recent graduates.
Sustainable Development Goals
Griffith University is aligned with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and is committed to providing inclusive, equitable, and quality education for all.
Further careers information
Careers counselling
Individual career counselling sessions are available to all current students and recent graduates.
You can book an initial appointment via CareerHub.
Career planning
Our website has an array of career planning resources you can explore at any stage of your student journey.
Career Readiness
Check out our Career Readiness site in Learning@Griffith for additional information and resources for your career development learning:
Similar career outcomes
Please note: The content on this webpage is a guide only. Please refer to degree-specific information and accreditation requirements of your profession on the Degree and Course Finder website and with the relevant professional accreditation body for your degree.