New Zealand Expands Psychology Internship Hubs to Strengthen Frontline Workforce

The New Zealand Government will increase its Psychology Intern Hubs from six to eight next year, adding two new sites in Northland and Dunedin. Each hub can support up to 40 interns annually, giving students supervised experience in mental‑health and addiction services across specialist, primary and community settings. The expansion is part of a broader plan to double clinical psychology internships—from 40 to 80—and to fund 85 internships in 2027, up from 75 this year. Additionally, a new Psychology Assistant role has been created to keep graduates working in mental health while freeing psychologists to focus on complex cases. These moves aim to speed access to support and build a more robust frontline workforce.