Graduate Psychology Internship Program for Mental Health Organisations
Australia faces a critical need for expanded mental-health services alongside an ongoing workforce shortage. The Graduate Psychology Internship Program (G-PIP) offers mental-health organisations a structured, government-funded pathway to host provisional psychologists and increase service capacity, while accessing incentives and support to offset supervision and onboarding costs.
What Is the Graduate Psychology Internship Program (G-PIP)?
The Graduate Psychology Internship Program (G-PIP) is a federally funded initiative delivered by The Cairnmillar Institute that supports provisional psychologists undertaking the 5+1 internship pathway. The program aims to strengthen the national psychology workforce, particularly in priority mental-health areas and community settings.
G-PIP benefits both interns and host organisations, offering financial incentives, supervision support, and access to skill development resources.
👉 Learn more on the official program page: Graduate Psychology Intern Program.
How G-PIP Supports Host Organisations
Financial Incentives and Subsidies
Under G-PIP, organisations may be eligible for:
- Onboarding incentive payments of up to $3,000 per intern.
- Supervision subsidies — up to $6,000 pro rate if supervision is delivered through the host organisation.
- Access to provisional psychologists actively seeking internship placements with full recruitment control retained by the host.
Organisations in priority areas such as First Nations communities, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities, and regional, rural or remote locations (MMM3-7) may be further prioritised for incentives.
Support Beyond Payments
Host organisations benefit from structured support for both interns and supervisors:
- 30 hours of group supervision provided at no cost.
- 60 hours of online Continued Professional Development (CPD) training for interns at no cost.
- Assistance with recruitment, onboarding, and supervision requirements.
These elements help reduce administrative burdens while improving placement outcomes.
Why G-PIP Matters for Mental Health Services
Reduce Workforce Pressure
Organisations can expand service delivery capacity, reduce client waitlists, and build a sustainable talent pipeline by hosting provisional psychologists supported through the program.
Strengthen Organisational Capability
With structured supervision support and professional development resources, G-PIP placements support quality service delivery while enhancing organisational capacity and skills.
Why Promote Hosting Interns in February–March?
February–March aligns with key organisational planning cycles:
- Workforce planning and budgeting for the year ahead
- Staffing review and restructuring
- Fresh annual budgets that allow organisations to take advantage of incentive payments and funding opportunities
This period therefore provides an ideal window to plan placements and secure internship partners.
Expression of Interest (EOI)
Organisations interested in hosting interns through G-PIP can register their interest via the EOI form, supplying key contact and organisational details including AHPRA registration information.
👉 Submit your interest here: G-PIP Expression of Interest.
Completing an EOI begins the process of connecting with Cairnmillar’s program team to discuss eligibility, placement opportunities, supervision support and next steps.
FAQs — Graduate Psychology Internship Program
Q: What is G-PIP?
A federally funded internship program that supports provisional psychologists and host organisations through financial incentives and structured supervision support.
Q: Who can host interns?
Mental-health service providers including private practices, community health services, NGOs, clinics and hospital teams that can offer appropriate supervision and clinical experience.
Q: Is funding available for hosts?
Yes — hosts may access onboarding incentives and supervision subsidies to offset costs.
Q: Does Cairnmillar assist with supervision?
The program provides free group supervision and CPD, and can assist host organisations with supervision requirements.
Q: How do organisations register interest?
Organisations can complete the G-PIP EOI form to start engagement with the program team.