Thinking about forging a rewarding career as a psychologist?
Murdoch student, Kelli, shares her story of how she left her secure career as a lawyer to return to uni to study psych, how she felt about returning as a mature age student, and how her work placements confirmed her love of psychology.Tell us about yourself
I started my professional life as a lawyer, first working in London at the Royal Bank of Scotland before moving back to Perth to join a national law firm. However, I found myself continually looking for opportunities to volunteer for organisations that support survivors of trauma. I wanted to help people that had experienced difficult events, but outside of a legal capacity I did not have the skills or the training to do so.After some intense discussions (and negotiations) with my husband, I farewelled my secure employment at the law firm, started working as a student support worker at a local primary school and embarked on an undergraduate psychology degree.
I became a mother during the second year of my undergraduate studies, and after completing honours (and forming a strong addiction to coffee), I enrolled at Murdoch to do my Master of Clinical Psychology.
Why did you choose to study postgraduate psychology at Murdoch?
After having done a law degree at UWA, I automatically returned there for my undergraduate psychology studies. However, as I approached honours I started to look for opportunities to learn clinically because I wanted to train as a clinical psychologist. When I interviewed at Murdoch for the Master of Clinical Psychology, I could see that the staff in the clinical program practiced from a diverse background, citing different theoretical approaches that informed their own clinical practice. This diverse experience really appealed to me.What got you interested in studying psychology?
I was interested in the Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology as it provided the opportunity to undertake interesting and clinically applicable research with Murdoch Professors Andrew Lewis and Megan Galbally. A part of my course that was most meaningful was assisting with research that studied the development of the early mother-infant relationship. I completed training in the assessment of parent-child interactions, and then assessed over 200 mother-infant interactions for my doctoral research. This was an invaluable clinical experience as it developed my observational skills – which are intrinsic to a clinical practice – and it opened my eyes to an area which I hold close to my heart, perinatal mental health.What surprised you about your Murdoch experience as a mature-age student?
For someone like me with a young family who was very conscious of the time required to complete my studies and graduate, the Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology program was the right fit. I wanted to develop research and clinical skills so that I could contribute to my discipline as a scientist practitioner. The Doctor of Psychology provides a more contained timeline than a masters/PhD program – I even managed to fit having a third baby into my degree.Did you undertake any practical experience as part of your course?
There was significant practical experience involved in the Doctor of Psychology. I completed three clinical placements each in different settings with a unique insight into the range of services in which a clinical psychologist might be. These placements included the West Australian Department of Corrective Services, in the Eating Disorders Team; at Princess Margaret Hospital (the former children’s hospital); and at King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women in Subiaco.How did this practical experience make you career-ready?
Each of these placements provided personal and professional growth. They also confirmed my love for the discipline of psychology, and the privilege I hold close in being a small part of another person’s journey. I also saw that the research I conducted as part of the Doctor of Psychology shaped my clinical practice with people across the lifespan. The research training also taught me to think critically and not just accept what information was provided by a service, and that is an important quality as a psychologist.Were there any staff members, lecturers or academics that helped in supporting you through your Murdoch journey or after graduation?
Professors Andrew Lewis and Megan Galbally were instrumental in my clinical training as both a researcher and a clinician. They fostered the development of my clinical skills in the mother-infant assessments and facilitated a range of opportunities to share the research we were conducting in both national and international forums, as well as supported me in the publication of our findings along with other members of the research team, including Murdoch Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Dr Stuart Watson.What was your greatest achievement during your time studying at Murdoch?
My greatest achievement was presenting research at national and international forums, including in Paris with Professor Galbally. At the time, my third child was only 10 months old so my mother came with me to Paris to provide support. I have a wonderful memory of celebrating International Women’s Day under the Eiffel Tower with my mother, my daughter and my sister, who was living in London at the time and had also joined us for the weekend.I also won the 3-minute thesis (3MT) competition for Murdoch University three months after having my third child. My daughter and I then flew to Brisbane to compete in the national 3MT when she was five months old. This experience demonstrated to me that women can integrate professional opportunities with motherhood – it does not need to be a choice of one or other – though women are often made to feel like it is.
What career opportunities did you receive after graduation?
I commenced a postdoctoral research fellowship in perinatal mental health with Professor Galbally to continue involvement in the longitudinal pregnancy cohort study that I had been a part of through my doctoral research. This has allowed me to expand my understanding and knowledge of perinatal mental health beyond the specific area of investigation that comprised my doctoral thesis. This would not have been possible without my doctoral qualification and experience at Murdoch University.In addition, I have published three papers in peer-reviewed journals with Prof. Galbally, Prof. Lewis, and Dr Watson, and we have a fourth paper currently under review for which I am also the first author.
What do you like best about where you work now?
I am a postdoctoral research fellow in perinatal mental health with University of Notre Dame. I have also recently commenced a clinical role as a Clinical Psychologist (Registrar) at King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women.
It is difficult to articulate what I like best about my work, as there is so much. It is a privilege to have another person share difficult and painful parts of their life with you, and to see the capacity for change and hope, even in the most challenging situations. If life is about the connections we make, then psychology is a meaningful profession, for it facilitates human connection.
What advice would you offer future Murdoch students?
Be open to all opportunities. Don’t restrict yourself by the idea of how your life should look. People told me that I would not be able to juggle having a baby and doing my undergraduate psychology degree. Yet I had two children during my undergraduate degree and then went on to complete a doctorate and have a third child! So, if you find something meaningful to you, grab it with both hands – and go for it.
Does psychology sound like a career for you? Check out our Bachelor of Science (Psychology) course or Master of Clinical Psychology course to help you land your dream job.