Psychologists’ Division of APEX

As a union we are a non-profit, democractic organisation powered by our members. We have a network of over 40 trained workplace delegates, and have a consistent record of advancing the working conditions and wellbeing of psychologists through collective bargaining, expert representation and professional voice.

We represent over 950 psychologists working in:

• Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora;
• Ministry of Education;
• Healthcare New Zealand (Explore & Gains);
• Oranga Tamariki – The Ministry for Children;
• Accident Compensation Corporation;
• Serco;
• Primary health.

Expert Representation

APEX provides expert representation and assistance to psychologists who have employment problems related to their conditions of work or professional issues. This includes support with HR, payroll, health and safety, disciplinary, workload or any other issue in your working life. Get in touch with your delegate for employment issues in the first instance.

Collective Bargaining

APEX negotiates collective agreements covering psychologists with each employer. These agreements allow us to bargain directly with the employer specifically around the issues that matter to our profession and to progress higher pay and better conditions for psychologists.

For example our collective agreements have specific provisions for:

• Salaries for psychologists and intern psychologists and overtime rates;
• Leave & Holidays – annual leave, public holidays, sick leave, long service leave and parental leave;
• Accelerated advancement and merit progression processes;
• Safe caseloads and workloads;
• Hours of work and on call payments;
• Continuing professional development allowances and leave;
• Supervision and payment for external supervision;
• Medico-legal indemnity provision;
• Workplace facilities and appropriate meeting spaces;
• Reimbursement for eyewear, travel expenses, NZPB registration and professional association costs;
• Redundancy protection and severance payments;
• Te Ao Māori provisions;

Psychologists are Better Together

Psychologists face a number of opportunities and challenges including growing demand for their services across the public sector and through direct negotiations and in the Psychology Workforce Taskforce we are pushing for a stronger psychology workforce.

More needs to be done to solve the psychologists’ workforce crisis and is continuing to advocate for workforce development through:

• Significant salary increases to recruit and retain psychologists in the public sector;
• Voluntary bonding schemes for psychologists to work in hard-to-staff areas;
• Guaranteed funding and better co-ordination of psychology internships;
• Recognising the specialist role of psychologists;
• Appointing a Chief Psychologist to provide appropriate clinical leadership;
• Ensuring the wellbeing of psychologists particularly in services under pressure.

Information for Intern Psychologists

APEX Submission to Government

Guidelines for Caseloads at the Ministry of Education

Template Applications

Psychologists Sabbaticals (Contestable Extended Professional Development Leave)