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Organisational Psychologist

As an organisational psychologist, your role in the RNZN is broad and varied. Although you serve mostly ashore, you are required to go to sea about twice a year and deploy to other land based missions – often overseas. Your role is demanding yet fulfilling and provides exposure to a number of areas within the disciplines of organisational and military psychology. Navy psychologists are regularly involved in challenging professional tasks within the New Zealand Defence Force that require psychological knowledge and expertise.

You need to have a Masters Degree in Psychology before applying, but you will be funded to become a member of the New Zealand Psychological Society and an appropriate professional body of your choice to ensure your specialised skills remain current. There is also support to continue studying through education assistance that helps financially with fees for courses that are job related, and opportunities to continue to develop your knowledge through a variety of conferences and workshops.

If already registered, you will be introduced to the role of an RNZN psychologist through a series of projects relevant to the Defence Force. If unregistered, the Navy will finance and supervise you through your journey to become a NZ registered psychologist.

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Pre-joining Requirements
Career Progression
Career Progression Chart

Pre-joining Requirements

Hold a Masters Degree in Psychology
Be a NZ citizen or have permanent residency and have lived in NZ for five years
Be medically fit for service
Be of good character – assessed by study of testimonials and a police record check
Be free of any criminal convictions for the previous two years

Like all officers, you must also pass a two day final officer selection board.

Career Progression
After completing Junior Officer Common Training you will join the Organisational Psychology Department, where you will undergo two weeks of assistant psychologist training. This will involve meeting all the relevant personnel and introducing you to the variety of roles that are undertaken by psychologists.

Following the completion of your registration, you are likely to spend a year consolidating your experience within the Organisational Psychology Department. During this year you will become eligible to go to sea or overseas, to provide deployment related support. You are also likely to get involved in more joint activities than other branches such as specialised selection boards.

After three to four years you will also have the opportunity to move into other roles within the wider Defence Force, including positions based in Wellington. Opportunities for psychologists exist within RNZN and NZDF Headquarters and the Joint Forces New Zealand Headquarters.

Career Progression Chart