Dr Munita Dunn-Coetzee, Director of Student Counselling and Development (SCD) at the University of the Free State (UFS), was recently appointed as an Evaluator Counselling Psychologist for Higher Educational Institution and Internship Site Programmes under the Accreditations and Quality Assurance Committee of the Professional Board for Psychology within the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).

This appointment will enable Dr Dunn-Coetzee to contribute directly towards boosting the quality of counselling psychology training and internship programmes across South Africa. “The role entails visiting South African higher education institutions (HEIs) with counselling psychology internships and evaluating whether their internships align with the requirements of the HPCSA,” she explained. “This appointment strengthens the SCD’s internship and aligns perfectly with my current role.”

Motivated by her belief in the profound impact of counselling psychologists on society, Dr Dunn-Coetzee emphasised the importance of providing quality internships. "My role can enhance relationships between rotational sites in South Africa and assist sites where some development might be needed."

She outlined the criteria for assessing internship sites and highlighted the anticipated contributions to the development of counselling psychology training programmes nationwide. “The evaluations create a space for discussion, learning, and development,” she explained. “I envision that an Evaluator role can positively impact the quality of training and support offered to counselling psychology interns.”

Dr Dunn-Coetzee also acknowledged the challenges ahead, particularly regarding the diverse landscape of HEIs across South Africa. “The amount of administration, financial resources, and logistical resources needed to host internships is significant,” she noted. “I believe that this might be a challenge.”

Looking to the future, she expressed her hopes for more internship opportunities and expanded training programmes. “I would like to see more internship opportunities being established for counselling psychology interns,” she said. “At SCD, we have learned valuable lessons that will strengthen my role in achieving these goals.”

The UFS congratulates Dr Dunn-Coetzee on her appointment, which we are sure will herald a new era of excellence in counselling psychology training, promising a brighter future for aspiring psychologists across South Africa.