A psychology qualification opens the door to impactful career opportunities beyond becoming a registered psychologist. If you're interested in applying psychological insights to real-world issues, a career in policy and social research allows you to shape decisions and drive meaningful change.
Explore opportunities in policy and social research, including roles, responsibilities, skills, qualifications and potential employers.
Policy officers play a key role in shaping the policies that influence and improve our society. They provide expert advice to governments and organisations, ensuring decisions are well-informed and that policies address both current challenges and future needs. By researching, strategising and collaborating, they work toward effective solutions that create positive and lasting impact.
Policy officers may assist with policy development, strategy creation, research and stakeholder engagement. Their tasks may involve preparing reports, identifying funding opportunities and advocating for improvements within their sectors. Job opportunities are typically available in government departments, not-for-profits and advocacy organisations, often requiring a mix of strategic and practical skills.
To succeed as a policy officer, you'll need excellent written and verbal communication skills to craft clear policy documents and engage stakeholders effectively.
Strong research and analytical abilities will help you assess issues, conduct surveys and develop well-informed policy recommendations.
Attention to detail and a strong grasp of writing standards are essential for producing clear and effective reports, submissions and media releases.
Crucially, you'll require strong negotiation, facilitation and presentation skills, alongside the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Policy officer roles typically require an undergraduate degree in psychology or a related field, with further postgraduate study in policy, applied social research or public health often beneficial. Short courses in writing policies and procedures can also provide valuable practical skills to support your work in policy development and advocacy.
Policy officers often work in government departments, local councils and peak bodies within the community sector. Employers may include the Department of Health, Victorian Council of Social Service, Australian Council of Social Service and the Victorian Government.
Social researchers empower communities by uncovering insights that inform policy, shape programs and drive positive change. Through data analysis, they address key social issues and provide actionable recommendations that improve outcomes for individuals and communities.
Social researchers design and conduct studies, recruit participants and apply research methods such as surveys, case studies and interviews. They use both quantitative and qualitative approaches to gather data and evaluate research projects. Their findings are presented through reports and presentations, helping to inform decisions and shape policies that address key societal needs.
To excel in social research you'll need strong analytical skills to gather and interpret complex data, alongside clear and effective writing abilities across various formats, including reports and presentations.
Time management and project coordination skills are essential, enabling you to document progress and meet deadlines efficiently. Success in this field also requires independent thinking, critical reasoning and the ability to develop theoretical concepts.
Strong networking and relationship-building skills will help you collaborate effectively and translate research into meaningful insights.
This role typically requires an undergraduate degree in psychology, marketing, human resources, business or economics. Some roles may require an honours degree in psychology. Experience in using statistical tools like SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) will be essential, along with a solid background in both qualitative and quantitative research methods.
Employers in this field can be found across both the public and private sectors. Social research assistants are often needed to work on projects within university and hospital settings, as well as in local government, not-for-profit organisations and private companies. Examples include Deakin University, the Royal Melbourne Hospital, the Social Research Centre and the Cancer Council of Victoria.
Psychology professionals in policy and social research play a pivotal role in shaping decisions that affect society. Whether working as social researchers, policy officers or analysts, they leverage data and evidence to improve outcomes and influence important policies.
Their work helps ensure that decisions are backed by research, fostering long-term positive change and strengthening the communities they serve.
Find out more about studying psychology and mental health at Deakin.
