Psychology Alumna Magdalene Rose de Rozario a Registered Psychologist in Australia after Completing an MPsych Clinical Neuropsychology at University of Melbourne, Australia

A First Class Honours graduate, she was accepted into the Master of Psychology (Clinical Neuropsychology) programme at the University of Melbourne, Australia in January 2018. Magdalene completed her MPsych degree in December 2019 and has recently received her registration in February 2020.

Magdalene at the University of Melbourne
Magdalene at the University of Melbourne

Magdalene, 26, is one of a handful of Malaysians who has a professional qualification as a clinical neuropsychologist. Her goals for the near future include working towards an endorsement as a full-fledged clinical neuropsychologist from the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) – which requires 2,000 additional hours of supervised practice as a registrar. The registrar programme in Australia enables psychologists to develop the competencies required for endorse in one of the nine areas of practice – in Magdalene’s case, clinical neuropsychology. An endorsement by the Psychology Board in AHPRA qualifies a psychologist to use a protected specialist title.
Hailing from Subang Jaya, Magdalene completed her undergraduate degree in psychology in July 2016. Her time at Sunway University moulded her interest in clinical neuropsychology. She interned at Brightstars – a life skill centre for children with learning disabilities. Her experience there encouraged her to continue pursuing her ambitions to work in the field of clinical psychology, or clinical neuropsychology.

On completing her basic degree, Magdalene sought further work experience within the Department of Psychology at Sunway University from 2016 to 2017. She was a graduate teaching assistant for a year, she then worked as a graduate research assistant for two academic staff: Associate Professor Dr Lin Mei-Hua on a project examining trust in organisational work teams; and for Associate Professor Dr Yong Min Hooi on experimental cognitive psychology projects.

Apart from her interest in clinical practice, Magdalene is also a very keen researcher. Her master’s degree project involved studying mental imagery in youth with suicidal ideation and behaviour, which is part of a larger ongoing project at the University of Melbourne. Her passion for research has gotten her a place in a PhD programme at the University of Melbourne’s Centre of Youth Mental Health where she is currently working as part-time associate lecturer, as well as a postgraduate research assistant.
 

Magdalene with some of the staff from the Department of Psychology during her visit recently. From left: Jacqueline Gun, Michael Ch’ng, Prof Alvin Ng, Magdalene, Assoc Prof Dr Lin Mei-Hua and Woo Pei Jun.
Magdalene with some of the staff from the Department of Psychology during her visit recently. From left: Jacqueline Gun, Michael Ch’ng, Prof Alvin Ng, Magdalene, Assoc Prof Dr Lin Mei-Hua and Woo Pei Jun.

Magdalene recently visited the Department of Psychology at Sunway University to catch up with her lecturers. When asked about her new qualification, she said that she feels relieved, proud and accomplished. She also added that she is now looking forward to starting her PhD project on cognitive factors in transdiagnostic mental health. She has a lot of gratitude towards Sunway University and Sunway College for nurturing her passion for learning, and to her parents for letting her study at Sunway. “Sunway will always take up a special space in my heart, as it’s here that I grew in confidence and ambition - to make a better life for myself, and others. I will never forget the people I’ve met here, who helped me grow into the person I am today. I can’t name them all right now, but rest assured, I do remember everyone who has changed my life for the better – lecturers, classmates, and even students (many of whom I consider friends). Lots of love to you all."

It is truly an honour for a product of Sunway University (and Sunway College – where she undertook her Foundation in Arts) to be given this rare chance to study in a programme that is specialised and takes in only the cream of the crop. We wish Magdalene the best in her pursuits in research and clinical practice, and we hope she will come back and serve the country with her specialist skills - that are very much needed.