Anishta Babooram: "The National Competency Framework in Psychology is Essential for Training Competent and Reliable Psychologists"

A half-day workshop dedicated to validating a National Competency Framework (NCF) in psychology was held on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at the ENT hospital in Vacoas, initiated by the Allied Health Professionals Council (AHPC), and attended by the Minister Delegate for Health and Well-being, Ms. Anishta Babooram.

The aim of the NCF is to ensure that psychology graduates/registering candidates are competent, ethical, and culturally sensitive to the needs of individuals, families, and communities. Key areas of practice include professional, legal, and ethical practice, psychological knowledge and theories, as well as psychological assessment and measurement.

In her speech, the Minister Delegate emphasized the importance of equipping professionals with the necessary knowledge, skills, and values to provide high-quality psychological services. She stated that the NCF would serve as a crucial tool in this effort, providing a clear and coherent reference for what psychology graduates need to know and be capable of doing.

Ms. Anishta Babooram also highlighted the importance of aligning the NCF with internationally recognized standards to strengthen the psychology profession in Mauritius. The NCF establishes a common foundation of skills and knowledge, thereby enhancing the quality and safety of psychological services while guiding professional development and supporting the assessment and improvement of practice.

According to the Minister Delegate, the framework will better prepare future professionals to meet current mental health needs and the new challenges faced within communities. By establishing structured standards for supervision, practical experience, and workforce preparation, the NCF will help trainees gain skills, confidence, and solid professional judgment as they transition from university studies to professional practice.

Ms. Anishta Babooram also reminded higher education institutions of the obligation to align their programs with the NCF and comply with standards for supervised professional experience, a significant step for quality assurance and consistency in training. She further emphasized the collaborative nature of the initiative, which involves the ministry, AHPC, universities, psychologists, and local and international experts to ensure that policies are based on best practices and tailored to the Mauritian context.