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Ethics and Professional Issues (PSYC90008)

Graduate courseworkPoints: 6.25On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

Availability
March
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This subject is organised around four major areas:

  • risk assessment and management;
  • theoretical foundations of ethics;
  • ethical problems and the application of ethical principles to practice, and legal and institutional regulations; and
  • codes of practice and guidelines.

The exploration, clarification and possible resolution of selected ethical dilemmas commonly faced by psychologists will be covered and may include:

  • assessing and managing client risk;
  • psychologist/client relationships (for example, confidentiality,
  • boundary violations,
  • assessment of dangerousness,
  • patient and client rights,
  • professional responsibility,
  • special groups (such as children, employer-psychologist ethical differences);
  • psychologist/institutional relationships (such as state regulation of professional practice, legal requirements, certification, mandatory reporting, guardianship, unprofessional conduct);
  • research ethics; and
  • personal ethical development.

Specific emphasis will be placed on awareness of cultural diversity and the role of culture in defining and influencing ethical practice.

Intended learning outcomes

Knowledge


On completion of this subject, students should:


  • Develop an understanding of the ethical codes and guidelines of the Australian Psychological Society and the Psychology Registration Board and the operation of their regulating bodies;
  • Develop an understanding of current ethical theories, including the relationship between ethics, morals, values and legal codes, as they relate to professional practice.

Skills


On completion of this subject students should be able to:  


  • Assess client risk (ie suicidality, self-harm, harm to others) and implement appropriate responses;
  • Analyse ethical issues and problems that psychologists are likely to encounter in their professional practice;
  • Explore professional issues related to working with clients or patients, other professionals, employers and employees and institutions and organisations within the context of ethical practice.

 


Application of Knowledge and Skills


On completion of this subject, students should:


  • Develop a personal conceptual framework for approaching ethical and professional issues.

Generic skills

Advanced information interpretation skills

Advanced analytic, integration and problem solving skills

Advanced written skills

Last updated: 30 October 2023

Eligibility and requirements

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None

Non-allowed subjects

None

Recommended background knowledge

Completion of APAC approved psychology studies to fourth-year (Honours) level.

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.

Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home

Last updated: 30 October 2023

Assessment

Additional details

  • Online quiz (25 questions) covering ethical guidelines provided by Australian Psychology Society and the Australian Registration Board (N.B. background reading must have been completed during pre-teaching period), held end of day 1 of teaching period (20%);
  • Report addressing case study of ethical dilemma (500 words), due day 3 of teaching period (20%);
  • Essay (1000 words), due one week after the end of the teaching period (60%)
  • Attendance at full-day Risk Assessment Workshop (Hurdle Requirement)

Last updated: 30 October 2023

Dates & times

  • March
    Principal coordinatorAudrey McKinlay
    Mode of deliveryOn Campus (Parkville)
    Contact hoursFor 2018 this subject will be taught over 4 days comprising a one day Risk Assessment workshop on 27 February followed by 3 teaching days of 6, 13 and 20 March.
    Total time commitment85 hours
    Teaching period 5 March 2019 to 26 March 2019
    Last self-enrol date 8 March 2019
    Census date22 March 2019
    Last date to withdraw without fail29 March 2019
    Assessment period ends 4 April 2019

    March contact information

    enquiry-psych@unimelb.edu.au

Time commitment details

85 hours

Last updated: 30 October 2023

Further information

Last updated: 30 October 2023