Specialist Certificate in Criminology (Sexual Offender Management) (GC-CRIMSOM)

Specialist CertificateYear: 2020 Delivered: On Campus

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Overview

Award titleSpecialist Certificate in Criminology (Sexual Offender Management)
Year & campus2020
Fees informationSubject EFTSL, level, discipline and census date
Study level & typeGraduate Coursework
AQF level Non-AQF
Credit points25 credit points
Duration6 months part-time

The course has been developed in response to a request by Corrections Victoria for a professional development program for correctional staff with responsibility for the case management of sexual offenders. The proposed course is modelled on the Specialist Certificate in Criminology (Forensic Disability) that has been provided by the University of Melbourne since 2009, and comprises two subjects (Introduction to Sexual Offender Management and Advanced Practice in Sexual Offender Management). The subject will be delivered by Dr. Mayumi Purvis, who holds a PhD in Criminology from the University of Melbourne, and Ms. Simone Shaw, who holds a Masters in Forensic Psychology. Both Dr. Purvis and Ms. Shaw are experienced practitioners in this field. No accredited training of this type is currently available in Victoria or elsewhere in Australia.

  • This is an intensive post-graduate program taught over ten days, which provides professional training in the case management of sexual offenders.

  • The course is designed for professionals who work with sexual offenders, but who may lack clinical qualifications to support their practices.

The course gives participants the requisite knowledge about sexual offenders and case management practice approaches, together with practical skills in the assessment and effective management of this complex and difficult offender population. This knowledge will assist practitioners to meet their professional responsibilities successfully and with the utmost confidence in their intervention practices.

 

Links to further information

https://study.unimelb.edu.au/find/courses/graduate/specialist-certificate-in-criminology-sexual-offender-management

Entry requirements

1. In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:
• either
– an undergraduate degree with a major area of study related to psychology, criminology or a cognate social science discipline, or
– an undergraduate degree in any discipline, and at least one year of documented relevant professional work experience, or
– at least three years of documented relevant professional work experience which demonstrates the capacity to successfully undertake the course.
Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection.

2. In ranking and/or assessing applications, the Selection Committee will consider:
• prior academic qualification and performance; and/or
• the professional experience.

3. The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board rules on the use of selection instruments.

4. Applicants are required to satisfy the university’s English language requirements for postgraduate courses. For those applicants seeking to meet these requirements by one of the standard tests approved by the Academic Board, performance band 6.5 is required.

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.The University is dedicated to providingsupport to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website. http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Professional accreditation

n/a

Intended learning outcomes

Students who complete the course should be able to:



  • develop an advanced understanding of the psychology of sexual offending behaviour and the criminal justice system;
  • develop their knowledge of the appropriate professional skills to be utilised with different types of offenders and in diverse contexts;
  • develop self-care strategies to better protect themselves against vicarious trauma;
  • emerge with an advanced understanding of relevant cultural, legal, policy and political issues;

Generic skills

Though participation in the course and completion of assessment students should acquire skills in:
• Capacity for independent critical thought, rational inquiry and self-directed learning;
• An ability to derive, interpret and analyse social and technical information from primary and other sources;
• Awareness of and ability to utilise appropriate inter-personal communication methods;
• Highly developed written and verbal communication skills to allow informed dialogue about case management issues with individuals and groups;
• Ability to investigate, analyse and solve problems in applied situations;
• Highly developed skills in time and organisational management through participation in all subjects.

Graduate attributes

The Melbourne Experience enables our graduates to become:

  • Academically excellent:
    • have a strong sense of intellectual integrity and the ethics of scholarship
    • have in-depth knowledge of their specialist discipline(s)
    • reach a high level of achievement in writing, generic research activities, problem-solving and communication
    • be critical and creative thinkers, with an aptitude for continued self-directed learning
    • be adept at learning in a range of ways, including through information and communication technologies
  • Knowledgeable across disciplines:
    • examine critically, synthesise and evaluate knowledge across a broad range of disciplines
    • expand their analytical and cognitive skills through learning experiences in diverse subjects
    • have the capacity to participate fully in collaborative learning and to confront unfamiliar problems
    • have a set of flexible and transferable skills for different types of employment
  • Leaders in communities:
    • initiate and implement constructive change in their communities, including professions and workplaces
    • have excellent interpersonal and decision-making skills, including an awareness of personal strengths and limitations
    • mentor future generations of learners
    • engage in meaningful public discourse, with a profound awareness of community needs
  • Attuned to cultural diversity:
    • value different cultures
    • be well-informed citizens able to contribute to their communities wherever they choose to live and work
    • have an understanding of the social and cultural diversity in our community
    • respect indigenous knowledge, cultures and values
  • Active global citizens:
    • accept social and civic responsibilities
    • be advocates for improving the sustainability of the environment

have a broad global understanding, with a high regard for human rights, equity and ethics

Course structure

Students must complete 2 core subjects listed below. Students must attend all sessions of the course unless a specific exemption is granted by the program coordinator.

Subject options

Core Subjects

Code Name Study period Credit Points
CRIM90022 Introduction to Offender Management Not available in 2020 12.5
CRIM90023 Advanced Practice in Offender Management Not available in 2020 12.5

Further study

Students who complete the Graduate Certificate are eligible to apply for the Master of Criminology with advanced standing of 25 points.

 

Last updated: 21 February 2025