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Graduate Diploma in International Psychiatry (GD-INTPSYC)
Graduate DiplomaYear: 2021 Delivered: Online
About this course
Contact
Email: continuing-education@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: + 61 3 8344 0149
Contact hours: https://unimelb.edu.au/professional-development/contact-us
Principal Coordinator
Mahesh Jayaram
Overview
Award title | Graduate Diploma in International Psychiatry |
---|---|
Year & campus | 2021 — Parkville |
Fees information | Subject EFTSL, level, discipline and census date |
Study level & type | Graduate Coursework |
AQF level | 8 |
Credit points | 50 credit points |
Duration | 12 months part-time |
Mental disorders contribute to a high proportion of the total burden of illness and disability worldwide, and their prevalence is increasing. These conditions range in severity from mild episodic symptoms to severely disabling depression, anxiety, substance misuse, and psychosis amongst others. The consequences of mental illness go beyond the individual sufferers to affect families, communities, healthcare services, social care, and criminal justice systems. The treatment of mental disorders requires a multidisciplinary approach, and highly trained medical expertise is essential to deliver a fully comprehensive biopsychosocial approach to assessment and management of patients. There is increasing recognition amongst psychiatrists of the extreme variability in quality of psychiatric training of general doctors and specialists around the world. There is a massive disparity in access to adequately trained doctors between low, middle, and high-income countries, as well as between urban and rural areas.
The Graduate Diploma of International Psychiatry (GDipPsych) course is aimed at medical professionals worldwide, who work with mentally ill patients in any capacity, or would like to develop their capacity to do so. The GDipPsych is limited to practicing doctors of any background or specialisation but not suitable for non-medical practitioners.
The GDipPsych is a part-time, fully online programme that consists of 4 compulsory subjects covering:
- Basic Clinical Skills in Psychiatry
- Psychiatric disorders
- Psychopharmacology and introduction to evidence based medicine and
- Social psychiatry
There is a focus on mental health across the globe, with awareness of issues relating to culture and socioeconomic diversity.
The Graduate Diploma of International Psychiatry offers a tiered approach to learning. The subjects provide essential background theory and foundation knowledge, and covers the most common psychiatric disorders encountered in adult populations worldwide. The GDipPsych will build upon pre-existing theoretical knowledge (gained by fulfilling entry requirements) and address a wider range of psychiatric disorders, with a focus on management using evidence-based approaches. There will also be an increased focus on basic sciences, and cultural/social aspects of mental health, psychology and mental healthcare service delivery.
Entry requirements
- In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:
- An undergraduate or graduate degree in clinical medicine; AND
- Hold current registration as a medical doctor with the relevant national or local registering body for medical practitioners in the student’s country of residence; AND
- At least one year of documented experience as a practising doctor.
Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection.
- In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:
- Prior academic performance; and
- Professional experience
- 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.
- 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.
Notes
Completion of this course does not lead to qualifications required to work in psychiatry in Australia. You will need to meet the registration requirements outlined by the relevant medical council/registering body for you to continue to work as a doctor or specialist.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Objectives, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.
It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and the Disability Liaison Unit: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/
Intended learning outcomes
Course Level Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
Graduates of the Graduate Diploma of International Psychiatry will have advanced knowledge of:
- The theory underpinning assessment and formulation of psychiatric disorders
- The aetiology and presentation of psychiatric disorders
- The biological basis of psychiatric disorders and treatments
- Important psychological theories and their application in treatment of psychiatric disorders
- The principles of the methodologies used in the development of an evidence base in mental health
- Theory underpinning the use of psychopharmacological agents in the treatment of psychiatric disorders
- The ethical and legal principles pertaining to psychiatric care
- The relationship between mental health, culture and society, and how this affects all aspects of mental healthcare
- The principles of healthcare delivery in high and low resource settings
Skills
Graduates of the Graduate Diploma of International Psychiatry will have advanced skills in:
- Generating a sophisticated approach to the biopsychosocial understanding and management of mental health problems
- Critically analysing the strengths and weaknesses of an evidence base in the field of mental health
- Assessing the challenges to providing high quality mental healthcare globally
- Evaluate the context and complexity of mental health problems in an individual, and across communities
Application of knowledge and skills
Graduates of the Graduate Diploma of International Psychiatry will be highly skilled in:
- The application and justification of psychological approaches in the management of mental health issues
- Demonstrating the application principles of key research methodological approaches in the mental health field
- Accessing appropriate sources of guidance in the treatment of the mental illness
- The safe and effective use of medical treatments in the care of the mentally ill
Generic skills
Graduates of the Graduate Diploma of International Psychiatry will have:
- Confidence in assessing and treating people with mental illness
- The ability to formulate risk and risk management plans
- The skills to document and communicate sophisticated biopsychosocial assessments and care plans
- Competence in using evidence-based practice to find the best available research for their patients
- An approach to understanding mental health from a global perspective and an appreciation of the challenges faced to delivering high-quality healthcare in some communities
Graduate attributes
- The theory underpinning assessment and formulation of psychiatric disorders
- The aetiology and presentation of psychiatric disorders
- The biological basis of psychiatric disorders and treatments
- Theory underpinning the use of psychopharmacological agents in the treatment of psychiatric disorders
- Important psychological theories and their application in treatment of psychiatric disorders
- The principles of the methodologies used in the development of an evidence base in mental health
- The relationship between mental health, culture and society, and how this affects all aspects of mental healthcare
- The ethical and legal principles pertaining to psychiatric care
- The principles of healthcare delivery in high and low resource settings
Course structure
50 points of compulsory subjects:
Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
PSYT90117 | Basic Clinical Skills in Psychiatry |
Term 1 (Online)
Term 2 (Online)
Term 3 (Online)
Term 4 (Online)
|
12.5 |
PSYT90116 | Psychiatric Disorders |
Term 2 (Online)
Term 3 (Online)
Term 4 (Online)
|
12.5 |
PSYT90118 | Psychopharmacology and Intro to EBM |
Term 2 (Online)
Term 3 (Online)
Term 4 (Online)
|
12.5 |
PSYT90119 | Social Psychiatry |
Term 2 (Online)
Term 3 (Online)
Term 4 (Online)
|
12.5 |
PSTY90117 Basic Clinical Skills in Psychiatry is a prerequisite to the completion of other subjects.
Last updated: 12 November 2021