Clinical Placement 1 (PSYC90012)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
Please refer to the return to campus page for more information on these delivery modes and students who can enrol in each mode based on their location.
Overview
| Availability | Year Long |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
Students are required to complete 40 days of placement in the University of Melbourne Psychology Clinic. Students will have the opportunity to observe a range of clinical presentation in adult patients and to begin functioning as a clinical psychologist, under the supervision of a supervisor. Students will receive experience in history taking, conducting a mental state examination, arriving at a case formulation and making treatment plans. Under supervision, students will be given the opportunity to develop competence in the provision of psychological treatments to individuals and (where appropriate) groups. In addition, the subject aims to give the student experience of professional psychology practice, including professional presentation, report writing and record keeping, managing a clinical caseload, and liasing with other professional practitioners.
Over the 40 days, students are required to complete at least 15 hours of psychological assessments and to accrue a further 85 hours of face-to-face contact with patients (assessment and ongoing treatment of adults). Students are required to participate in regular weekly supervision. Supervisors for the Clinic placement will be registered as both psychologists and supervisors with the Psychology Board of Australia (PBA). Students undertaking this placement must be provisionally registered with the PBA and hold current Police and Working with Children's checks.
Students will also be required to attend workshops that address specific clinical skills and are practical in nature.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this placement subject, students should:
Knowledge
- Become familiar with the clinical features of many mental health disorders experienced by adults, problem-oriented interviewing and communication, formal clinical examination, diagnostic formulation, and case presentation;
- Developing an understanding of the theory underlying practical skills in counselling, interviewing, conducting mental state examinations and history taking and diagnostic interviewing, and including mindfulness in treatment.
Skills
- Competent administration and scoring of a wide range of standardized neuropsychological tests and abilities measures, and demonstrate understanding of their psychometric underpinnings and underlying cognitive and behavioural processes;
- Conducting professional interviews, and assessments (including standardised psychological testing to assess and interpret aspects of functioning as well as formal diagnostic assessments) and synthesise information from multiple sources, including assessment of risk, to formulate a conceptualisation of the presenting issues to determine the most appropriate interventions, including management of risk;
- Interpreting and communicating assessment findings in oral and written formats, including formal psychological reports, using culturally appropriate language;
- Implementing appropriate, empirically supported, culturally appropriate interventions, and monitor clients' progress and intervention outcomes.
Application of Knowledge and Skills
- Rigorously apply professional practice policies and procedures, including as they relate to referral management and record-keeping, across a range of workplace settings and with recognition of different organisational and cultural practices;
- Work effectively with a range of professionals and support staff in the workplace and communicate and collaborate effectively, within the bounds of ethical and legal requirements, demonstrating respect for the skills and contribution of other professionals;
- Evaluate the effectiveness of their professional practice (in conjunction with clinical supervisors), identifying areas for improvement and implementing changes where needed.
Generic skills
This placement subject is designed to promote an in-depth understanding of specialist practice, to expand the range of ways in which learning occurs; to develop a capacity to work collaboratively, to confront and manage unfamiliar problems, to value different cultures, and to develop a high regard for human rights, ethics and equity.
Last updated: 31 January 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Admission into one of the following:
- 527CL Master of Psychology (Clinical Psychology)
- 527CN Master of Psychology (Clinical Neuropsychology)
- 080CL Master of Psychology (Clinical Psychology)/Doctor of Philosophy
- 080CN Master of Psychology (Clinical Neuropsychology)/Doctor of Philosophy
AND
All of
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSYC90011 | Introduction to Assessment and Diagnosis | Summer Term (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
6.25 |
| PSYC90031 | Adult Psychopathology | Summer Term (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
6.25 |
Corequisites
All of
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSYC90006 | Basic Interventions | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
6.25 |
| PSYC90007 | Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
6.25 |
| PSYC90008 | Ethics and Professional Issues | March (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
6.25 |
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: 31 January 2025
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Hurdle requirement: Attendance at placement for 100 hours face to face clinical work (assessment and treatment) | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
| Hurdle requirement: Satisfactory completion of all workshops addressing assessment techniques and clinical skills. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
| Hurdle requirement: Students must provide evidence that log books are checked and endorsed by their primary placement supervisor AT LEAST every fortnight. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
| Hurdle requirement: Completion of placement goals assessed on a pass/fail basis throughout year. | Throughout the teaching period | 100% |
| Hurdle requirement: RiskAware online training as hurdle component to be completed prior to students commencing placement activities. | To be completed at commencement of teaching period | N/A |
Additional details
Completion of placement goals assessed on a pass/fail basis throughout year.
The assessment is undertaken by the Placement Coordinator, in consultation with the supervisor, on the basis of satisfactory attainment of placement goals following APAC accreditation placement standards. Placement goals are as follows: Experience in the administration and interpretation of a range of psychological assessment strategies and the writing of psychological reports; understanding of typical courses and prognoses of disorders, and capacity to develop appropriate treatment and management plans; experience with a variety of intervention strategies, which may include case management, individual therapy, family therapy and/or group interventions, and to be capable of evaluating those interventions; experience in functioning as an independent clinical psychologist within the facility, although closely supervised by placement supervisors
Last updated: 31 January 2025
Dates & times
- Year Long
Principal coordinator Litza Kiropoulos Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Equivalent of 80 hours face to face client work over approximately 26 weeks. Total time commitment 200 hours Teaching period 1 March 2021 to 24 October 2021 Last self-enrol date 12 March 2021 Census date 31 May 2021 Last date to withdraw without fail 24 September 2021 Assessment period ends 19 November 2021 Year Long contact information
Last updated: 31 January 2025
Further information
- Texts
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Last updated: 31 January 2025