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Professional Placement (Clinical) 1 (PSYC90121)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 18.75On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable (login required)(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 1
Principal Coordinator: Prof Lisa Phillips
lisajp@unimelb.edu.au
Overview
| Availability | Semester 1 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
Students are required to complete 300 hours of placement (equivalent to a 40 day placement) in the University of Melbourne Psychology Clinic. Students will have the opportunity to observe a range of clinical presentations in adult and child 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 possible) 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 liaising 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.
In addition students are required to attend, and present cases seen on placement at a weekly group supervision session over the course of their enrolment in this subject.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this placement subject, students should be able to:
Knowledge
- Demonstrate familiarity 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
- Apply the theory underlying practical skills in counselling, interviewing, conducting mental state examinations and history taking and diagnostic interviewing, and including mindfulness in treatment.
Skills
- Demonstrate competence in 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
- Conduct 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
- Interprete and communicate assessment findings in oral and written formats, including formal psychological reports, using culturally appropriate language
- Implement appropriate, empirically supported, culturally appropriate interventions, and monitor clients' progress and intervention outcomes.
Application of Knowledge and Skills
- 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
- An in-depth understanding of specialist practice
- Expanded understanding of the range of ways in which learning occurs
- Capacity to work collaboratively
- Capacity to confront and manage unfamiliar problems
- Valuing different cultures
- Development of a high regard for human rights, ethics and equity.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
All of
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSYC90009 | Individual and Cultural Diversity | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
6.25 |
| PSYC90030 | Principles of Psychological Assessment | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
6.25 |
| PSYC90011 | Introduction to Assessment and Diagnosis | Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville) |
6.25 |
| PSYC90023 | Child Psychopathology | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
6.25 |
| PSYC90016 | Advanced Psychological Practice 2 | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
6.25 |
Note: these subjects can also be taken concurrently (at the same time)
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
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 2024
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Attendance at placement for 300 hours face to face clinical work (assessment and treatment)
| Throughout the semester | N/A |
Students must provide evidence that log books are checked and endorsed by their primary placement supervisor AT LEAST every fortnight.
| Throughout the semester | N/A |
RiskAware online training as hurdle component to be completed prior to students commencing placement activities.
| Week 1 | N/A |
Regular attendance at, and contribution to group supervision.
| Throughout the semester | N/A |
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Lisa Phillips Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total time commitment 306 hours Teaching period 26 February 2024 to 26 May 2024 Last self-enrol date 8 March 2024 Census date 3 April 2024 Last date to withdraw without fail 3 May 2024 Assessment period ends 21 June 2024 Semester 1 contact information
Principal Coordinator: Prof Lisa Phillips
lisajp@unimelb.edu.au
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
There are no specifically prescribed or recommended texts for this subject.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Graduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology
Last updated: 31 January 2024