Advanced Psychological Practice 1 (PSYC90017)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 6.25On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
Contact information
Semester 2
Principal Coordinator: A/Prof Brett Deacon
brett.deacon@unimelb.edu.au
Overview
| Availability | Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
The overall aim of this subject is to provide a forum for the exploration of advanced therapeutic approaches and complex clinical issues in order to prepare graduates for the transition to working as a professional psychologist.
A sense of professional identity and competence is fostered through the exploration of advanced treatment approaches and complex clinical practice issues. The subject is concerned with the examination of aspects of clinical psychology practice with an emphasis on students developing a critical approach to various clinical, professional practice and evaluation issues. Students will be given the opportunity to enhance their knowledge of advanced clinical practice issues, including psychotherapy process, treatment approaches for complex clinical presentations, risk assessment and primary prevention approaches. Students will gain critical understanding of public and private sector contexts for clinical practice, and related regulations, policies and procedures relating to service evaluation and quality assurance, supervision, practice management and professional development.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject, students should be able to:
Knowledge
- Compare and contrast the roles of clinical psychologists across a range of settings, including multi‐disciplinary teams and working with family systems by participation in class discussion of clinical scenarios that examine psychologists' roles;
- Develop treatment plans that are tailored to the service needs of a diverse range of client groups such as the LGBTIQA community, indigenous Australians and asylum seekers and refugees to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the issues involved in the provision of specialist mental health services;
- Critically analyse a range of advanced clinical skills, such as working with process issues in therapy, including handling therapeutic ruptures and boundary issues and apply these skills to small group‐based analysis of clinical cases that illustrate therapy dynamics.
Skills
On completion of this subject students should:
- Develop a growing sense of self as therapist and a commitment to lifelong professional development
Application of Knowledge and Skills
On completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- Reflect on personal experience of supervision and understand AHPRA requirements for ongoing supervision and continuing professional development.
Generic skills
Analytic and synthesizing skills leading to improved information integration
Problem-solving skills
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
All of
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSYC90011 | Introduction to Assessment and Diagnosis | Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville) |
6.25 |
| PSYC90030 | Principles of Psychological Assessment | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
6.25 |
| PSYC90023 | Child Psychopathology | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
6.25 |
| PSYC90015 | Advanced Psychopathology | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
6.25 |
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: 4 March 2025
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
An in-class presentation based on one of twelve lecture topics
| Throughout the semester | 40% |
An assignment of an essay
| End of semester | 60% |
| Hurdle requirement: Attendance at three workshops addressing clinically relevant topics. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
| Hurdle requirement: Hurdle requirement of at least 80% attendance at all coursework and seminar activities associated with this subject. If the attendance hurdle is not met, an additional piece of work will be required. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Principal coordinator Brett Deacon Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 1.5 hours of lectures/seminars per week for 12 weeks, plus attendance at three 6-hour clinical workshops Total time commitment 85 hours Teaching period 28 July 2025 to 26 October 2025 Last self-enrol date 8 August 2025 Census date 1 September 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 26 September 2025 Assessment period ends 21 November 2025 Semester 2 contact information
Principal Coordinator: A/Prof Brett Deacon
brett.deacon@unimelb.edu.au
Time commitment details
85 hours
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: 4 March 2025
Further information
- Texts
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Master of Psychology (Clinical Psychology) Course Master of Psychology (Clinical Psychology)/Doctor of Philosophy
Last updated: 4 March 2025