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  3. Clinical Placement 2

Clinical Placement 2 (PSYC90077)

Graduate courseworkPoints: 18.75On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

Availability
Year Long (Extended) - On Campus
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This subject supports students to develop competencies of generally registered psychologists in a clinical psychology area of practice competency, via clinical practice within partner services and university-based group discussion. In this process, students translate and integrate academic coursework into clinical practice.

Students are required to complete at least 150 hours of direct client contact and an additional 200 hours of indirect client related activity at an external agency, taking into account regulatory requirements for placements across the program (including, but not limited to, practise across the life span). Field placement activities include clinical assessment of referred cases, case formulation and diagnosis, development of management strategies where appropriate, recording interactions with and about clients, and attendance at relevant clinical meeting/ward rounds, and participation in supervision consistent with regulatory guidelines.

Students are also required to attend and present cases seen on field placement at a weekly case conference in the Melbourne School of Psychological Science during the teaching semesters over the course of their enrolment in this subject. 

Students undertaking this subject must be provisionally registered with the Psychology Board of Australia (PBA) and meet other local and service-level regulatory requirements. External supervisors must be registered psychologists and be a Psychology Board of Australia-approved higher degree supervisor.

Intended learning outcomes

Knowledge


On completion of this placement subject, students should be able to:

  • Expand on their familiarity with the clinical features of mental health disorders, problem-oriented interviewing and communication, formal clinical examination, diagnostic formulation, and case presentation.

Skills


On completion of this subject, students should demonstrate skills in:


 

  • Interpreting and communicating assessment findings in oral and written formats, including formal psychological reports, using culturally appropriate language;
  • 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;
  • Implementing appropriate, empirically supported, culturally appropriate interventions, and monitor clients' progress and intervention outcomes.

 Application of Knowledge and Skills


On completion of this subject, students should be able to:

  • 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

  1. Advanced problem identification and problem solving skills
  2. Advanced written, oral and interpersonal communication skills
  3. Advanced information integration skills

Last updated: 6 February 2026