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Ethics and Professional Issues (PSYC90008)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 6.25On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable (login required)(opens in new window)
Contact information
February
Prof Lisa Phillips
Overview
Availability | February |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
This subject is organised around four major areas:
- risk assessment and management;
- theoretical foundations of ethics;
- ethical problems and the application of ethical principles to practice, and legal and institutional regulations; and
- codes of practice and guidelines.
The exploration, clarification and possible resolution of selected ethical dilemmas commonly faced by psychologists will be covered and may include:
- assessing and managing client risk;
- psychologist/client relationships (for example, confidentiality,
- boundary violations,
- assessment of dangerousness,
- patient and client rights,
- professional responsibility,
- special groups (such as children, employer-psychologist ethical differences);
- psychologist/institutional relationships (such as state regulation of professional practice, legal requirements, certification, mandatory reporting, guardianship, unprofessional conduct);
- research ethics; and
- personal ethical development.
Specific emphasis will be placed on awareness of cultural diversity and the role of culture in defining and influencing ethical practice.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject, students should:
Knowledge
- Develop an understanding of the ethical codes and guidelines of the Australian Psychological Society and the Psychology Registration Board and the operation of their regulating bodies;
- Develop an understanding of current ethical theories, including the relationship between ethics, morals, values and legal codes, as they relate to professional practice.
Skills
On completion of this subject students should be able to:
- Assess client risk (ie suicidality, self-harm, harm to others) and implement appropriate responses;
- Analyse ethical issues and problems that psychologists are likely to encounter in their professional practice;
- Explore professional issues related to working with clients or patients, other professionals, employers and employees and institutions and organisations within the context of ethical practice.
Application of Knowledge and Skills
On completion of this subject, students should:
- Develop a personal conceptual framework for approaching ethical and professional issues.
Generic skills
Advanced information interpretation skills
Advanced analytic, integration and problem solving skills
Advanced written skills
Last updated: 26 March 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
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: 26 March 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Online quiz (25 questions) covering ethical guidelines provided by Australian Psychology Society and the Australian Registration Board (N.B. background reading must have been completed during pre-teaching period), held end of day 1 of teaching period Hurdle requirement | Early in the teaching period | 20% |
Report addressing case study of ethical dilemma
| Day 3 | 20% |
Essay
| 1 Weeks after the end of teaching | 60% |
Hurdle requirement: Attendance at full-day Risk Assessment Workshop | During the teaching period | N/A |
Hurdle requirement: Hurdle requirement of at least 80% attendance at all coursework and seminar activities associated with this subject. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Last updated: 26 March 2024
Dates & times
- February
Principal coordinator Lisa Phillips Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total time commitment 85 hours Teaching period 27 February 2024 to 19 March 2024 Last self-enrol date 1 March 2024 Census date 8 March 2024 Last date to withdraw without fail 15 March 2024 Assessment period ends 28 March 2024 February contact information
Prof Lisa Phillips
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: 26 March 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
- Confidentiality for Mental Health Professionals : A Guide to Ethical and Legal Principles
- Students undertake provided readings from Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (apac) and the Australian Psychology Society ethical guidelines for psychologists and complete and on-line questionnaire
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Last updated: 26 March 2024