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Ethics and Professional Issues (PSYC90008)

Graduate courseworkPoints: 6.25On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

Availability
February
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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: 24 January 2023

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: 24 January 2023

Assessment

DescriptionTimingPercentage

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 period20%

Report addressing case study of ethical dilemma

  • 500 words
Hurdle requirement		Day 320%

Essay

  • 1500 words
Hurdle requirement: Students must pass this assessment.		1 Weeks after the end of teaching60%
Hurdle requirement: Attendance at full-day Risk Assessment WorkshopDuring the teaching periodN/A
Hurdle requirement: Hurdle requirement of at least 80% attendance at all coursework and seminar activities associated with this subject. Throughout the teaching periodN/A

Last updated: 24 January 2023

Dates & times

  • February
    Principal coordinatorLisa Phillips
    Mode of deliveryOn Campus (Parkville)
    Contact hours
    Total time commitment85 hours
    Teaching period28 February 2023 to 21 March 2023
    Last self-enrol date 3 March 2023
    Census date10 March 2023
    Last date to withdraw without fail17 March 2023
    Assessment period ends30 March 2023

    February contact information

    Prof Lisa Phillips

    lisajp@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).
    - Completion rate. Students who started their course from 2022 and are in a CSP or receiving a HELP Loan (eg FEE-HELP) must meet the completion rate to continue to receive Commonwealth Support for that course.

Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement, and as a fail toward the completion rate, unless there are approved ‘special circumstances’.

Last updated: 24 January 2023

Further information

Last updated: 24 January 2023