Clinical Placement 1 (PSYC90012)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
Overview
| Availability | Year Long |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
Students are required to complete 40 days of placement in the University of Melbourne Psychology Clinic. Students will have the opportunity to observe a range of clinical presentations, conduct psychological assessments and deliver psychological interventions, under supervision with adult, child and family patients. They will gain experience in history taking, conducting mental state examinations, arriving at case formulations 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 case 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 (predominately intervention-focussed work). 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.
Students are also required to attend 4.5 hours of training in the administration and scoring of the WAIS, WMS and WISC and to demonstrate competency in administration and scoring of these tests. They will also be required to complete an online training module (‘RiskAware’) that provides training in awareness of the risks associated with the clinical placement environment and ways to manage or control for these risks.
Intended learning outcomes
Knowledge
On completion of this placement subject, students should be able to:
- Identify the clinical features of many mental health disorders experienced by children and adults.
Skills
On completion of this subject, students should demonstrate skills in:
- Administration and scoring of a wide range of standardised neuropsychological tests as well as understanding of their psychometric underpinnings;
- Conducting structured and semi-structured assessments to understand psychological issues experienced by patients (including standardised psychological testing where appropriate);
- Conducting assessments of risk, including consideration of information from multiple sources if appropriate;
- Interpreting and communicating assessment findings in oral and written formats, including formal psychological reports, using culturally appropriate language;
- Developing appropriate, empirically supported, culturally appropriate intervention plans (including management of risk);
- Implementing interventions (including management of risk), and monitoring clients' progress and intervention outcomes.
Application of Knowledge and Skills
On completion of this subject, students should demonstrate competency in:
- Rigorously applying professional practice policies and procedures, including as they relate to referral management and record-keeping;
- 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;
- Evaluating the effectiveness of their professional practice (in conjunction with clinical supervisors), identifying areas for improvement and implementing changes where needed.
Generic skills
- A capacity to work collaboratively
- An ability to confront and manage unfamiliar problems
- A capacity to value different cultures
- A high regard for human rights, ethics and equity.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Admission into one of the following:
- Admission into or selection of one of the following:
- 527CL Master of Psychology (Clinical Psychology)
- 080CL Master of Psychology (Clinical Psychology)/Doctor of Philosophy
AND
All of
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSYC90011 | Introduction to Assessment and Diagnosis | Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville) |
6.25 |
| PSYC90031 | Adult Psychopathology | Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville) |
6.25 |
Corequisites
All of
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSYC90006 | Basic Interventions | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
6.25 |
| PSYC90007 | Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
6.25 |
| PSYC90008 | Ethics and Professional Issues | March (On Campus - Parkville) |
6.25 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Hurdle requirement: Attendance at placement for 100 hours face to face clinical work (assessment and treatment) and regular (weekly or equivalent as negotiated with the subject coordinator/clinical supervisor) attendance at supervision. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Submission of record of placement activities (including direct client hours, other client related activity and supervision hours- aka 'logbook') Hurdle requirement: Students must provide evidence that log books are checked and endorsed by their primary placement supervisor AT LEAST every fortnight. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
| Hurdle requirement: Competency in a range of clinical skills assessed on a pass/fail basis throughout year by supervisor | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
| Hurdle requirement: RiskAware online training as hurdle component to be completed prior to students commencing placement activities. | To be completed at commencement of teaching period | N/A |
Additional details
Completion of placement goals assessed on a pass/fail basis throughout year.
The assessment is undertaken by the Placement Coordinator, in consultation with the supervisor, on the basis of satisfactory attainment of placement goals following APAC accreditation placement standards. Placement goals are as follows: Experience in the administration and interpretation of a range of psychological assessment strategies and the writing of psychological reports; understanding of typical courses and prognoses of disorders, and capacity to develop appropriate treatment and management plans; experience with a variety of intervention strategies, which may include case management, individual therapy, family therapy and/or group interventions, and to be capable of evaluating those interventions; experience in functioning as an independent clinical psychologist within the facility, although closely supervised by placement supervisors.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Dates & times
- Year Long
Principal coordinator Lydia Brown Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Equivalent of 80 hours face to face client work over approximately 26 weeks. Total time commitment 300 hours Teaching period 3 March 2025 to 26 October 2025 Last self-enrol date 14 March 2025 Census date 2 June 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 26 September 2025 Assessment period ends 21 November 2025
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