Home  /   Course Handbook  /  Psychology Clinic Placement (PSYC6504)

PSYC6504

Psychology Clinic Placement

10 Units 6000 Level Course

Available in 2013

Callaghan Campus Semester 1, Semester 2

Previously offered in 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004

The Psychology Clinic placement is normally of 32 days duration and should ordinarily be the first in the sequence of placements, it provides students with opportunities:
(a) develop inter-personal, intra-personal and profesional/clinical skills
(b) to observe practice by qualified professionals,
(c) to apply, under supervision, the knowledge and skills they have acquired in assessment, formulation, intervention, evaluation and reporting,
(d) to receive feedback on their performance, and
(e) to gain experience in the planning and organisation of services.


This course includes compulsory components:

1. Submission of a placement Learning Agreement
2. A mid-placement review
3. The administration and reporting of a psychological/cognitive assessment
4. A critical appraisal of at least one videoed clinical session
5. A presentation of a case study
6. The completion of a review of the placement including:
a. The supervisor's evaluation of competence;
b. The completion of the set placement hours; and
c. The submission of a completed placement log book.

In order to participate in this course, students must hold provisional registration or full registration with the Psychology Board of Australia and have completed the compulsory Health and Safety requirement and all of requirements of ClinConnect Certificate of Compliance. Students will receive full information on this Compulsory Course Component in the course outline provided by the School of Psychology.

Objectives At the conclusion of the placement students will be able to do the following at a level of expertise appropriate to their stage of training:



1. Demonstrate basic professional/clinical, inter-personal and intra-personal skills.
2. Demonstrate a basic level of counselling Skills.
3. Engage in clinical supervision in a manner which will help their professional/practical, inter-personal and intra-personal skills’ development.
4. Select, administer and report appropriate psychological instruments for assessment or other methods for data collection, and analyse and evaluate the results within a clinical setting.
5. Integrate and interpret information from a range of sources in order to arrive at a formulation (describe clients’ problems within a psychological framework).
6. Devise and implement an action plan which is evidence based and clearly derived from the formulation.
7. Monitor and evaluate the effects of the action plan and make modifications as required.
8. Provide clear, comprehensive, accurate, and relevant verbal and written reports of their activities.
9. Conduct themselves in a professional and ethical manner.
10. Understand the organisation of the clinical unit and work effectively and co-operatively within that organisation.
Content 1. Introduction to the Clinic setting, including points of decision making, channels of communication, roles and functioning of key staff.
2. Observation of the supervisors’ professional work, including (where relevant) reports of clinical activity.
3. Attendance at and participation in supervision meetings.
4. The provision of clinical care to one or more clients.
5. Instruction and guidance in ethical and professional conduct, the choice of assessment instruments, the development and evaluation of psychological formulations and action plans, and the construction of reports.
6. Feedback on and supervision of the student’s placement work.
Replacing Course(s) None
Transition Not Applicable
Industrial Experience 0
Assumed Knowledge It is assumed that students will have completed a four-year program in Psychology which included course(s) on abnormal psychology and which has been accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council. It is also assumed that students will have completed the courses PSYC6502, Counselling and Clinical Intervention, and PSYC6501, Professional and Ethical Practice, or that they are taking these courses concurrently.
Modes of Delivery Internal Mode
Teaching Methods Clinical
Assessment Items
Essays / Written Assignments Report of a clinical activity
Other: (please specify) Review of Placement
This assessment is Compulsory Course Component for the course. A Pass grade is required in order to pass the overall course. Assessment of this course requires:

1. Completion of an agreed number of hours undertaken in a professional clinical or health promotion setting under the direction of an approved placement supervisor.

2. Submission of a supervisor's evaluation of competence

3. Submission of an adequately maintained placement log-book

The supervisor will complete an evaluation of competence that will contribute to the School's decision on a placement Pass or Fail grade.

Each of these components must be met in order to ensure that the course objectives are satisfied and the requirements for accreditation and registration with the NSW Psychologists Registration Board are met.

Clinical competence at or above the level expected for the stage of training, and the submission of an adequately maintained logbook, are a Compulsory Course Component in the assessment of placements. That is, it is not possible to pass a placement course unless these criteria have been met.
1. Submission of a placement Learning Agreement
2. A mid-placement review
3. The administration and reporting of a psychological/cognitive assessment
4. A critical appraisal of at least one videoed clinical session
5. A presentation of a case study
6. The completion of a review of the placement including:
a. The supervisor's evaluation of competence;
b. The completion of the set placement hours; and
c. The submission of a completed placement log book.



Each of these components must be met in order to ensure that the course objectives are satisfied and the requirements for accreditation and registration with the Psychologists Registration Board of Australia are met.

Clinical competence (i.e. professional/clinical, inter-personal and intra-personal skills) at or above the level expected for the stage of training, and the submission of an adequately maintained logbook, are a Compulsory Course Component in the assessment of placements. That is, it is not possible to pass a placement course unless these criteria have been met.
Contact Hours Practicum: for 16 hour(s) per Week for Full Term
Compulsory Components
Requisite by Enrolment This course is only available to students enrolled in the Master of Clinical Psychology, Doctor of Clinical Psychology, or Doctor of Clinical and Health Psychology Programs.
Compulsory Course Component National Police Certificate
Compulsory Course Component Working with Children Declaration Form
Compulsory Course Component OHS-Safety Induction or Risk Assessment. Compulsory Course Component: In order to participate in this course students must complete a compulsory safety induction.
Compulsory Course Component ClinConnect Certificate of Compliance
Compulsory Course Component Pre-Placement Requirements
Timetables 2013 Course Timetables for PSYC6504