Doctor of Clinical and Health Psychology

Summary

This program is for students commencing in 2007 onwards.

Some minor changes to the program have been included in this document but are subject to the approval of the Academic Senate.

The Doctor of Clinical and Health Psychology is a professional qualification for those who wish to work as Clinical Psychologists or Health Psychologists. It aims to train psychologists who can apply psychological research and methods to: the prevention and managements of disease and mental disorder; the promotion and maintenance of (mental) health; the identification of psychological factors contributing to illness and disorder; and the improvement of the health care system and health policy.

The program has been approved by the College of Clinical Psychologists and the College of Health Psychologists of the Australian Psychological Society (APS) for the purposes of determining eligibility for college membership.

This is a fee paying program. Australian students may be able to participate in the Higher Education Loans Program (FEE-HELP).

Program duration

The program can be completed over three years full-time or six years part-time study. Students commence studies in February. Please refer to the Term dates on the University website at: www.newcastle.edu.au/dates/

Admission criteria

Admission to the degree would be available to applicants who meet the following requirements:

1. hold an Honours degree in Psychology, awarded at the level of First Class or Second Class Division A that has been accredited by the Australian Psychological Society (or a recognised equivalent); or have successfully completed a four year accredited program in Psychology and transfer into the program from the Master of Health or the Master of Clinical Psychology after one year of enrolment or equivalent part-time, having demonstrated a high standard of performance;
2. be eligible for provisional registration as a psychologist with the Psychologists Registration Board of New South Wales and associate membership of the Australian Psychological Society;
3. satisfy the School of Psychology of their suitability for the professional practice of Clinical and Health Psychology and their ability to conduct doctoral level research.
4. Applicants would normally be expected to have had several years of relevant professional experience. i.e. helping people with physical and/or mental health problems or otherwise work with children, adolescents, adults or the elderly.

Selection criteria will also be based on applicants demonstrating a clear understanding of Clinical and Health Psychology and the areas in which a Clinical and Health Psychologist might work.

Desirable criteria include research experience additional to Honours and involvement with professional organisations (eg. APS or Australasian Society for Behavioural Health and Medicine).

How to apply

Applications for the Doctor of Clinical and Health Psychology program are via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) and can be made online or by using a hard-copy UAC application form available in the Postgraduate UAC guide. Applicants must also provide a professional portfolio directly to the University for assessment (see below)www.uac.edu.au/postgraduate.html

International Students must apply directly through the University of Newcastle International Admissions officehttp://www.international.newcastle.edu.au

International applicants must also provide a professional portfolio with their application to the International Admissions office. Applicants with overseas qualifications must provide evidence from the APS that their studies have been assessed and are equivalent to a 4 year APS accredited program of study. For further details please refer to the APS website: www.psychology.org.au

Applicants should refer to the Postgraduate UAC guide or the UAC website for closing dates. Applications usually close in early October each year for admission in Semester 1 the following year. Professional portfolios must be submitted to the University before the closing date.

This is a fee paying postgraduate program. The fees and charges vary depending on the type of place you are applying for. For more information visit the Fees and Charges section on our website: http://www.newcastle.edu.au/study/fees/

Please note the selection process involves attendance at a personal interview.

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED

All applicants are required to submit a professional portfolio directly to the University in addition to the application lodged through UAC.

The professional portfolio must include an application cover letter, a résumé, and appropriate attachments. The attachments will include reports from referees and certified copies of university transcripts

Applicants must provide the following in their professional portfolio:

• Cover letter addressing how you fulfil the selection criteria. The purpose of the letter is to communicate a specific, personalised message to the selection panel and should answer the question "Why should you be selected for the program?"
• Resume including details of any relevant additional training, research experience additional to Honours, and details of any involvement with professional organisations.
• Certified copies of Academic transcripts- please note that certified copies may also need to be provided to UAC.
• Two written professional references (please note there is no specified template/format). At least one of your referees should be a registered Psychologist who can comment on your experience and/or potential to practice Clinical and Health Psychology.

It is important that the evidence you choose is verified, authentic, relevant and current and provides sufficient evidence to meet the specified criteria.

Professional Portfolios should either be delivered or forwarded to the following address:

Shortland Student HUB
Level 4, Shortland Union Building
University of Newcastle
University Drive
Callaghan, NSW
2308

Career Opportunities

There are many career opportunities for Clinical and Health Psychologists in Area Health Services and other government agencies such as the Department of Community Services and the Department of Ageing, Disability & Home Care as well as in non-government organisations and in the private sector. Clinical and Health Psychologists work within clinical settings such as hospitals, with individual patients and/or their families, but are also equipped to work as health promotion practitioners across a variety of settings.

Program Structure

To qualify for admission to the Doctor of Clinical and Health Psychology, a candidate shall satisfactorily complete a program of study totalling not less than 250 units, comprising coursework, placements and a major thesis:

• Five placements (each 10 units) contribute to a total of 1500 hours of placement experience. The placements are available in a wide range of settings, and the placement supervisors are qualified Psychologists who are eligible for membership of the College of Health Psychologists or the College of Clinical Psychologists of the Australian Psychological Society.
• Research and Research-Related Courses (80 units). One of these is a compulsory course on research methods (10 units), whilst the others comprise an individual research project undertaken under supervision. The project must make an original and significant contribution of merit to scientific knowledge and must address a topic relevant to Clinical and Health Psychology.
• Compulsory Courses (120 units). These courses include: health and psychology, professional and ethical practice, introduction to health promotion, counselling and clinical interventions, clinical health interventions, facilitating best practice health care, advanced population health psychology, clinical psychology of adults, children, and adolescents, cognitive and neuropsychological assessment.

Students who have completed the 160 units that are required for the Master of Health Psychology will be eligible to exit with the Master of Health Psychology.

Further Information

For further information on this program, please contact the Program Officers for the Faculty of Science and Information Technology at:

Shortland HUB
Telephone: + 61 2 4921 5000
Fax: + 61 2 4921 6914
Email: EnquiryCentre@newcastle.edu.au
Website: http://www.newcastle.edu.au/students/hubs/

Prescribed Courses

For information on course descriptions and/or assumed knowledge requirements click on the appropriate course code. Please note that not all courses will be available each semester. To determine availability of courses, click on the appropriate course code and follow the links to timetabling information.

Schedule