Available in 2024
Course code

PSYC6504

Units

10 units

Level

6000 level

Course handbook

Description

This 24 day placement will give students practical skills in professional clinical psychology practice. Students will have opportunities to develop inter-personal, intra-personal and professional/clinical skills; to observe practice by qualified professionals; to apply, under supervision, the knowledge and skills they have acquired in assessment, formulation, intervention, evaluation and reporting; to receive feedback on their performance; and to gain experience in the planning and organisation of services. At the conclusion of this placement, students will demonstrate foundational skills in clinical psychology practice relevant to the context.


Availability2024 Course Timetables

Callaghan

  • Semester 1 - 2024
  • Semester 2 - 2024

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate effective culturally responsive professional/clinical, inter-personal and intra-personal skills. (Competency 3.3)

2. Demonstrate competent counselling skills. (Competency 3.9)

3. Engage in clinical supervision in a manner which will help their professional/practical, inter-personal and intra-personal skills development. (Competencies 3.12, 3.14, 3.15, 4.2.3.iii)

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. (Competencies 3.4, 3.6, 4.2.2.ii)

5. Integrate, interpret, and synthesise clinical information from a range of sources to develop a psychological formulation that will guide intervention. (Competencies 3.6, 4.2.2.iii, 4.2.3.i)

6. Devise and implement psychological intervention plans which are evidence based and clearly derived from formulations. (Competencies 3.2, 3.9, 4.2.2.iii, 4.2.3.i)

7. Monitor, evaluate, and modify interventions based on their effectiveness. (Competencies 3.7, 3.9, 4.2.2.iv, 4.2.3.i, 4.2.3.ii)

8. Provide culturally appropriate, clear, comprehensive, accurate, and relevant verbal and written reports of their activities. (Competencies 3.3, 3.8)

9. Maintain behaviour consistent with ethical and professional standards with a focus on ensuring public safety. (Competencies 3.3, 3.10, 3.11, 3.13)

10. Work effectively and co-operatively by following the procedures of the psychology clinic. (Competencies 3.10, 3.11, 3.13)


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.

Review of Progress

This course is a compulsory program requirement and is monitored for academic progress purposes. The course must be completed to progress in the program or meet other program requirements.

Failure or withdrawal from this course will result in students being considered under the Student Academic Progress Procedure.


Requisite

This course is only available to students enrolled in the Master of Clinical Psychology [40187]


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.


Assessment items

Demonstrated competency: Demonstrated competencies in all listed assessments
Compulsory Requirement: Pass requirement - Must pass this assessment item to pass the course.

Project: Recorded counselling session with self-reflective report
Compulsory Requirement: Pass requirement - Must pass this assessment item to pass the course.

Practical Demonstration: Cognitive Assessment

Professional Task: Placement supervisor's evaluation
Compulsory Requirement: Pass requirement - Must pass this assessment item to pass the course.

Professional Task: Review of placement
Compulsory Requirement: Pass requirement - Must pass this assessment item to pass the course.


Compulsory Requirements

Compulsory Placement and WHS Requirements:

  • NSW Health Verification Requirements - Mandatory NSW Health Verification Requirements must be met.
  • WHS Requirement - Students must complete a Workplace Safety Induction or Risk Assessment.

Contact hours

Semester 1 - 2024 - Callaghan

Placement-1
  • Face to Face Off Campus 180 hour(s) per term
  • A total commitment of 24 days at 16 hours per week for the first 5 weeks. Placement can commence only after a learning agreement has been received and approved by the placement coordinator. Placements may continue across the academic semester boundaries.

Semester 2 - 2024 - Callaghan

Placement-1
  • Face to Face Off Campus 180 hour(s) per term
  • Placement can commence only after a learning agreement has been received and approved by the placement coordinator. Placements may continue across the academic semester boundaries.

Course outline