Master of Professional Psychology

2019 Deakin University Handbook

Note: You are seeing the 2019 view of this course information. These details may no longer be current. [Go to the current version]

Year	2019 course information
Award granted	Master of Professional Psychology
Course Map	This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2019. Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser.
Campus	Offered at Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong)
Cloud Campus	No
Duration	1 year full-time or 2 years part-time
Deakin course code	H744
Approval status	This course is approved by the University under the Higher Education Standards Framework.
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9.

Course sub-headings

Course overview

The Master of Professional Psychology will qualify graduates with an advanced body of knowledge in a range of contexts for the professional practice of psychology. It will specifically equip you with the core competencies required by the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA) to practice as a generalist psychologist. Graduates at this level will have specialised knowledge and skills for the professional practice of psychology.

Indicative student workload

As a student in the Faculty of Health you can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include cloud-located classes, practicals, face-to-face intensives, placements and online interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.

Professional recognition

On successful completion of this course, graduates will have acquired the necessary skills to proceed to secure a final year of supervised practice in the field to enable them to gain generalist registration as a psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia (under the '5+1 internship model' for registration). This course has been accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) in accordance with the Accreditation Standards for Psychology Program. The eligibility of students for registration as a general psychologist by the Psychology Board of Australia is subject to meeting the requirements of the regulatory body (including the National Psychology Examination). Deakin University makes no representation that students will meet those requirements.

Career opportunities

Graduates of the Master of Professional Psychology may find work in a wide variety of settings including the providers of specialist psychological services, Department of Health and Human Services, human resources, rehabilitation, disability services, schools and private practice.

Participation requirements

All students, whether full time or part time, will be required to attend a number of compulsory workshops and weekend intensives throughout the course. In addition, students will be expected to attend at least 80% of blackboard collaborate sessions for their Units across the year. Students should expect to commit 10-12 hours of study per week per unit. Requirements for placements will vary depending upon where a student completes their practicum

Mandatory student checks

Department of Human Services policy - Police Record Check and Working With Children Check

In accordance with Department of Human Services policy, all students are required to undertake a National Police Record Check prior to clinical placements in each calendar year of their course.

In accordance with the Department of Justice 2007, Working with Children Act 2005, amended 2017, all students are required to undertake a Working with Children Check at the commencement of their course. Students who fail to obtain a Police Record Check and a Working with Children Check prior to the commencement of clinical placement will not be able to undertake clinical placement and this will impede progress in the course.

Students may also be required to declare their immunisation status to satisfy the requirements of health organisations where they will be undertaking their clinical learning experience. A health organisation may refuse to accept a student for placement if the student’s immunisation status is not satisfactory to the health organisation.

Under the regulations of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009, Master of Psychology students are required to be provisionally registered from the commencement of enrolment and for the duration of enrolment in their degree. This is a mandatory requirement. Students should apply online for provisional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia as soon as they have been accepted into the degree. Alternatively, a paper form is available on the Board’s website (see Application for provisional registration - APRO-76

Pathways

H744 is a stand-alone, post graduate course that has no direct pathway to another Deakin course. Nearly 100% of graduates transition directly to full-time work. A small number of students with research aptitude and interest enrol in the PhD program.

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on your course, your fee category and the year you started. To find out about the fees and charges that apply to you, visit the Current students fees website.

Course Learning Outcomes

Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline Specific knowledge and capabilities	Displays broad knowledge of common client presentations seen across the lifespan and understanding of the theoretical principles and research underlying psychological practice that prepares students to undertake the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA) internship program leading to full registration as a Psychologist.
Communication	Compose clearly written case reports; demonstrate effective verbal and interpersonal communication skills using appropriate language to communicate with specialists and non-specialists such as other health professionals, clients and carers within a range of professional settings.
Digital Literacy	Use appropriate technologies to collect relevant discipline-specific information; assemble, evaluate, justify and integrate this information to formulate appropriate hypotheses, assessment and treatment approaches and disseminate this information to clients and health professionals.
Critical thinking	Critically evaluate and integrate scientific evidence and under supervision, transform this information into case formulations, assessment, interventions and policy that demonstrate evidence-based practice in the field of psychology.
Problem Solving	Under the guidance of a supervisor, analyse theoretical frameworks and adapt foundation knowledge and skills to design evidence-based intervention and management approaches tailored to meet the needs of diverse client presentations.
Self-management	Demonstrates ethical and professional practice, showing an appreciation of the need for continued supervision, accountability, good judgment and reflective practice in all areas of psychological and professional work and complies with the National Law requirements for conduct, health and performance.
Teamwork	Develop, maintain and manage professional, ethical and collaborative relationships with multidisciplinary team members and stakeholders to work effectively together in the best interest of the client and the profession.
Global Citizenship	Demonstrate, report and apply ethical, legal and professional principles to work productively as a provisional psychologist within diverse social cultural and environmental contexts by collaborating and communicating in a self-reflective and culturally sensitive manner.

Course rules

To complete the Master of Professional Psychology students must attain 8 credit points. All 8 units are core. The course has a strong emphasis on the development of skills and evidence-based practice. Students will complete a minimum of 4 credit points each trimester over one year for full time study or part time equivalent.

Students are required to complete and pass both Practicum units. Failure of placement is grounds for exclusion.

All commencing Faculty of Health Undergraduate and Postgraduate course work students are required to complete HAI010 Academic Integrity in their first trimester of study (0 credit point compulsory unit).

Course structure

Core units

Level 1 - Trimester 1

HAI010

Academic Integrity (0 credit points)

HPY722

Practice and Ethics in Professional Psychology

HPY723

Psychological Assessment in Practice

HPY724

Psychological Interview and Intervention Strategies

HPY725

Professional Practicum A

Level 1 - Trimester 2

HPY726

Psychological Practice Across the Lifespan

HPY727

Working with Diverse Populations

HPY728

Applied Methods for Professional Practice

HPY729

Professional Practicum B

Work experience

Placement program

Placements are designed to equip students with a range of professional skills and an awareness of professional issues in psychological practice. You will have placements in at least two different settings. Your placement program will be determined jointly by you, the placement coordinators, and the practitioners supervising the placements. Contracts will be drawn up which will clearly specify the skills to be taught and the responsibilities of the student and placement supervisor. Placement supervisors are registered psychologists, eligible for membership of the Australian Psychological Society. Each placement requires the full complement of days to be completed. Failure of any one placement may result in exclusion from the course.

Other course information

Course duration - additional information

Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.