Master of Psychology (Clinical)

2018 Deakin University Handbook

Note: You are seeing the 2018 view of this course information. These details may no longer be current. [Go to the current version]

Year	2018 course information
Award granted	Master of Psychology (Clinical)
Course Map	This course map is for new students commencing from 2018. If you require a course map from a previous year, please contact a Student Adviser.
Campus	Offered at Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong)
Cloud Campus	No
Duration	The Master of Psychology (Clinical) is a two year degree that is designed to enable completion of coursework, practical placement units and the research thesis within these two years. However, in some instances, students may require slightly longer to complete their placement or research thesis.
CRICOS course code	060023G Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong)
Deakin course code	H750
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

Become a specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of psychological and mental health conditions.

Based on an integrative approach to clinical psychology that emphasises evidence-based practice, this course has been designed in consultation with industry partners. Interrelated steams of theory, research and practice provide the skills needed to become a registered psychologist.

Our award winning teaching strategies and learning resources, include simulation and competency-based assessment approaches.

The course is based on the scientist/practitioner model that rests firmly on a foundation of established knowledge and current evidence-based research.

As a student in our clinical training programs, you will have opportunities to develop clinical skills in our unique clinics embedded in our public mental health partners, Eastern Health and Barwon Health and through placements in an array of community agencies. This lets you put your academic knowledge into real-life application, as well as develops your professional identity and practice through early adoption of supervision and professional learning plans.

Most clinical psychologists develop expertise in specific areas or practise in sub-specialisations of clinical psychology. In addition to professional practice, clinical psychologists may be involved in research, teaching and supervision, program development and evaluation, public policy and other activities that promote psychological health in individuals, families and groups.

Deakin’s psychology courses are well regarded in the workplace, as are our graduates, with Deakin psychology students highly successful in gaining employment after graduation, and a significant number employed prior to the completion of their studies.

Indicative student workload

As the Master of Psychology (Clinical) is a full-time course, it requires a full-time commitment from students. We recognise that many students need to work, but our experience of students who have worked leads us to discourage work of any kind. Certainly no more than 6–8 hours per week should be undertaken. Students will not be given any special consideration because they are working. The face to face coursework component is predominantly offered at the Melbourne Burwood Campus in our purpose built clinical teaching facilities. Some units also have online components, requiring completion prior to, or concomitant with other coursework. Students are required to attend the Barwon Health Deakin Psychology Clinic at Geelong or the Eastern Health Clinic for their first placement.

Students are expected to attend a minimum of 80% of classes and case analysis seminars. If a student is unable to attend a class, they must notify the Unit Chair, preferably in advance. As distinct from undergraduate units, frequently material covered in classes is critical to effective clinical practice: classes may be practice-based, involve experiential learning or entail extensive student-teacher dialogues. Therefore, students should not assume that reading class notes is an adequate substitute for attendance. Failure to attend 80% of classes and seminars in a given unit will constitute grounds for failure in the unit. Students are expected to attend 100% of the placement days and are required to generate logbooks providing evidence of days of attendance and activities undertaken.

Professional recognition

This course is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC), and recognised by Psychology Board of Australia, the Australian Psychological Society (APS) and its College of Clinical Psychologists. On completion of the course you may apply to the Psychology Board of Australia for registration as a psychologist and to the APS for full membership. To obtain membership of the Clinical College of the APS and endorsement by the Psychology Board of Australia as a clinical psychologist, students are required to complete two years of approved supervised practice and fulfil professional development requirements.

Note: This course is currently accredited at the date of publishing. The eligibility of students for registration by the Psychology Board of Australia, and for membership of the APS and its Clinical College is subject to meeting the requirements of the regulatory body and the professional association. Deakin University makes no representation that students will meet those requirements.

Career opportunities

Clinical psychologists are specialists in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of psychological and mental health conditions that range from mild to severe and complex. They are often involved in designing and implementing a diverse range of prevention and mental health promotion programs, and may work with infants, children, adolescents, adults and older adults.

Most clinical psychologists develop expertise in specific areas, or practice in sub-specialisations of clinical psychology. In addition to professional practice, clinical psychologists may be involved in research, teaching and supervision, program development and evaluation, public policy and other activities that promote psychological health in individuals, families and groups.

Participation requirements

Students are required to complete 3 compulsory clinical placements of 2-3 days per week for approximately 20 weeks. These placements include at least one placement in the Barwon region at our joint Clinical Training Clinic with Barwon Health.

Placement can occur at any time, including during the standard holiday breaks listed here: https://www.deakin.edu.au/courses/key-dates.

Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. Click here for more information.

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

Master of Psychology (Clinical) students who wish to enrol in the Doctor of Psychology (Clinical) program can apply in the usual manner for entry into the D Psych (Clinical) course at the end of the first year of the M Psych (Clinical), competing with newly applying D Psychology students. They must also successfully undertake a Doctoral level thesis confirmation. Successful students will receive credit for prior learning for all comparable units completed thus far allowing direct entry into the second year of the Doctor of Psychology (Clinical).

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	Display an advanced and integrated knowledge of psychopathology and theoretical principles underlying the practice of clinical psychology, with respect to evidence-based practice of assessment, diagnosis, treatment and prevention.
Communication	Compose clearly written case reports; demonstrate effective verbal and interpersonal communication skills using appropriate language to communicate with specialists and non-specialists within a range of professional settings.
Digital Literacy	Select and use appropriate technologies to collect relevant discipline-specific information; demonstrate expertise in the ability to evaluate, justify and integrate this information in, assessment and treatment approaches and disseminate this information to clients and health professionals.
Critical thinking	Critically evaluate, synthesise and integrate complex scientific evidence, transform this information into case formulations, assessment, interventions and policy that demonstrate evidence-based practice in the field of clinical psychology.
Problem Solving	Analyse theoretical frameworks and adapt knowledge and skills from psychological, biological and medical fields to design multiple, creative assessment and treatment approaches tailored to meet the needs of diverse client presentations.
Self-management	Demonstrate ethical and professional practice, showing personal autonomy, accountability, good judgment and reflective practice in all areas of psychological and professional work and scholarship.
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 clinical 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 Psychology (Clinical) students must attain 16 credit points covering three strands: theory, research and practice. Students will complete a minimum of 4 credit points each trimester over two years. All units are core (these are compulsory).

Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements. Click here for more information.