Master of Psychology (Clinical)

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 Psychology (Clinical)
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	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

The Master of Psychology (Clinical) is a full-time course and as such, it requires a full-time commitment from students. Nevertheless, it is recognised that many students will need to work to support themselves for the duration of their study. Students are advised that working over and above 8 hours per week is likely to impact their progress through the course.

The Master of Psychology (Clinical) program is a multi-campus program across Deakin Burwood (Melbourne) and Deakin Waterfront (Geelong). The face-to-face coursework component is predominantly held at the Burwood Campus in a purpose built clinical teaching facility. Some teaching will be held in Geelong including some full-day clinical teaching workshops while other aspects of the teaching and learning occurs in the online CloudDeakin environment. With few exceptions, students will attend both the Barwon Health Deakin Psychology Clinic and the Eastern Health Psychology Clinics as part of their Placement programs.

Professional recognition

This course has been accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) in accordance with the Accreditation Standards for Psychology Program (APAC, 2010). These standards are designed for accreditation of programs such as this for pathway to practice as a registered psychologist. As such, this course is approved by the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA) for the purposes of approving it under the National Law.

On completion of this course graduates may apply to the PsyBA for registration as a psychologist. To obtain endorsement in the Clinical area of specialisation graduates are required to complete two years of approved supervised practice and fulfil professional development requirements.

Note: This course is accredited at the date of publishing. The eligibility of students for registration by the Psychology Board of Australia, and for membership of professional bodies such as the Australian Psychological Society (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.

Students should note that the Accreditation Standards for Psychology Programs have been reviewed and updated (Accreditation Standards for Psychology Programs (2017)) and these new standards will apply to incoming students from 1 January 2019.

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 Psych (Clinical) students. They must also successfully undertake a Doctoral level thesis confirmation. Successful students will receive Recognition of 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 the theoretical principles underlying the practice of clinical psychology, with respect to evidence-based practice of assessment, diagnosis, treatment and prevention across the lifespan.
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	Expert use of 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	Skills in the design and conduct of research; and critically evaluate, synthesise and integrate complex scientific evidence, transform this information into case formulations, assessment, interventions and policy that demonstrate evidence-based professional practice in the field of clinical psychology.
Problem Solving	Skills to 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).

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).

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

Course structure

Core units

Level 1 - Trimester 1

HAI010

Academic Integrity (0 credit points)

HPS714

Studies in Psychopathology

HPS776

Issues in Professional Psychology

HPS777

Psychological Intervention 1

HPS779

Psychological Assessment

Level 1 - Trimester 2

HPS706

Clinical Placement and Case Analysis 1

HPS707

Advanced and Applied Research Methods

HPS708

Psychological Intervention 2

HPS766

Research Thesis A

Level 2 - Trimester 1

HPS705

Advanced Clinical Assessment

HPS709

Clinical Placement and Case Analysis 2

HPS767

Research Thesis B

HPS778

Biological and Neuropsychological Perspectives on Disorder

Level 2 - Trimester 2

HPS711

Psychological Intervention 3

HPS712

Clinical Placement and Case Analysis 3

HPS787

Research Thesis C

Note: Consistent with a developmental approach, there is a prescribed sequence for coursework and placement units such that successful completion of earlier units is required to enrol in later units. Specific information regarding pre-requisites are described in the individual Unit Guides.

Work experience

Placement program

The clinical placements are designed to equip students with a range of professional skills and an awareness of professional issues. Students will benefit from Deakin’s placement partnerships with Barwon Health and Eastern Health with these placements enabling them to gain experience of adult, adolescent and child problems. Overall the placements provide students with diverse experience across community and institutional care; and medical and non-medical agencies. The placement program will be determined jointly by the student, the placement coordinators, and the course leadership team. Contracts will be drawn up which will clearly specify the skills to be taught and the responsibilities of the student and placement supervisor. With few exceptions, placement supervisors are registered psychologists with a clinical endorsement as a specialised area of practice, as well as being Registered supervisors. Each placement requires the full complement of days to be completed. Failure of any one placement may result in exclusion from the course.

Course duration - additional information

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

Third party arrangements

Barwon Health

Nursing and Midwifery and Allied Health Student Placement Agreement between the Faculty of Health, Deakin University and Barwon Health.
Valid for 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2019
Schedule include Psychology students
Agreement signed by Executive Dean, Prof. Brendan Crotty

Eastern Health

Partnership Agreement – Faculty of Health, Deakin University and Eastern Health.
Valid from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2017
Agreement signed by Head of School and Chief Executive Eastern Health.

Nature of third party arrangements

Barwon Health

The agreement provides for a 50% contribution to two full time joint apointments (one of which fulfils the role of Clinic Director) as well as administration support to the Barwon Health Deakin Psychology Clinic. At the time of the completion of this documentation, the purpose built clinical and clinical training facility was located at 121 Myers Street, Geelong. Joint apointees employed under this agreement provide oversight of the clinical training facility, as well as clinical supervision of student placements within the Clinic. In addition, the incumbents teach into the program and contribute to other academic work as agreed.

Eastern Health

The agreement provides for a 50% contribution to two full time joint apointments (one of which fulfils the role of Clinic Director) as well as administration support. At the time of completion of this documentation, the Eastern Health Psychology Clinic is co-located with the Child and Youth Mental Health Service (CYMHS) in Station Street, Box Hill. Joint apointees employed under this agreement provide oversight of the clinical training facility, as well as clinical supervision of student placements within the Clinic. In addition, the incumbents teach into the program and contribute to other academic work as agreed.

Quality assurance arrangements

Course design, revision and quality improvement is focussed on design principals provided for in the draft Design Priniciples for Units and Courses (Deakin). In addition, quality assurance is supported by external accreditation by the APAC which occurs on a 5 year cycle. External Industry feedback is provided for by the contribution of a well-engaged Advisory Board and is incorporated to annual and major course review processes. This is supplemented by robust student feedback with the nomination of Student Representation at each Course level who feed into mid and post Semester Clinical Team meetings and annual Course reviews.

Research and research-related study

As per APAC, It is a requirement that accredited Masters Level Programs ensure that graduates have investigated a substantive individual research question relevant to the discipline of psychology. This is equivalent to a Bachelor Honours Degree or Graduate Diploma Research project specifically developed over 3 (4 Credit Points) Units (Research Thesis A, B, and C) and supported by the completion of Advanced and Applied Research methods (1CP).

Furthermore, APAC accreditation assumes ongoing compliance with the HESF for the accreditation and delivery of programs of study, including meeting the requirements of the AQF Higher education programs at all levels of the AQF accredited by APAC. The M Psych (Clinical) is a Level 9 with graduates demonstrating application of knowledge and skills via the planning and executing of a substantial research-based project, capstone experience and/or piece of scholarship.