Clinical Placement 1

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2011:

356 hours

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements, Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This placement subject has three components:

1. Students are required to complete the equivalent of a 30 day placement in the University of Melbourne Psychology Clinic. The placement will combine patient contact, supervision and the optional delivery of training. Over the 30 days, students are required to complete 12.5 hours of psychological assessments (5 assessments) and to accrue a further 62.5 hours of face-to-face contact with patients in either an individual or group setting. Weekly individual supervision will be augmented with fortnightly group supervision. Supervisors for the Clinical placement will be registered as psychologists with the Psychology Board of Australia. In all cases they will also meet standards for endorsement for practice as a Clinical Psychologists.
2. To support the development of clinical psychology assessment skills, students are required to attend two 6-hour clinical workshops providing training in (1) mental state examination and (2) history taking and diagnostic interviewing.
3. Participation in Year 1 Case Conference during the teaching period. There are two major purposes for the clinical case conference. The first is to provide the opportunity (structure, feedback) for students to gain skills in presenting case material in an effective, professional manner, with emphasis on the following:

• Selection of material (clinical content and focus of presentation)
• Organisation of the material (format; use of overheads, etc)
• Personal presentation skills
• Physical environment
• Timing of presentations
• Evaluation feedback

The second purpose is to provide the opportunity for students to discuss selected clinical issues in a large group format, with emphasis on the following:

• Focus/purpose for formal case presentations
• Integration of clinical and research material within scientist-practitioner framework of professional practice
• Discussion of broad professional and ethical issues
• Implementation of professional skills

1. A hurdle requirement of; attendance at placement for 8.0 hours per day for at least two days per week over 20 weeks; attendance at two-6 hour workshops; satisfactory attendance at case conference (attendance at greater than 80% of scheduled sessions)
2. Completion of placement goals is assessed on a pass/fail basis. The assessment is undertaken by the Placement Coordinator, in consultation with supervising clinician, on the basis of satisfactory attainment of placement goals following APAC accreditation placement standards: Experience in the administration and interpretation of a range of psychological assessment strategies and the writing of psychological reports; understanding of typical courses and prognoses of disorders, and capacity to develop appropriate treatment and management plans; experience with a variety of intervention strategies, which may include case management, individual therapy, family therapy and/or group interventions, and to be capable of evaluating those interventions; experience in functioning as an independent clinical psychologist within the facility, although closely supervised by field supervisors.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

• Improved problem identification and problem solving skills
• Improved written, oral and interpersonal communication skills
• Improved information integration skills