Clinical Neuropsychology Placement 1

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

300 hours

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The following are corequsites:

Completion of APAC approved psychology studies to fourth-year (Honours) level.

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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 field placement and clinical skills subject, extending over thirty-five days, introduces students to clinical neuropsychology services in a variety of settings, which might include adult and paediatric care in neurological, neurosurgical, psychiatric, and rehabilitation settings. It also incorporates clinical skills workshops. All principle field supervisors are registered, and Members (or eligible for Membership) of the College of Clinical Neuropsychologists of the Australian Psychological Society.

It is a requirement of the Australian Accreditation Council and the Australian Psychological Society College of Clinical Neuropsychologists complete a minimum of 1000 hours of placement training during the two-year Master of Psychology (Clinical Neuropsychology) course. This first year placement subject provides 25 days of the patient-related placement requirement, 6 days of student case conference, and 4 days of clinical skills workshops.

Clinical Neuropsychology Placement 1 consists of the following components:

1. Direct observation of patients referred to neuropsychology services at teaching hospitals.
2. Attendance at hospital-based group supervision sessions, involving intensive discussion of cases directly observed during component 1.
3. Student case conference. These two-hour conferences are held weekly during semester 1 and 2 on the Parkville campus.
4. Assessment workshops. Two full-day practical workshops on major assessment techniques, and two full-day workshops on specialized neuropsychological assessment techniques. These are designed to enhance the development of practical professional-level skills.

The objectices of this subject are to:

1. develop initial familiarity with the clinical features of neuropsychological disorders, problem-oriented interviewing and communication, formal neuropsychological examination, diagnostic formulation, and case presentation;
2. enhance practical skill aquisition in standardized techniques of neuropsychological interaction

A hurdle requirement of attendance at, and satisfactory performance of:

1. 15 days (120 hours) of direct patient observation;
2. 10 days (80 hours) of hospital-based group supervision and clinical meetings;
3. satisfactory attendance at student case conference (minimum of 80% of scheduled sessions);
4. satisfactory completion of 4 full-day workshops on assessment techniques

University and field supervisors will conjointly determine whether the student has passed the placements.

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This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Analysis and critical thinking, through evaluating the complex and varying information that needs to be amalgamated for a successful clinical interaction

Attention to detail, through observation of features that differentiate one individual from another, and appreciation of the significance of detailed observation for effective real world action

Written communication, through completion of reports

Time management and planning, through organising and integrating multiple demands of the subject