Infant Observation Practicum

This subject is not offered in 2013.

Approx. 180 hours

For the purposes of considering request 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 3 Disability Liaison Unit website : 4 http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Students may have the option of undertaking a traditional infant observation where a baby is observed in its own home or an alternative observation where a baby is observed in a day care centre, hospital or neonatal nursery. Students’ wishes, learning needs and past experiences will be taken into account.

The student will attend to observe the infant(s) for a minimum of one hour per week making detailed process notes and analysis to be presented in turn at the seminar.

Details of observations are to be recorded in a logbook and students will circulate their recorded data to the other seminar participants and leader.

• Study the development of an infant in his or her family to gain and deepen their understanding of the individual and unique experience of the baby and his or her family and the importance of early infant experience in general.
• Develop a capacity for receptive observation, especially of behaviours, which are initially difficult to make sense of.
• Gain an appreciation of how to recognize and understand their own responses and the use of these in work with infants and their families.

• 100% : Satisfactory completion of the fieldwork based on examination of the log book and submission of written formal account of the observations made during the year (6000 words max).

All study materials will be provided.

• Bolton, C.(2000) Granny goes to Baby Obs. Australian Journal of Psychotherapy.
• Bick, E. (1987) Notes on Infant Observation in Psychoanalytic Training. Collected Papers of Martha Harris and Esther Bick. M. H. Clunie Press.London.
• Brafman, A. (1988) ‘Infant Observation’. International Review of Psychoanalysis, Vol.15, p 45-59.
• Magagna, J. (1987) ‘Three Years of Infant Observation with Mrs. Bick’. Journal of Child Psychotherapy, Vol 13 (1).

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.