Master of Youth Mental Health

This course articulates from the existing Graduate Diploma of Youth Mental Health allowing students who meet the entry criteria to undertake advanced study and research in the field of youth mental health.

By the conclusion of the Master of Youth Mental Health students will have developed the following areas of knowledge:

• The major theories of development spanning the transition from adolescence to adulthood.

• The range of mental health problems that emerge during the transition from adolescence to adulthood.

• Recent advances in preventative models of psychiatry as applicable to young people.

• Recent advantages in the biological assessment and treatment of serious mental illness in young people.

• Optimal organisational and management approaches for the provision of services to young clients with serious mental illness

• Detection and management of early psychosis in young people

• Recent innovations in youth mental health service delivery

• Practice-based research methods.

• Advanced practice skills.

In addition, students will be able to apply the following skills in their work:

• Assess the early signs of a range of serious mental illnesses in young people.

• Design comprehensive treatment plans that are applicable to the early stages of serious mental illness and sensitive to the developmental tasks facing young clients of mental health services.

• Design community awareness interventions focusing upon early detection and referral of young people to mental health services.

• Apply psychosocial interventions in the treatment of primary and secondary morbidity across a range of serious mental illnesses affecting young people and their families.

• Match optimal approaches to the treatment of young people to inpatient, community-based and home-based services.

• Conduct practice-based research.

• Reflective practice.

Students must complete 200 points as listed below.

Note: all subjects are compulsory.

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

1. In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:
• either
– an undergraduate degree in a cognate discipline such as Health Science, Social Work, Psychology, Medicine, or related discipline, or
– an undergraduate degree in any discipline or equivalent, and two years of documented relevant work experience, or
– five years of documented relevant work experience, including clear evidence of career development, of professional writing, and generally of professional achievement or practice comparable to that expected of undergraduate degree holders in cognate disciplines.
Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection.

2. In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:
• prior academic performance; and, if relevant
• the professional experience.

3. The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Student Application and Selection Procedure.

4. Applicants are required to satisfy the university’s English language requirements for postgraduate courses. For those applicants seeking to meet these requirements by one of the standard tests approved by the Academic Board, performance band 6.5 is required.

Note.
• Students who do not achieve a weighted average mark of at least H2B (70%) in the first year of the Master of Youth Mental Health are not eligible to continue to the second year of the program, but are eligible to receive a Graduate Certificate in Youth Mental Health or Graduate Diploma in Youth Mental Health as an exit award if all relevant subjects have been passed
• Quotas may be applied. For direct entry into the Master of Youth Mental Health, or for transfer from the Certificate or Diploma to the Master, preference may be given to applicants with evidence of appropriate preparation or potential to undertake research.
• Entry to the Master of Youth Mental Health is subject to the capacity of a participating department to provide adequate supervision in a research project appropriate to the interests and preparation of the individual student and may be subject to the agreement of a member of academic staff to supervise the project module.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

By the conclusion of the Master of Youth Mental Health students will have developed the following areas of knowledge:

• The major theories of development spanning the transition from adolescence to adulthood
• The range of mental health problems that emerge during the transition from adolescence to adulthood
• Recent advances in preventative models of Psychiatry as applicable to young people
• Recent advances in biological assessment and treament of serious mental illness in young people
• Optimal organisation and management approaches for the provision of services to young clients with serious mental illness
• Detection and management of early psychosis in young people
• Recent innovations in youth mental health service delivery
• Practice-based research methods
• Advanced practice skills

In addition, students will be able to apply the following skills in their work:

• Assess the early signs of a range of serious mental illnesses in young people
• Design comprehensive treatment plans that are applicable to the early stages of serious mental health illness an sensitive to the development tasks facing young clients of mental health services
• Design community awareness interventions focusing upon early detection and referral of young people to mental health services
• Design psychosocial interventions in the treatment of primary and secondary morbidity across a range of serious mental illnesses affecting young people and their families
• Match optimal approaches to the treatment of young people to inpatient, community-based and home-based practices
• Conduct practice-based research
• Reflective practice

Knowledge

Graduates of the Master of Youth Mental Health will have acquired:

1. a body of knowledge that includes the understanding of recent developments in a discipline and/or area of professional practice in the discipline of Youth Mental Health

2. knowledge of research principles and methods applicable to a field of work or learning in the discpline of Youth Mental Health

Skills

Graduates of the Master of Youth Mental Health will have developed:

1. cognitive skills to demonstrate mastery of theoretical knowledge and to reflect critically on theory and professional practice or scholarship

2. cognitive, technical and creative skills to investigate, analyse and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts, and theories and to apply established theories to different bodies of knowledge or practice

3. cognitive, technical and creative skills to generate and evaluate complex ideas concepts at an abstract level

4. communication and technical research skills to justify and interpret theoretical propositions, methodologies, conclusions and professional decisions to specialist and non-specialist audiences

5. technical and communication skills to design, evaluate, implement, analyse, theorise and developments that contribute to professional practice or scholarship

Application of knowledge and skills

Graduates of the Master of Youth Mental Health will demonstrate the application of knowledge and skills:

1. with creativity and initiative to new situations in professional practice and/or for further learning

2. with high level personal autonomy and accountability to plan and execute a substantial research-based project, capstone experience and/or piece of scholarship with creativity and initiative to new situations in professional scientific practice and/or for further learning, to plan and execute a substantial research-based project

Program is recognized by professional bodies, e.g., Australian Association of Social Workers, Australian Psychological Society, Royal College of Nursing, and Australian College of Mental Health Nurses as fulfilling professional development (continuing education) requirements.