Clinical Neuropsychology Placement 1

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

300 hours

Enrolment in one of the following Psychology professional training programs, 527CL, 527CN, 080CL, 080CN or MC-PSYCHCS

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

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

This field placement and clinical skills subject, extending over forty-three 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 11.5 days of clinical skills and assessment workshops.

Clinical Neuropsychology Placement 1 consists of the following components:

Direct observation of patients referred to neuropsychology services at teaching hospitals.
Attendance at hospital-based group supervision sessions, involving intensive discussion of cases directly observed during component 1.
Student case conference. These two-hour conferences are held weekly during semester 1 and 2 on the Parkville campus.
Assessment seminars: The equivalent of four days (32 hours) of seminars on neuropsychological assessment techniques. Clinical skills workshops: The equivalent of seven and one half days (60 hours) of workshops on specific clinical skills. These seminars and workshops are designed to enhance the development of practical professional-level skills. The time difference between Contact Hours and Total Time Commitment for the subject (20 hours) will be spent in out-of-classroom assessment technique familiarisation and rehearsal.

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. All allocated direct patient observation, hospital-based group supervision, and clinical meetings;
2. Satisfactory attendance at student case conference (minimum of 80% of scheduled sessions);
3. Satisfactory completion of all workshops on assessment techniques;
4. Satisfactory completion of all day workshops on specific clinical skills; and
5. Students must provide evidence that log books are checked and endorsed every 30 hours of placement or fortnightly, whichever occurs first.

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

None

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