In Progress
Please note that this Unit Profile is still in progress. The content below is subject to change.Overview
This unit is the first of two units in which you will learn how professional knowledge of research and theory can be applied to practice related to high-prevalence psychological disorders across the lifespan, inclusive of culturally diverse populations. As a result, you will learn to conceptualise contemporary psychology cases and to formulate a treatment plan to help your clients. Specifically, this unit uses case-based learning to develop competency in self-reflective practices and the application of diagnostic classification systems to high prevalence psychological disorders, including the critical evaluation of diagnostic systems of taxonomy.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Students must be enrolled in CG17 Master of Clinical Psychology or CL68 Master of Professional Psychology. Anti-req PSYC21005.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2026
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a pass/fail (non-graded) unit. To pass the unit, you must pass all of the individual assessment tasks shown in the table above.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Student Evaluations
Students stated that recording the live lectures would allow them to review the lectures if further clarity is needed or to deepen their understanding of content.
It is recommended that the live lectures are recorded.
Feedback from Student Evaluations
Students suggested that examples of how psychopathologies present, through video format, would be useful for their learning and understanding.
It is recommended that the current learning materials are expanded on, and videos are used to aid students learning of the presenting features of the covered psychopathologies.
Feedback from Student Evaluations
Students questioned the relevance of developing a pamphlet for their future professional practice, suggesting a review of Assessment 1.
It is recommended that the teaching team review Assessment 1 to ensure that the modality chosen aligns practically with the skills needed in practice.
- Synthesise and apply psychological knowledge and relevant international taxonomies (i.e. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and International Classification of Diseases) to evaluate and classify high prevalence psychological disorders.
- Interpret and synthesise psychological data to inform case formulation, diagnosis and intervention to guide evidence-based treatment planning in a culturally responsive manner.
- Apply advanced psycho-developmental knowledge to biopsychosocialspiritual models of mental health as they apply to the conceptualisation and communication of high prevalence psychological disorders in a culturally responsive manner.
Learning outcomes are drawn from specifications for study at level 9 as indicated by the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), program of study criteria as stated by the Psychology Board of Australia (PsychBA), and the following core competencies stated by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC):
- 3.2 Apply evidence-based and scientific methods to professional practice across the lifespan in empirically valid and culturally responsive ways,
- 3.3 Employ professional communication skills, in a culturally responsive manner, with a range of socially and culturally diverse clients,
- 3.5 Identify psychological disorders using a recognised taxonomy,
- 3.6 Conduct professional interviews and assessments and synthesise information from multiple sources, including assessment of risk, to formulate a conceptualisation of the presenting issues to determine the most appropriate interventions, including management of risk, and
- 3.14 Engage in self-reflective professional practice, taking account of the impact of their own values and beliefs, and taking appropriate actions as a result (APAC, 2019, p.13-14).
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Portfolio - 0% | |||
| 2 - Project (applied) - 0% | |||
| 3 - Online Test - 0% | |||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Knowledge | |||
| 2 - Communication | |||
| 3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | |||
| 4 - Research | |||
| 5 - Self-management | |||
| 6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | |||
| 7 - Leadership | |||
| 8 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||