In Progress
Please note that this Unit Profile is still in progress. The content below is subject to change.Overview
Professional Practice in Psychology 1 is the first of two professional practice units designed to provide you with the opportunity to develop the required skills and knowledge necessary for progression in the general psychology registration pathway (5 + 1). This unit incorporates a practicum designed to simulate 'real-world' aspects of working as a psychologist within a safe learning environment. Opportunities for multidisciplinary collaboration, critical analysis, reflective practice, and ethical decision making will be provided. Class content draws upon case studies and evidence-based theoretical formulation frameworks, and will examine requirements for initial and ongoing registration, and legal and ethical aspects of psychological practice. You will also deliver an oral presentation in an area of applied psychological practice.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Students must be enrolled in the Master of Professional Psychology
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 - 2025
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 SUTE
Students would have liked more guidance through the first weeks of their practicum assessment
The teaching team will review a working document with external supervisors, containing specific competencies that students need to develop in their first term simulated role-plays.
Feedback from SUTE
There were different submission dates between the clinical and professional cohorts for their Inter-Professional Assessment
The clinical and professional psychology team will discuss and make sure due dates correspond across the courses.
- Evaluate and apply relevant legislation and ethical principles related to psychological practice, including those endorsed by the Psychology Board of Australia
- Critically evaluate the contemporary scientific literature to develop appropriate evidence-based practice
- Articulate and apply models and approaches for the professional and ethical practice of psychology
- Communicate effectively with a range of client, specialist, and nonspecialist audiences.
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):
- 3.1 Demonstrate successful (prior or concurrent) achievement of pre-professional competencies,
- 3.10 Demonstrate respect for the skills and contribution of other professionals,
- 3.11 Work effectively with a range of professional and support staff in the workplace and communicate and collaborate effectively, within the bounds of ethical and legal requirements,
- 3.12 Operate within the boundaries of their professional competence, consult with peers or other relevant sources where appropriate, and refer on to relevant other practitioners where appropriate,
- 3.13 Rigorously apply professional practice policies and procedures, including as they relate to referral management and record-keeping, across a range of workplace settings and with recognition of different organisational cultures and practices,
- 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,
- 3.15 Evaluate the effectiveness of their professional practice, identifying areas for improvement and implementing changes where needed, and
- 3.16 Critically evaluate contemporary scientific literature to inform practice (APAC, 2019, p.13-14).
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Professional Practice Plans (learning plans) - 0% | ||||
| 2 - Online Test - 0% | ||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 0% | ||||
| 4 - Presentation - 0% | ||||
| 5 - Portfolio - 0% | ||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 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 | ||||