CQUniversity Unit Profile
PSYC22005 Clinical Practice 3
Clinical Practice 3
All details in this unit profile for PSYC22005 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

Clinical Practice 3 builds on the prerequisite unit Clinical Practice 2 to provide you with advanced practice skills required for the professional competencies in clinical psychology specified by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) and to prepare you for the Registrar Program to gain an Area of Practice Endorsement in Clinical Psychology with the Psychology Board of Australia. This includes the culturally-sensitive, evidence-based practice of clinical psychology, both autonomously and as a member of a multidisciplinary team. During your clinical practicum in a community-based setting, you will continue to develop your knowledge and skills to formulate and share case conceptualisations and intervention plans.

Details

Career Level: Postgraduate
Unit Level: Level 9
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 10
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Prerequisite: PSYC21008.

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

Rockhampton

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).

Class and Assessment Overview

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

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Professional Practice Placement
Weighting: Pass/Fail
2. Reflective Practice Assignment
Weighting: Pass/Fail
3. Presentation
Weighting: Pass/Fail
4. Case Study
Weighting: Pass/Fail

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.

Previous Student Feedback

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 SUTE evaluations

Feedback

There was a focus on fostering a strong learning environment, asking questions to encourage thinking, demonstration of novel techniques, as well as thought processes which encouraged critical thinking.

Recommendation

Continue with this pedagogy for teaching within the Clinical Practice 3 classes.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Perform clinical psychology assessment, intervention and associated activities in a community-based clinical setting
  2. Apply ethical decision making in clinical psychological practice
  3. Communicate effectively and professionally with clients, specialist and nonspecialist audiences
  4. Critically reflect on knowledge, skills, and ability to provide psychological services in a community-based setting.

This unit forms part of the Master of Clinical Psychology course accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC). These Learning Outcomes link with the Master of Clinical Psychology course Learning Outcomes: 1 ( Apply culturally-sensitive advanced knowledge of psychological theories of the aetiology, presentation, and progression of psychological disorders across the lifespan and relevant international taxonomies of classification of psychological disorders), 2 (Apply advanced knowledge of psychological developmental and biopsychosocial models of health), 3 (Conduct culturally responsive assessment of psychological disorders), and 4 (Implement culturally-responsive, evidence-based, clinical psychology interventions). These Learning Outcomes are based on the 2019 APAC accreditation guidelines for competencies in Clinical Psychology.

Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Professional Practice Placement - 0%
2 - Reflective Practice Assignment - 0%
3 - Presentation - 0%
4 - Case Study - 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
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

There are no required textbooks.

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Leonie Lorien Unit Coordinator
l.lorien@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 10 Mar 2025

Module/Topic

Introduction to Clinical Practice 3 

Expectations and assessments

Placement discussions and supervision

Chapter

There is no set text for this unit.  Relevant readings and resources will be added to Moodle as required. 

 

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 17 Mar 2025

Module/Topic

Student case study presentations

Group supervision sharing and discussing experiences on external WIL placement

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 24 Mar 2025

Module/Topic

Student case study presentations

Group supervision sharing and discussing experiences on external WIL placement

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 31 Mar 2025

Module/Topic

Student case study presentations

Group supervision sharing and discussing experiences on external WIL placement

Chapter

 

 

 

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 5 Begin Date: 07 Apr 2025

Module/Topic

Student case study presentations

Group supervision sharing and discussing experiences on external WIL placement

Chapter

 

 

 

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 14 Apr 2025

Module/Topic

There are no scheduled activities for this week 

Chapter

None

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 21 Apr 2025

Module/Topic

Student case study presentations

Group supervision sharing and discussing experiences on external WIL placement

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 7 Begin Date: 28 Apr 2025

Module/Topic

Student case study presentations

Group supervision sharing and discussing experiences on external WIL placement

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 Begin Date: 05 May 2025

Module/Topic

Student case study presentations

Group supervision sharing and discussing experiences on external WIL placement

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 9 Begin Date: 12 May 2025

Module/Topic

Student case study presentations

1hr: Group supervision sharing and discussing experiences on external WIL placement

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 10 Begin Date: 19 May 2025

Module/Topic

Student case study presentations

Group supervision sharing and discussing experiences on external WIL placement

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 11 Begin Date: 26 May 2025

Module/Topic

Student case study presentations

Group supervision sharing and discussing experiences on external WIL placement

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12 Begin Date: 02 Jun 2025

Module/Topic

Group supervision sharing and discussing experiences on external WIL placement

Wrap up of the unit and general placement reflections

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Placement Portfolio Due: Week 12 Thursday (5 June 2025) 9:00 am AEST
Case Presentation Due: Week 12 Thursday (5 June 2025) 9:00 am AEST
Case Report Due: Week 12 Thursday (5 June 2025) 9:00 am AEST
Reflective Practice Journal Due: Week 12 Friday (6 June 2025) 5:00 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 09 Jun 2025

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 16 Jun 2025

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Professional Practice Placement

Assessment Title
Placement Portfolio

Task Description

This assessment item consists of all placement-related documents. All documents must be fully signed by the supervisor who provided supervision as indicated on the respective forms.

  • Placement Agreement
  • Mid and End-placement Review. The End of Placement Review form must indicate that you have achieved 'Level 3 Competencies' to pass the placement
  • Weekly Practice Logs
  • Weekly Supervision Forms

1. Placement.

Professional Practice Placement is assessed through appraisal of practice competencies during clinical placements, and competencies must be reached as evidenced by mid-term and end-of-term placement review documents. The on-site supervisor and the placement co-coordinator must review, approve and sign these documents. By the end of this unit, you will demonstrate Level 3 competence in nine core competencies that represent critical capabilities and attributes for effective psychological practice. Competencies 1 - 8 are specified by AHPRA and Competency 9 is a requirement of the Master of Clinical Psychology Course. Level 3 competence represents the competency expected to be reached before a supervisee can progress to their next external placement for Clinical Practice 4. Your Primary Supervisor/Board-Approved Supervisor and the Placement Coordinator must sign off on your competencies at Level 3 to pass. Your Placement Agreement, Mid-Placement Review, and End-of-Placement Review must be signed by yourself, your Primary Supervisor, and the Placement Coordinator and uploaded to Moodle. If you have not met all required competencies (including all nine core competencies and the APAC assessment requirements) by your End-of-Placement Review you may be provided with a further opportunity to meet these competencies with a Support Plan. However, this is up to the discretion of the Unit Coordinator in consultation with the Head of Course. It can be useful to discuss competencies with your Primary Supervisor before your Mid-Placement and End-of-Placement Reviews, to identify any areas where you are not demonstrating the expected level of competency and develop a Support Plan to address areas where you are 'not on track' before your End-of-Placement Review. To pass the unit and progress to Clinical Practice 4, all Level 3 competencies must be met.

2. Weekly Practice Logs and Supervision Forms.
You must submit your signed practice hours (Weekly Logs) signed weekly by your Primary Supervisor at the end of Clinical Practice 3 in chronological order. The Weekly Log must include the following; detailed total number of direct client activity hours, individual supervision hours, group supervision hours, and associated placement/practice activities. You are also required to complete supervision forms from individual and group supervision. All supervision entries in your Weekly Logs must have a corresponding supervision form signed by yourself and the supervisor who provided the supervision. Supervision forms must also be signed by your Primary Supervisor/supervisor who provided supervision and uploaded to Moodle in chronological order at the end of Clinical Practice 3.

 


Assessment Due Date

Week 12 Thursday (5 June 2025) 9:00 am AEST

Submit all forms on Moodle to the appropriate dropbox on the relevant due dates.


Return Date to Students

Exam Week Friday (20 June 2025)

Grades will be available on Moodle


Weighting
Pass/Fail

Minimum mark or grade
Pass/Fail. Minimum mark or grade: Pass (Pass 50%). Students who do not pass will be offered an opportunity to resubmit. All documents must be passed to complete Clinical Practice 3 and progress to Clinical Practice 4.

Assessment Criteria

The criteria are set out on the Placement Review forms and cover the core competency areas which define the critical capabilities and attributes deemed necessary to ensure that graduates are equipped to practice psychology safely and effectively subsequent to graduation. It is expected that across the entire Master of Clinical Psychology course students will demonstrate incremental development across these competency areas. It is therefore expected that there will be evidence of the development of competencies by the end of the Clinical Practice 3 placement, and that students will be rated at a 'Level 3' and achieved the level 3 competencies on the End of Placement Review form.
To pass this assessment task, all documents must be submitted.


1. Competencies for End of Placement Review (Pass/Fail)

1. Knowledge of the Discipline
2. Ethical, Legal, and Professional Matters
3. Psychological Assessment and Measurement
4. Intervention Strategies
5. Research and Evaluation
6. Communication and Interpersonal Skills
7. Working with People from Diverse Groups
8. Practice Across the Lifespan
9. Response to Supervision


2. Weekly Practice Logs and Supervision Forms (Pass/Fail)

Weekly Practice Logs must be signed weekly by your Primary Supervisor and uploaded to Moodle in chronological order at the end of Clinical Practice 3. Weekly Practice Logs should detail your total number of direct client activity hours, individual supervision hours, group supervision hours, and associated placement activities. Entries related to direct client activity hours must include the client's initials, age, gender, and description of the service provided in sufficient detail.
You are also required to submit all of your signed supervision forms from individual and group supervision, in chronological order to Moodle at the end of Clinical Practice 3. All supervision entries in your Weekly Practice Logs must have a corresponding supervision form signed by yourself and the supervisor who provided the supervision.

Gen AI must not be used for this portfolio. Each part must demonstrate your ability to critically apply psychology knowledge and skills to the required tasks and competencies. 


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Submit all forms on Moodle to the appropriate dropbox on the relevant due dates.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Perform clinical psychology assessment, intervention and associated activities in a community-based clinical setting

2 Reflective Practice Assignment

Assessment Title
Reflective Practice Journal

Task Description

You will write three entries in your reflective practice journal: 1) the first week of Term 1,  2) the week before your mid-placement review and 3) the week before your end-of-placement review.

The reflections will be no more than one page on average and reflect your personal and clinical learning from the lecture and/or discussions of your clinical placements during Clinical Practice 3.

Your journal entries will demonstrate the nexus of learning between placement activities, Clinical Practice lectures and professional reading. The journal should be used to reflect at a non-superficial level, the experiences and conversations during class that have stimulated your thinking and self-reflection about your practice and development as a psychologist. Reflections should consider perspectives from the view of scientist=practitioner. 

Gen AI must not be used for this assessment.   Your reflection must show your ability to self-reflect on your development as a psychologist. 


Assessment Due Date

Week 12 Friday (6 June 2025) 5:00 pm AEST

Submit each reflection to the relevant drop-box in Moodle (i.e., Reflection 1, 2 and 3)


Return Date to Students

Exam Week Friday (20 June 2025)

Feedback and grades will be available on Moodle.


Weighting
Pass/Fail

Minimum mark or grade
Pass/Fail. Minimum mark or grade: Pass (Pass 50%). You must pass each of the three reflective journal submissions to pass the reflective practice journal assessment. Students who do not pass will be offered an opportunity to resubmit.

Assessment Criteria

Each journal entry must demonstrate self-reflection on your practice as a psychologist, including your reflections on what you are learning about your own practice through the placement experience, your emerging strengths, and areas for development. Journal submissions should include some self-reflection on both the tasks and process of working with clients and other stakeholders. If any journal submission is lacking in self-reflection on your practice, you may be required to resubmit to demonstrate self-reflection before the journal submission is passed. 


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Upload reflections 1) the first week of Term 1, 2) the week before your mid-placement review and 3) the week before your end-of-placement review.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Apply ethical decision making in clinical psychological practice
  • Critically reflect on knowledge, skills, and ability to provide psychological services in a community-based setting.

3 Presentation

Assessment Title
Case Presentation

Task Description

This is a case presentation done in class during Group Supervision time. You will have a total of 20 minutes for your presentation, which should be around 10 minutes of you presenting your case study, followed by 10 minutes of questions and discussion time. The case can be any client you have seen in your external placement. The presentation should include relevant referral information, details of presenting concerns, your domains of functioning assessment, completing a formulation with the group and discussing differential diagnosis (where relevant), presenting your initial formulation (written prior to the group formulation activity), and your plan for assessment or intervention.

Gen AI must not be used for this assessment.   Your case study must demonstrate your ability to apply evidence-based knowledge and skills to write a competent report based on your client's unique needs. 

 


Assessment Due Date

Week 12 Thursday (5 June 2025) 9:00 am AEST

Presentations will commence from week 2. You should upload your presentation to Moodle before class.


Return Date to Students

Exam Week Friday (20 June 2025)

Feedback will be given after the presentation. Grades will be available on Moodle.


Weighting
Pass/Fail

Minimum mark or grade
Pass/Fail: Minimum mark or grade: Pass. (Pass 50%). Students who do not pass will be offered an opportunity to resit, but will not be permitted to pass Clinical Practice 3 until this assignment is passed.

Assessment Criteria

The Case Presentation is (Pass/Fail). Your case presentation will be assessed according to the following criteria, and each criteria needs to be passed to pass this assessment 

  • Relevant referral information (including client initials or pseudonym, gender, age, referral source, and the reason for referral)
  • Completed Domains of Functioning Assessment (with sufficient information to complete a case formulation)
  • Case formulation (completed with the group and facilitated by the student) / differential diagnosis (where relevant)
  • Summary of assessment or intervention to date clearly linked to the case formulation
  • Clarity and quality of presentation
  • Questions and discussion 


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Presentation completed in class and uploaded to Moodle before your presentation.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Communicate effectively and professionally with clients, specialist and nonspecialist audiences

4 Case Study

Assessment Title
Case Report

Task Description

This case report is the third of four case studies you will write over the Master of Clinical Psychology course. This case report covers a core skill of a clinical psychologist: to write professional assessment reports. You will write a report on one of the clients you have seen during your external placement. The report should be deidentified by removing names, date of birth (but retain year/age) and any other identifying information such as place of work. The case report should be no more than 2000 words.

The report must be submitted with a cover page template and follow the described format, provided in Moodle. The placement supervisor needs to sign the cover sheet to acknowledge that the report has been de-identified to meet the privacy requirements of the agency.  

The report will follow the format specified in APHRA form SCAC-76, and demonstrate all the required criteria including A) Background, B) Assessment, C) Analysis and Diagnosis, D) Recommendations, E) Evaluation and Reflections and F) Reference List. 

Gen AI must not be used for this assessment. Your case study must demonstrate your ability to apply evidence-based knowledge and skills to write a competent report based on your client's unique needs.

 


Assessment Due Date

Week 12 Thursday (5 June 2025) 9:00 am AEST

Submit the de-identified Case Report to Moodle.


Return Date to Students

Exam Week Friday (20 June 2025)

Grades will be available on Moodle.


Weighting
Pass/Fail

Minimum mark or grade
Pass/Fail. Minimum mark or grade: Pass (Pass 50%). Students who do not pass will be offered an opportunity to resubmit, but will not be permitted to pass Clinical Practice 3 until this assignment is passed.

Assessment Criteria

Case Report (Pass/Fail).  The report will follow the format specified in APHRA form SCAC-76  including the following criteria: A) Background, B) Assessment, C) Analysis and Diagnosis, D) Recommendations, E) Evaluation and Reflections and F) Reference List. 

To pass this assessment, the student must identify that all criteria,  including under the headings A - F  on AHPRA Form SCAC-76 have been completed to the professional standard required for a provisional psychologist. 

The report must be submitted with a cover page template, available on Moodle, signed by the Placement Supervisor. 


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Submit the de-identified Case Report to Moodle.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Apply ethical decision making in clinical psychological practice
  • Communicate effectively and professionally with clients, specialist and nonspecialist audiences
  • Critically reflect on knowledge, skills, and ability to provide psychological services in a community-based setting.

Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?