Unit Synopsis
In this unit you will focus on consolidating and expanding on previously acquired psychological knowledge through the exploration of contemporary intervention skills, approaches, and techniques. You will draw upon foundational competencies such as micro-counselling skills, assessment interviews, and record keeping, and be introduced to additional intervention models to broaden your knowledge of the discipline. The role of motivational interviewing in evidence-based psychological intervention and psychopharmacology will also be explored.
Details
| Level | Postgraduate |
|---|---|
| Unit Level | 9 |
| Credit Points | 6 |
| Student Contribution Band | SCA Band 4 |
| Fraction of Full-Time Student Load | 0.125 |
| Pre-requisites or Co-requisites |
Students must be enrolled in CL68 Master of Professional Psychology or CG17 Master of Clinical Psychology. Anti-req PSYC21004 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). |
| Class Timetable | View Unit Timetable |
| Residential School | No Residential School |
Unit Availabilities from Term 1 - 2026
Term 2 - 2026 Profile
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.
Assessment Tasks
| Assessment Task | Weighting |
|---|---|
| 1. Practical Assessment | 0% |
| 2. Reflective Practice Assignment | 0% |
| 3. Report | 0% |
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.
Past Exams
All University policies are available on the Policy web site, however you may wish to directly view the following policies below.
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of policies are available on the Policy web site .
Term 2 - 2024 : The overall satisfaction for students in the last offering of this course was 100.00% (`Agree` and `Strongly Agree` responses), based on a 22.22% response rate.
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.
Source: Student feedback items and evaluation score
Students reported that reiterative feedback on tasks was helpful for their understanding.
Rationale for competency-based constructive feedback will continue to be reiterated to support students reflection on skills and own practice. The content and context of the task, as well as the nature of task development and engagement in learning relative to their skills in practice will be supported through verbal and written feedback pre and post timing of task completion dates in the unit.
Constructive feedback in verbal and written form was provided pre and post timing of task completion.
Source: Student feedback items
Students reported lecture length was too long.
The length of time for content will be adapted for practice of techniques through demonstration followed by clinical application and practice in class.
Content of lectures was adapted, further breaks added and clinical practice time was provided for direct application in class.
Source: Student feedback item from evaluation survey
Students reported the practical application of theory to psychological practice was comprehensive
Continue with class structure which is a lecture followed by application and practice of techniques in class.
In Progress
Source: Student feedback item from evaluation survey
Students reported lecture length was too long
Review structure and length of lectures.
In Progress
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- Synthesise and apply knowledge of contemporary intervention approaches, skills, and techniques on the basis of case formulation.
- Communicate high level, independent clinical judgements regarding client presentations and interventions using processes that are responsive to cultural context and practice across the lifespan.
- Engage in critical self-reflective practice in regard to skills, techniques, and clinical judgements.
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):
- 3.3 Employ professional communication skills, in a culturally responsive manner, with a range of socially and culturally diverse clients,
- 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,
- 3.7 Monitor outcomes and modifications based on evolving case formulation, including health and health concerns, family and support networks, and organisational, cultural or community contexts, with care given to the appropriateness of interventions for the client within their wider context,
- 3.8 Interpret and communicate findings in oral and written formats, including formal psychological reports, using culturally appropriate language,
- 3.9 Implement appropriate, empirically supported interventions, and monitor clients’ progress and intervention outcome, 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 (APC, 2019, p.13-14).
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Practical Assessment | • | • | |
| 2 - Reflective Practice Assignment | • | • | |
| 3 - Report | • | • | |
| 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 | • | • | • |
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | |