PSYC21007 - Clinical Practice 1

General Information

Unit Synopsis

Clinical Practice 1 is the first in a series of clinical practice units. This unit is designed 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. By the completion of Clinical Practice 1, it is expected that you will achieve competencies including the application of knowledge to practice; awareness of ethical decision making; competency in cognitive-learning assessments and evidence-based interventions with a narrow range of clients at low severity levels; respectful and timely communication; and capacity to critically self-reflect on your practice.

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

Co-requisites: PSYC20058 and PSYC21001

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 2 - 2025

Term 1 - 2026 Profile
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).

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.

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task Weighting
1. Professional Practice Placement 0%
2. Direct observation of procedural skills (DOPs) 0%
3. Online Test 0%
4. Reflective Practice Assignment 0%
5. Presentation 0%
6. Case Study 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

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Previous Feedback

Term 1 - 2025 : The overall satisfaction for students in the last offering of this course was 66.67% (`Agree` and `Strongly Agree` responses), based on a 25% 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: SUTE feedback
Feedback
Some students requested increased video demonstrations for administration of psychological assessments.
Recommendation
Integrate more examples of assessment administration skills in real time/video.
Action Taken
A recording of a cognitive assessment was made available to students, with plans to provide further assessment videos in the future.
Source: SUTE feedback
Feedback
Some students requested increased support for interpretation of psychological assessments, and although the manuals are useful, there is some ambiguity and reliance on clinical judgement.
Recommendation
Allow more time to discuss assessment findings and also offer additional support in the clinic for 'drop in' administrative scoring/interpretation sessions.
Action Taken
Students could check in with the site supervisor regarding scoring, in addition to their one-to-one supervisor.
Source: SUTE feedback
Feedback
Some students requested increased supervision for the administration of psychological assessments and more opportunities to receive feedback on their in-session skills.
Recommendation
Consider supervising more subtests from psychological assessments and staggered clinic appointment times to allow for increased supervision in the clinic and increased opportunities for feedback regarding practice.
Action Taken
Students were encouraged to download recordings of their assessments to share with their one-to-one supervisors, to provide feedback on assessment administration.
Source: SUTE feedback
Feedback
Some students requested a greater integration between this unit and other units within the course so that psychological assessments are taught prior to their administration in the clinic.
Recommendation
Continue with regular MCP and MPP course-level meetings to review timing of assessment delivery and streamline co-teaching across course units.
Action Taken
Regular meetings between the MCP and MPP Heads of Course have continued, with the aim of coursework supporting skills development for clinical practice.
Source: Sute Unit Comments
Feedback
Students indicated that, while they loved the clinical practice part of this unit, the workload was heavy.
Recommendation
Review the workload associated with this unit.
Action Taken
In Progress
Source: Sute Unit Comments
Feedback
Students indicated that they would like more training in the administration, scoring, and interpretation of psychometric assessments used on this placement.
Recommendation
Review how to improve the teaching and learning for assessments used on placement.
Action Taken
In Progress
Source: Sute Unit Comment
Feedback
Students would like clearer expectations about how to complete placement documentation.
Recommendation
Review the placement documentation so that requirements are clearer.
Action Taken
In Progress
Unit learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  1. Perform psychology assessments, interventions and associated activities to demonstrate competencies required for clinical practice.
  2. Evaluate and apply relevant legislation and ethical principles related to psychological practice, including those endorsed by the Psychology Board of Australia.
  3. Communicate effectively and professionally with clients, specialist and non-specialist audiences.
  4. Reflect critically on knowledge, skills and ability to provide psychological services.
  5. Critically evaluate the contemporary scientific literature to develop an appropriate plan for evidence-based practice.

This unit forms part of the Master of Clinical Psychology course which is accredited by the Australian Psychological Accreditation Council. This unit addresses the following competencies:

3.1 Demonstrate successful (prior or concurrent) achievement of pre-professional competencies.

3.10 Demonstrate respect for the skills and contributions 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.

3.16 Critically evaluate contemporary scientific literature to inform practice.

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Professional Practice Placement • • •
2 - Direct observation of procedural skills (DOPs) • •
3 - Online Test •
4 - Reflective Practice Assignment •
5 - Presentation •
6 - Case Study • •
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
• Professional Level
• Advanced Level
Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Knowledge • • • •
2 - Communication • • •
3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills • • •
4 - Research •
5 - Self-management • • • •
6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility • • •
7 - Leadership •
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
• Professional Level
• Advanced Level
Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8