Ethical and Professional Issues
Overview
This unit helps students prepare for professional psychological roles by advancing their knowledge of AHPRA, the Psychology Board of Australia, and the psychologist’s professional obligations under the PsyBA Code of Conduct and other relevant guidelines. Students will learn to use ethical decision-making models to apply the PsyBA Code of Conduct and other relevant guidelines to a variety of psychological practice situations and dilemmas. Students will study contemporary professional practice issues including working with children, inter-professional teams, and people from different cultural backgrounds while maintaining competence for sustainable practice.
Requisites
Rules
Pre-requisite
300 Credit Points and Admission into BH-PSY Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) Standard Entry
OR
Admission into BH-PSYSC Bachelor of Psychological Sciences (Honours)
OR
Admission into BH-PSY1 Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) Graduate Entry
Equivalent
HAY457 - Ethical and Professional Issues
01-November-2026
31-October-2027
Unit learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Apply the Psychology Board of Australia Code of Conduct to professional psychological practice scenarios
- Apply ethical decision-making models to professional problems
- Make practical ethical decisions about complex professional situations for sustainable psychological practice, including when working with other health care professionals
- Apply cultural humility when analysing situations and making decisions for working with people from diverse groups
Teaching methods
Hawthorn Online
| Activity Type | Activity | Total Hours | Number of Weeks | Hours Per Week | Venue Type and Activity Detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| On-campus | Class | 6 | 3 weeks | 2 | Collaboration |
| Live Online | Class | 24 | 12 weeks | 2 | |
| Online | Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning | 120 | 12 weeks | 10 | Independent study, Assignment preparation, Revision |
| Total Hours: | 150 | Total Hours (per week): | 14 | ||
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Analysis | Individual | 50% | 1,2,3,4 |
| Examination | Individual | 50% | 1,2,3,4 |
Content
- The PsyBA and registration requirements
- Australian professional psychology associations and regulatory bodies
- Ethical and professional issues such as self-care, competence, confidentiality, informed consent, boundaries, professional conduct, multicultural and Indigenous issues, working with vulnerable groups
- Ethical report writing, record keeping, and use of digital technology
- Ethical decision-making models
- Issues surrounding psychology and the law, including the psychologist's role in legal settings
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.