Clinical and Forensic Placement B1
Overview
To further develop skills in the area of Clinical Psychology practice, including assessment, intervention, ethical, legal and professional practice, research and evaluation, and communication and interpersonal relationships.
Requisites
01-November-2026
30-May-2027
31-October-2027
Unit learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Assess a client’s history and mental state to develop an evidence-based case formulation
- Independently administer and interpret a range of psychological assessments and communicate the findings of these assessments in comprehensive psychological reports
- Use advanced knowledge of mental disorders to prepare and deliver evidence-based treatment plans.
- Apply and evaluate a range of therapeutic modalities and interventions, including case management, individual therapy, and/or group interventions
- Apply the principles and practice of interprofessional learning by participating in case conferences, team meetings, making appropriate referrals to other allied health professionals, and relevant professional development within the context of a multidisciplinary team.
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Placement Placement |
16.15 | 20 weeks | 323 |
| TOTAL | 323 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Journal | Individual | Pass/Fail | 1,2,3,4,5 |
| Pre-placement contract | Individual | Pass/Fail |
1,2,3,4,5 |
| Placement activities logbook | Individual | Pass/Fail |
1,2,3,4,5 |
| Professional Experience Report | Individual | Pass/Fail |
1,2,3,4,5 |
| Case Study Report | Individual | Pass/Fail |
1,2,3,4,5 |
| Progress Report | Individual | Pass/Fail |
1,2,3,4,5 |
Content
Clinical and Forensic Placement B1 will be at least 323 hours (approximately 43 days) in length. One hour of supervision is required for each day of placement.
· Placements are designed to provide supervised professional training in the practice of clinical psychology within specific clinical settings. Students will be given opportunities to practice their skills while being supervised in a supportive and constructively critical environment. The skill development targets of placements B1 will include demonstrated higher level competence in the skills initially developed in placements A1 and A2. The particular form of these advanced professional skills will differ for each student because the setting and professional role will differ in accordance with each trainee’s skill, experience level, and professional interests. This placement is undertaken in an external field setting and can only commence after placements A1 and A2 are successfully completed and passed. Trainees will typically be under the direct daily supervision of an on-site psychologist who meets supervisor registration standards as set out by AHPRA.
· Clinical Placement B1 can occur at a variety of settings, depending upon the trainee's experience, skill and interests, and the availability of appropriate on-site supervision and a useful training role in the organisation. Placement choices must be planned well in advance and trainees must demonstrate flexibility in relation to placement opportunities and travel. This includes availability to undertake placement during working hours for at least 2 days per week. It is essential to start the placement planning process early to ensure you secure a position on time.
· In discussion with the placement coordinator, trainees must consider the requirement for breadth of experience as well as their own skill development needs. It is a requirement of the course that trainees have experience with a wide range of client problems (e.g., acute as well as chronic presentations) across the lifespan (i.e., child, adolescent, adult, older adult) and in different settings (e.g., inpatient, outpatient, day patient, community). Trainees are also expected to employ a variety of clinical skills (e.g., assessment, treatment, professionalism).
Graduate Attributes:
- Graduate Attribute – Communication Skills: Verbal communication
- Graduate Attribute – Communication Skills: Communicating using different media
- Graduate Attribute – Digital Literacies: Information literacy
- Graduate Attribute – Digital Literacies: Technical literacy
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.