External Placement A

Overview

This unit is the second placement unit and students' first external placement experience, which will be undertaken in either an educational setting (e.g., a school) or a general educational and developmental psychology setting. Students will gain experience in delivering culturally safe, anti-oppressive, and high-quality psychological services that are responsive to the diverse needs of clients in real-world settings, complementing the theoretical and simulated learning in the coursework units. The unit will provide opportunities for skill development in a supervised, structured environment, where self-reflection and critical reflexivity are important components of the supervisory relationship. The aim is for students to develop their clinical assessment, case formulation, treatment planning, and intervention skills consistent with the scientist-practitioner-advocate model and to demonstrate increasing professional competency to practise with autonomy. Professional ethics and behaviours, the development of confidence, and competence in applying psychological practice skills are integral components of this unit.

Unit learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

1. Integrate evidence-based psychological theory and practice to relevant professional environments and demonstrate increasing professional competency to practise with autonomy
2. Engage in ethical and professional psychological practice, consistent with current relevant legal frameworks, mental health practice standards and the occupational setting
3. Provide culturally safe, anti-oppressive, and high-quality psychological services that are responsive to the diverse needs of clients and that consider broader socio-ecological systems

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Assessment

Content

• No less than 350 hours of psychological practice
• Regular supervision (individual and group)
• Regular professional development workshops 
• Placement administration  
• Engaging in self-reflection and critical reflexivity on social positionality, values, beliefs, biases, and professional competencies
• Developing trauma-informed, culturally safe, and anti-oppressive clinical practice skills
• Graduate Attribute 1 – Communication Skills: Verbal communication
• Graduate Attribute 2 – Communication Skills: Communicating using different media
• Graduate Attribute 5 – Digital Literacies: Information literacy