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To be a psychologist you are required to undertake further education and training in advancing psychological knowledge and skills. This course is designed as part of a pathway to registration as a psychologist in Australia. In this course you will develop your pre-professional competencies providing you with basic knowledge and skills in the professional practice of psychology, and professional competencies which will advance your knowledge and skills in professional practice and research skills.
This course information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester. In particular please check the course requirements and the unit and unit set offerings, as these differ according to course delivery location.
Students will complete a minimum of 300 hours of skills training and supervised practice during the course. This includes a minimum of 280 hours of practicum experience under the supervision of a Registered Psychologist.
All students will be required to undertake a National Police Clearance. Students may be required to undertake other clearances and screenings specific to individual organisations. Students whose practicum involves contact with young people under the age of 18 will be required to obtain a Working with Children clearance. A placement host may have vaccination and other requirements, including vaccination against Covid-19 unless you have a medical exemption. Please consider this requirement before enrolling in this Course, and speak with the Course coordinator if this raises any concerns. You may not be able to complete placement units if you are unable to meet the placement requirements, which may impact your ability to complete this course. Additionally, OSH agreements, insurance policies, and risk assessments are required for all placements.
Students will be required to attend practicum on specified days as negotiated with their practicum supervisor.
All students are required to abide by the Australian Psychological Society Code of Ethics, the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009 and all relevant State and National legislation whilst on practicum.
Students who fail the practicum will be required to re-enrol in the unit the following year. Students who fail the practicum the maximum number of times permitted will be unable to graduate from the course. Such students will be offered an alternative Graduate Diploma exit option. All registered psychologists are bound by the Psychology Board of Australia requirements for mandatory reporting and failure of a placement might involve circumstances that are required to be reported to AHPRA.
Students will need to graduate to be eligible to register with the Australasian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra). Registration with the Australasian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) is required to practice in the profession.
All applicants are required to meet the following mandatory course-specific admission requirements. These requirements are in addition to or supersede the minimum requirements outlined within the Academic admission requirements band section below. All applicants must have completed an APAC Level 1 qualification. Applicants with qualifications obtained overseas must provide evidence that their psychology qualification has been assessed by the Australian Psychological Society (APS) as equivalent to an APAC-accredited Level 1 qualification in psychology. All applicants are required to be eligible for, and successfully gain and maintain, Provisional Registration with the Psychology Board of Australia, for the entirety of the second year of the program. Applicants must provide a personal statement describing their motivations and personal suitability for the course. Additionally, applicants must submit a curriculum vitae showing details of relevant employment and volunteer experience. Two referee reports must be submitted by the referees via the HODSPA Online Referee System. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an interview.
This course has been accredited by ECU as an AQF Level 9 Masters Degree (Coursework) Award.
| Unit Code | Unit Title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| PSY5500 | Research Skills for Psychology | 20 |
| PSY5189 | Preparation of Thesis Proposal | 20 |
| Unit Code | Unit Title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| PSY5505 # | Approaches to Psychological Assessment | 20 |
| PSY5510 # | Psychological Interventions | 20 |
| Unit Code | Unit Title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| PSY6510 | Evidence-based Practice in Psychology | 20 |
| PSY6515 | Analysing and Communicating Psychological Research | 20 |
| Unit Code | Unit Title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| PSY6502 | Ethics and Professional Psychology Practice | 20 |
| PSY6501 | Foundational Professional Psychology Skills | 20 |
| Unit Code | Unit Title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| PSY6520 | Psychological Practice with Adults | 20 |
| PSY6525 | Psychological Practice with Children and Adolescents | 20 |
| Unit Code | Unit Title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| PSY6506 | The Scientist Practitioner in Professional Psychology | 20 |
| PSY6530 | Professional Psychology Practicum | 20 |
# Designated Unit - a Unit or Unit of Competency which a School has designated as a fundamental course requirement and may only be attempted once unless otherwise determined by the School Progression Panel.
For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.
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