Course Title: Foundations of Practice 1

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Foundations of Practice 1

Credit Points: 12.00

Important Information:

 

 


Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

BESC1461

Bundoora Campus

Postgraduate

150H Health Sciences

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2007,
Sem 1 2008,
Sem 1 2009,
Sem 1 2010,
Sem 1 2011,
Sem 1 2012,
Sem 1 2013

BESC1461

Bundoora Campus

Postgraduate

173H School of Health and Biomed

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2018,
Sem 1 2019,
Sem 1 2020,
Sem 1 2021,
Sem 1 2022,
Sem 1 2023

BESC1473

Bundoora Campus

Research

150H Health Sciences

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2007,
Sem 1 2008,
Sem 1 2010,
Sem 1 2011,
Sem 1 2012

Course Coordinator: Tara Quinlivan

Course Coordinator Phone: -

Course Coordinator Email: tara.quinlivan2@rmit.edu.au


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None.


Course Description

Foundations of Practice 1 is an introductory level course in the Master of Clinical Psychology program designed to provide you with the foundational theoretical and practical knowledge and skills to support entry into supervised therapeutic practice in clinical settings. This course will continue to build on knowledge and skills gained in the APAC-accredited four year undergraduate psychology program and is focused on two central areas of psychological practice:

  • Counselling
  • Professional Practice & Ethics


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes for MC002 Master of Clinical Psychology:  

  • PLO 1:  Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the theories, models and scientific underpinning of professional psychological practice and its application across behavioural and organisational systems.
  • PLO 2:  Develop a comprehensive and critical understanding of the legislative frameworks and ethical codes and guidelines that guide professional psychological practice at a personal and professional level.
  • PLO 4:  Demonstrate the ability to design, apply and evaluate appropriate evidence-based empirically-validated interventions individualised to the client’s diagnosis, case formulation, and personal or organisational characteristics.
  • PLO 6:  Demonstrate the ability to undertake effective communication across a range of individual and organisational contexts to engage clients and to convey, appraise and interpret information relevant to professional practice and the client population.


On successful completion of this course you should be able to: 

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of the definitions, principles and processes of counselling.
  2. Demonstrate awareness of your level of competence in counselling-related skills including attending, empathy, questioning and challenging.
  3. Critically evaluate your performance in a counselling interaction, and plan for development of further skills.
  4. Demonstrate knowledge of the regulation and organization of psychology as a profession.
  5. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the ethical, legal and professional issues involved in the practice of psychology.
  6. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the professional, legal and ethical complexities of inter- and intra-professional relationships and demonstrate the ability to engage in ethical decision-making.

 


Overview of Learning Activities

Learning activities include a mixture of lectures/seminars, tutorials and skill development activities. Lectures will build on knowledge gained in undergraduate psychology and provide a solid theoretical and practice-driven basis to help you achieve professional practice skills. The skill development activities will support entry into professional psychological practice. You are expected to read widely across the academic literature related to this area of study.

Teacher Guided Hours: 48

Learner Directed Hours: 72


Overview of Learning Resources

The learning resources associated with this course will include targeted readings taken from a range of both primary and secondary sources.  Lecture material may utilise a variety of available technologies including the Canvas site.  Skill development activities will be provided in a variety of ways, including simulated learning activities. 


Overview of Assessment

This course has no hurdle requirements.

The assessment associated with this course will comprise both formative and summative assessment and incorporate a variety of assessment modes. Your diagnostic and formative assessments will take the form of tests, assignments and practice-based exercises. Your summative assessment may include formal examinations and practical evaluations.

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task 1: (a) DVD recording of a 35-40 minute role play of an initial interview with a client; and (b) written self-reflection about the role play process

Weighting 50%

This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2 & 3

Assessment Task 2: Examination

Weighting 50%

This assessment task supports CLOs 4, 5 & 6