Course Title: Practicum 3

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Practicum 3

Credit Points: 16


Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

BESC1272

Bundoora Campus

Postgraduate

150H Health Sciences

Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2006,
Sem 1 2007,
Sem 1 2008

Course Coordinator: Dr Sophie Xenos

Course Coordinator Phone: 9925 1081

Course Coordinator Email:sophia.xenos@rmit.edu.au


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Satisfactory completion of Practicum 2


Course Description

Although Doctoral students enrol in four external placements (40, 60, 40, & 40 days, respectively), Practicums 3 & 4 are usually conducted at the same agency and combine for a continuous 80 day placement. Thus, in Practicum 3, doctoral students complete a minimum of 40 days working in an external agency under formal supervision. In addition, placements must meet the accreditation guidelines of the Australian Psychological Society (APS) College of Clinical Psychologists, or Educational and Developmental Psychologists depending on the student’s specialisation. The absolute length of time spent within each placement will be determined by negotiation between the placement venue, the practicum coordinator, and the student


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Student activities are negotiated for any venue and must meet the APS accreditation guidelines that specify that 40% of placement time must be practical training face to face with clients. Students are required to demonstrate competencies in client assessment, intervention, report writing and record keeping, under supervision. Professionals working in the field provide opportunities for students to observe exemplary practice.

Placement experience can vary from student to student according to the selection of placement venue. The experiences of subsequent placements will differ substantially, so that, after completion of the course the student will have had exposure to working with a wide range of client problems, across a range of age groups, and in at least two different settings.


Please refer to comments above.


Overview of Learning Activities

Please refer to comments above.


Overview of Learning Resources

Students will receive direct supervision from qualified staff with actual cases while working in ‘real-life’ community agencies.


Overview of Assessment

The student must be considered by the field supervisor to have adequately completed all of the specified activities and to have attended for the agreed period of time. The student must receive a minimum overall performance rating of 3 on the Practicum Evaluation Form. The student must also have submitted a self-evaluation of their generic and specific professional competencies and a professional development plan that address their professional learning needs. In addition, students must also complete and present an assessment-treatment-management plan based upon empirical literature relevant to the difficulties experienced by one client seen during the placement.