Professional Practice: Stage 1

Unit Outline (Higher Education)

Level of Unit in Course

AQF Level(s) of Course

Level of Unit in Course

Introductory

Intermediate

Effective Term:

2025/02

Institute / School :

Institute of Health and Wellbeing

Unit Title:

Professional Practice: Stage 1

Unit ID:

PSYCM7011

Credit Points:

15.00

Prerequisite(s):

Nil

Co-requisite(s):

Nil

Exclusion(s):

(PSYCP7004)

ASCED:

090701

Other Change:

Brief description of the Unit

This unit provides a foundation for clinical practice in psychology, and includes both theoretical and practical learning components. Topics include: ethical and professional issues, counselling and clinical interviewing skills, risk assessment, record keeping, and self-care in professional psychological practice.

Grade Scheme:

Graded (HD, D, C, P, MF, F, XF)

Work Experience Indicator:

No work experience

Placement Component:

Supplementary Assessment:No

Supplementary assessment is not available to students who gain a fail in this Unit.

Course Level:

Learning Outcomes:

Knowledge:

K1.	Explain the ethical and legal responsibilities that underpin the practice of clinical psychology.

K2.	Articulate the role and components of mental status examinations, and the procedures for assessing risk of harm to self and others.

K3.	Describe methods and strategies for personal stress management and self-care.

Skills:

S1.	Demonstrate critical evaluation skills and systematic decision making skills when applying ethical and legal principles to clinical practice.

S2.	Demonstrate counselling and clinical interviewing skills with a clear focus on developing and maintaining respectful relationships with clients, and promoting, restoring, or enhancing well-being.

S3.	Perform skills required for clinical assessment, diagnosis, case formulation, and treatment planning.

S4.	Demonstrate the capacity to reflect on the impact of professional work on well-being, and recognise the importance of integrating stress management strategies into clinical practice.

Application of knowledge and skills:

A1.	Obtain accurate assessment information using skilled interviewing techniques and apply this information to create theory-driven formulations and evidence-based treatment plans.

A2.	Using reflective skills to evaluate personal stress and the impact on professional functioning, and developing effective stress management and self-care approaches

Unit Content:

Topics may include:

Ethical and legal responsibilities in clinical practice

Ethical decision-making processes

Counselling and clinical interviewing skills

Mental status examinations & risk assessment

Reflective practice and self care

Graduate Attributes:

Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FEDTASKS (Transferable Attributes Skills and Knowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are be embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and Co-operative Learning opportunities. One or more FEDTASK, transferable Attributes, Skills or Knowledge must be evident in the specified learning outcomes and assessment for each FedUni Unit, and all must be directly assessed in each Course.

FED TASK and descriptor		Development and acquisition of FEDTASKS in the Unit
FED TASK and descriptor		Level
FEDTASK 1 Interpersonal	Students at this level will demonstrate an advanced ability in a range of contexts to effectively communicate, interact and work with others both individually and in groups. Students will be required to display high level skills in-person and/or online in: • Using and demonstrating a high level of verbal and non-verbal communication • Demonstrating a mastery of listening for meaning and influencing via active listening • Demonstrating and showing empathy for others • High order skills in negotiating and conflict resolution skills\\ • Demonstrating mastery of working respectfully in cross-cultural and diverse teams.	1 - Yes
FEDTASK 2 Leadership	Students at this level will demonstrate a mastery in professional skills and behaviours in leading others. • Creating and sustaining a collegial environment • Demonstrating a high level of self -awareness and the ability to self-reflect and justify decisions • Inspiring and initiating opportunities to lead others • Making informed professional decisions • Demonstrating initiative in new professional situations.	1 - Yes
FEDTASK 3 Critical Thinking and Creativity	Students at this level will demonstrate high level skills in working in complexity and ambiguity using the imagination to create new ideas. Students will be required to display skills in: • Reflecting critically to generate and consider complex ideas and concepts at an abstract level • Analysing complex and abstract ideas, concepts and information • Communicate alternative perspectives to justify complex ideas • Demonstrate a mastery of challenging conventional thinking to clarify complex concepts • Forming creative solutions in problem solving to new situations for further learning.	3 - N/A
FEDTASK 4 Digital Literacy	Students at this level will demonstrate the ability to work competently across a wide range of tools, platforms and applications to achieve a range of tasks. Students will be required to display skills in: • Mastering, exploring, evaluating, managing, curating, organising and sharing digital information professionally • Collating, managing complex data, accessing and using digital data securely • Receiving and responding professionally to messages in a range of professional digital media • Contributing competently and professionally to digital teams and working groups • Participating at a high level in digital learning opportunities.	3 - N/A
FEDTASK 5 sustainable and Ethical Mindset	Students at this level will demonstrate a mastery of considering and assessing the consequences and impact of ideas and actions in enacting professional ethical and sustainable decisions. Students will be required to display skills in: • Demonstrate informed judgment making that considers the impact of devising complex solutions in ambiguous global economic environmental and societal contexts • Professionally committing to the promulgation of social responsibility • Demonstrate the ability to evaluate ethical, socially responsible and/or sustainable challenges and generating and articulating responses • Communicating lifelong, life-wide and life-deep learning to be open to the diverse professional others • Generating, leading and implementing required actions to foster sustainability in their professional and personal life	1 - Yes

	Learning Outcomes Assessed	Assessment Tasks	Assessment Type	Weighting	Professional Standards
1.	K1, S1, A1	Quiz - professional and ethical issues in psychological practice	Test	10-20%
2.	K2, S2, S3, A1	A clinical interview and case note	Practical and written task	50-80%
3.	K3, S4, A2	Self Care Plan	Written task	10-30%

Adopted Reference Style:

APA ()

Professional Standards / Competencies:

Standard / Competency