Forensic Psychology for Clinicians PG (6307.3)

Please note these are the 2021 details for this unit
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Forensic Psychology for Clinicians PG
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods
EFTSL Credit points Faculty
0.125 3 Faculty Of Health
Discipline Study level HECS Bands
Discipline Of Psychology Post Graduate Level Band 1 2021 (Pg Clinical Psychology)
Band 2 2021 (Prof Pathway Psychology-After 1 Jan 2021)
Band 2 2021 (Prof Pathway Psychology-Before 1 Jan 2021)
Band 2 2021 (Standard Course Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021)
Band 4 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan Social Work_Exclude 0905)
Band 4 2021 (Standard Course Commenced After 1 Jan 2021)
This unit provides a professional basis for clinical psychologists who deal with clients in forensic contexts as part of their clinical practice. The unit aims to provide knowledge of relevant aspects of the criminal justice and legal systems. The unit also addresses the skills required to assess and treat clients from a range of forensic client groups.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to demonstrate:
1. Knowledge of the criminal justice and legal systems and awareness of issues relating to psychologists working in forensic areas, including forensic mental health, correctional psychology, and personal injury;
2. Understanding of practical issues associated with the court system, including appearing in court, and preparing psychological reports for the court;
3. Understanding of the principles of evidence-based practice in the design, implementation, and evaluation of assessment and intervention practices with different forensic clients; and
4. An awareness of ethical issues involved in forensic psychology practice and use of the APS Code of Ethics and its accompanying Guidelines, and other relevant sources, to resolve ethical questions.


Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict


Prerequisites

Must have passed 6314 Practicum Placement 2 PG

Corequisites

Must be enrolled in Master of Clinical Psychology, 742AA OR Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology, 958AA.

Assumed knowledge

None.
Year Location Teaching period Teaching start date Delivery mode Unit convener
Not available

Required texts

Recommended text: Weiner, I.B., & Otto, R.K. (Eds) (2014). The Handbook of Forensic Psychology (4th ed). New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.

Please note that this text book will be available on e-reserve from the UC library. The web address will be provided on the Moodle site in due course (not available at the time of the publication of this outline).

Participation requirements

Participation Requirements

It is expected that all students will attend all workshops. Student should familiarise themselves with attendance rules in the Master of Clinical Psychology Program.  If you cannot attend a workshop, you are encouraged to discuss this absence with your unit convener in advance. Students must provide documentation for any absences, and if accepted by the unit convenor, provide a 1000 word summary on the topic/s missed (due by end of semester) in order to demonstrate competency. Students cannot miss more than one full day (or two three-hour workshops) in a unit or they will fail the unit. Material will not be repeated outside workshop time for those who miss a workshop with an approved absence. Delivery of material discussed in workshops will be assumed to be known by all, even those who do not attend. Please note that you may fail the unit if you miss any workshops without documentation given the unit is competency based, and students cannot miss mandatory workshops (outlined below). Students are also expected to attend workshops on time and work effectively with others.

Please refer to the MCP Student Handbook - mobile phones are to be turned off during workshops. If you have an exceptional circumstance (e.g., sick child) and need your mobile during class, please advise the instructor.

Mandatory Workshops

Please note that the workshops on risk assessment, civil forensic, child custody and child abuse and neglect, and psychological assessment in this unit require mandatory attendance.  Students cannot miss mandatory workshops, and if they are absent for these workshops they will receive a fail grade for the unit or should consider a late withdrawal if there are extenuating circumstances.  If a student has appropriate documentation supporting an absence under exceptional circumstances on the day of a mandatory workshop, students may be given the option to attend the workshop when it is next delivered in the course (and receive a WHE grade until such time if approved by the ADE and meeting all other pass requirements for the unit) or complete an equivalent workshop approved by the unit convenor at the student's own expense (please note documentation will be required as proof of  completion).  Students should also note that absences may impact course progression.

Required IT skills

none

In-unit costs

Textbook cost (optional).

Work placement, internships or practicums

none.

Additional information

Moderation Processes

In accordance with University policy (3.15 in Assessment Procedures), moderation is required to ensure consistency in standards of marking in a unit.  The Master of Clinical Psychology program and units undertake moderation in a number of domains, specifically through review of unit outlines and unit content, assessment item details and marking guides, and in marking assignments.  All assessment pieces or marks resulting in a fail grade will be moderated by another member of the clinical team, as well as a random selection of assignments covering a range of participants in the unit. This process ensures that marking across the program is consistent.  All units are subjected to moderation at the Discipline level at the conclusion of each teaching period.