PSYCHOL 7331 - Professional Practice

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2014

This course aims to develop students' skills in interviewing and counselling as well as their written and oral communication skills. The course also aims to familiarise students with the role of the organisational psychologist and the requirements of relevant professional and research organisations. On completion of this unit students will be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills in interviewing, counselling and competency in written and oral communication. Students will also be familiar with the role of the organisational psychologist and the requirements of relevant professional and research organisations.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code PSYCHOL 7331
    Course Professional Practice
    Coordinating Unit Psychology
    Term Semester 1
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 12 hours per week
    Restrictions Available to M Psych (O&HF) and PhD/MPsych(O&HF) students only or by the permission of the Head of School
    Assessment Assignments and self-directed learning exercises
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Aspa Sarris

    School of Psychology Office
    Ms Janine Flory
    Ph - +61 8313 1540
    Email - janine.flory@adelaide.edu.au

    Additional Academic Staff
    Dr Neil Kirby
    Ph - +61 8313 5739
    Email - neil.kirby@adelaide.edu.au




    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    The following learning outcomes are consistent with the APS College Course Approval guidelines for Postgraduate Specialist Courses in Organisational Psychology: http://www.psychology.org.au/academic/course-approval/

    At the successful completion of this course students will be able to:

    1.    Demonstrate competence in interviewing and counselling.
    2.    Demonstrate competence in conducting an initial interview.
    3.    Demonstrate knowledge of the essential components of a mental status examination.
    4.    Demonstrate knowledge of and key skills in conducting risk assessments and motivational Interviewing.
    5.    Demonstrate professional oral and written communication skills.
    6.    Understand the role of the organisational psychologist, the requirements of relevant professional and research organisations, and the values and thinking that underlie those requirements.
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised. 1-4
    The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner. 1-5
    An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems. 1-5
    Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication. 1-5
    A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies. 1-5
    A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life. 1-6
    An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities. 1-6
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Lecturers will provide reading material that will be made available in class and on MyUni.Link to MyUni: https://myuni.adelaide.edu.au/

    For additional information regarding required resources  please refer to the Master of Psychology (Organisational and Human Factors) program handbook at the following link: http://health.adelaide.edu.au/psychology/students/resource/handbooksforms.html
    Recommended Resources
    The Library is a major resource centre for students. The Research Librarian for Psychology, Maureen Bell, provides some useful information through the Internet at http://libguides.adelaide.edu.au/psychology. The website contains a list of databases, links to tutorials and help with searching methods.

    For additional information relating to required resources please refer to the Master of Psychology (Organisational and Human Factors) program handbook at the following link: http://health.adelaide.edu.au/psychology/students/resource/handbooksforms.html
    Online Learning
    This course may use MyUni for one or more of the following:
    - Communication with students via Announcements and Discussion Board
    - Submission of assessment
    - Access to resources such as additional readings
    - Self-directed learning activities    

    Link to MyUni: https://myuni.adelaide.edu.au/
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Lectures will be supported by group discussion related to the lecture content. Competence in counselling skills and conducting an initial interview will be assessed using a video recorded role-play of an initial interview. A self-directed learning exercise will assess competence in a professional oral presentation. Competence in written communication will be assessed using a written exercise.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    Seminars: 3 hours each week for 12 weeks (36 hours)
    Redemption assignments will be set for any missed classes.
    Assignment 1: Competence in counselling skills and conducting an initial interview will be assessed using a video recorded role-play of an initial interview (10 hours approx)
    Assignment 2: competence in written communication will be assessed through an individual written communication exercise (5 hours approx.)
    A self-directed learning exercise will assess competence in a professional oral presentation and independent reading (10 hours approx.)
    Self-directed independent reading (73 hours approx.)

    Further details will be provided in class.
    Learning Activities Summary
    This is a summer intensive course run over 12 days. 

    Day Topic Lecture
    Day 1 Introduction to interviewing and counselling Interviewing and counselling
    Day 2 Introduction to interviewing and counselling Interviewing and counselling
    Day 3 Introduction to interviewing and counselling Interviewing and counselling
    Day 4 The initial interview and history taking Interviewing and counselling
    Day 5 Mental Status examination and risk assessment Interviewing and counselling
    Day 6 Motivational interviewing Interviewing and counselling
    Day 7 Human Factors in action Organisational psychology and human factors
    Day 8 Organisational psychology placements Organisational psychology and human factors
    Day 9 Organisational psychology research projects Organisational psychology and human factors
    Day  10 Communication I: Issues Organisational psychology and human factors
    Day  11 Communication II: Practice Organisational psychology and human factors
    Day  12 Organisational psychology Thesis: Literature searching made easy Organisational psychology and human factors

    Disclaimer: This program is provisional and subject to change.

    Specific Course Requirements
    On enrolment all students MUST apply for and obtain provisional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia.  All students are required to provide a copy of their registration details  to the Program Administrator on their first day in the Program: this will be required for the Summer School courses Professional Practice and Evidence-Based Practice.The application form and details of fees payable are available from the PBA website: http://www.psychologyboard.gov.au/Forms.aspx.

    Candidates are required to consent to a police check as part of their application to the Psychology Board of Australia for Provisional Registration, a requirement of enrolment in the program. A satisfactory current police check is a mandatory requirement for acceptance to and continuation within the program.
    Small Group Discovery Experience
    Not applicable
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    The assessment consists of three tasks as detailed below, and these are assessed by a Non-Graded Pass (NGP). Each assessment task must be passed successfully to complete the course. Due dates will be provided at the beginning of the course.

    Assessment Task Assessment Type Weighting Learning outcome(s) being addressed
    Video recorded role-play of an intitial interview Summative NGP 1,2,5
    Oral presentation Summative NGP 1,3,4,5,6
    Written communication Summative NGP 5
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Attendance is required for 80% of classes, with attendance lists maintained. Failure to meet this attendance requirement (i.e., absence from three or more classes in the course) may lead to exclusion from the course.
    Assessment Detail
    •    Competence in counselling skills and conducting an initial interview will be assessed using a video recorded role-play of an initial interview.
    •    A self-directed learning exercise will assess competence in a professional oral presentation.
    •    Competence in written communication will be assessed through an individual written communication exercise.

    Further details on all assessments will be provided in class. For additional information please refer to the Master of Psychology (Organisational and Human Factors) program handbook at the following link: http://health.adelaide.edu.au/psychology/students/resource/handbooksforms.html
    Submission
    Assignments are to be submitted to the Psychology Office, along with a signed cover sheet (available on MyUni). Link to MyUni: https://myuni.adelaide.edu.au/

    The School of Psychology undertakes to adhere to the University’s Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy, Procedure 6a, which requires that assessments are returned within 4 weeks of the deadlines for submission.

    Extension of time for an assignment may be granted at the discretion of the Course Coordinator, to whom students should apply in writing (or email) before the due date and time.

    No requests for extensions will be considered if made after the due date and time.

    For further information re the Assessment Policy please refer to the Master of Psychology (Organisational and Human Factors) Program Handbook at the following link: http://health.adelaide.edu.au/psychology/students/resource/handbooksforms.html
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    GS8 (Coursework Grade Scheme)
    Grade Description
    CN Continuing
    FNS Fail No Submission
    NFE No Formal Examination
    F Fail
    NGP Non Graded Pass
    P Pass
    C Credit
    D Distinction
    HD High Distinction
    RP Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Assignments will be graded as NGP.

    Students will have the opportunity to resubmit any assessment that received a fail grade.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.