Postgraduate Degrees in Clinical Psychology
Psychology
Master of Psychology (Clinical)
Doctor of Philosophy (Clinical Psychology)
Applications for 2012 close on Tuesday October 4 2011
Applications for 2012 are now Closed
Online application forms are available from here.
Why Obtain Clinical Training at UNE?
This is the best time ever to enter the UNE clinical training programs. There are several reasons for this:
1. The UNE clinical programs prepare students to help fill the unmet need for clinical psychologists in Australia. Recent changes in Medicare provide money for clinical services, but the country lacks a sufficient number of clinical psychologists to provide those services, with an especially acute shortage in rural areas. At the completion of our clinical masters, students are eligible for registration as clinical psychologists.
2. The UNE clinical programs offer students stimulating, practically oriented training. In the first year students receive extensive training in assessment and treatment and then provide, under close supervision, assessment and therapy to clients with psychological disorders. Every unit and training experience is set up to help ensure that students are able to provide a wide range of high-quality clinical services by the time they graduate.
3. The instructors in the clinical programs are friendly, helpful and determined to help students succeed.
4. Graduates of the clinical programs have diverse career options. Some who have become eligible for the clinical college now work in private practice. Others work for agencies, where their skills are in high demand.
5. We have 12 Commonwealth supported places each year for students newly enrolling into the program.
6. Australian students transferring to the PhD(Clinical Psychology) at the end of the first year of the Masters program receive exemption from fees for second to fourth years, under the Research Training Scheme (RTS).
7. Applicants from rural, regional or remote locations who meet eligibility requirements may be able to obtain scholarships funded by either of two sources. First, there is the Services For Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health (SARRAH). For 2012, applications for this scholarship will open August 31st 2011. Students may apply before they are admitted to the program. Second, there is the NSW Rural Allied Health Scholarships which provides funding for up to $10,000 per year.
8. Students completing a practicum in a rural setting may be able to obtain a placement grant from the NSW Health Department.
9. Students who continue on for a PhD may be able to obtain a UNE Scholarship or an Australian Postgraduate Award.
Programs:
Psychology at UNE offers two professional programs, the Master of Psychology (Clinical) and the Doctor of Philosophy (Clinical Psychology), see handbook. The programs prepare students for careers in Departments of Health (hospitals and clinics), Community Services, Rehabilitation Services, Disability Services, Alcohol and Drug Services, Private Practice, and elsewhere.
The Australian Psychology Accreditation Council has accredited the programs so that successful completion will result in: (a) eligibility to register as a psychologist in Australia; (b) eligibility to become a member of the Australian Psychological Society; and (c) completion of the academic requirements for membership of the Australian Psychological Society’s College of Clinical Psychologists.
The MPsych(Clin) provides professional training in clinical psychology whilst the PhD(ClinPsych) is a research professional doctorate which combines professional training with the research training of a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree. Students initially apply to the MPsych(Clin) program. On completion of the first year of the program, application may be made to change from the MPsych(Clin) to the PhD(ClinPsych).
Master of Psychology (Clinical)
The MPsych(Clin) program comprises requirements normally completed in two years of full-time (FT) study. FT students enrol as internal students for the first year of study, and as external students for the second year of study. The program consists of coursework, research and practicum experiences.
First Year (on-campus)
The on-campus coursework takes place first semester.
Coursework modules include:
- Adult psychological disorders
- Psychological assessment
- Interventions with adults
- Clinical child psychology
- Professional practice
Thesis Preparation: This unit helps covers research methods and statistics that students are likely to use in their thesis research and in applied clinical work. The primary outcome of the unit is a sound thesis proposal.
Clinical Psychology Placement I: This placement is usually undertaken in the first year after extensive clinical skills training and intensive supervision with a single client. The placement is completed in the UNE Psychology Clinic. Within this placement students take on a broad range of cases.
Second Year (on-campus or off-campus)
- Clinical Health Psychology
- Forensic psychology
- Private Practice in Clinical Psychology
- Psychopharmacology
- Working with Older adults
Thesis: This unit consists of the completion of an empirical research project and submission in the form of a journal manuscript of 9,000 to 15,000 words by the end of October.
Clinical Psychology Placements II & III: These placements provide experience in dealing with a wide range of client problems across various age ranges and settings.
Doctor of Philosophy (Clinical Psychology)
The PhD(ClinPsych) program comprises requirements completed in four years of FT study. The first year of the PhD(ClinPsych) program is the same as for the MPsych(Clin) program. The program consists of coursework, research and practicum.
Eligible domestic higher degree research students may be awarded an Exemption Scholarship to cover the cost academic tuition fees.
Second Year (on-campus)
Coursework units are the same for a Masters of Psychology (Clinical).
Thesis: The thesis requirements are as for the PhD degree.
Clinical Psychology Placement II: This placement is usually undertaken in a rural or remote setting.
Third Year (Internal or External)
Thesis: The thesis requirements are as for the PhD degree.
Fourth Year (Internal or External)
Thesis: The thesis requirements are as for the PhD degree.
Clinical Psychology Placement III: This third placement can be undertaken in a variety of settings but cannot be commenced until the thesis has been submitted for examination.
Field Placements
The practicum component of the clinical psychology programs consists of an intensive internal practicum and two external placements. External placements generally need to be supervised by experienced clinical psychologists. APS accreditation guidelines allow one external placement in which on-site supervision is provided by a health professional who is not a clinical psychologist, if a clinical psychologist at the university provides back-up supervision. There are few clinical psychologists in the New England region, so students may be required to complete two external placements outside the region. The clinical programs have been structured with this in mind so that coursework and placements are not scheduled concurrently, thus enabling students to travel away from Armidale. Completing external placements in different geographical regions adds to the breadth of clinical training. UNE cannot meet expenses arising from completing external placements, but some funding may be available from NSW Health for rural placements. Each placement can be completed at the rate of 2, 3 or 4 days per week.
External Enrolment
There is considerable demand for clinical training to be offered in the distance education (i.e. external) mode, a form of education pioneered by UNE. However, we in the clinical program do not believe that it is possible to offer adequate training in clinical psychology exclusively in the external mode. Hence, UNE programs are structured so that the components of clinical training that necessitate internal enrolment (e.g., clinic placement and some coursework) have been packaged together at the beginning of the program leaving the remaining components to be completed via external enrolment.
Students completing the MPsych(Clin) full-time are committed to being in Armidale for two or three days per week during their first year. In second year, students attend brief intensive schools. External placements can be completed anywhere providing that students cover an adequate range of clinical experiences and appropriate supervision can be arranged. Research projects can be completed at UNE or elsewhere. All research projects will be supervised by UNE staff but joint supervision with professionals in the field can be arranged.
Staff
Dr Tanya Hanstock - Director of Clinical Psychology
Special interests: I am a senior clinical psychologist with experience in child and adolescent psychology particularly in community and inpatient mental health settings. My research interests are in the areas of: (i) juvenile bipolar disorder, (ii) complex trauma, (iii) dissociation, (iv) psychonutrition, particularly omega-3 treatment for mood disorders, (v), psychodermatology, (vi) Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and (vii) obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). I enjoy clinical practice as well as supervising students in clinical practice and research and writing and publishing psychology journal articles and books. I also enjoy promoting and improving mental health literacy in the community.
Other staff who teach and supervise in the clinical program are:
Dr Debra Dunstan
Special interests: I am a Clinical Psychologist with extensive experience in occupational rehabilitation and rural practice. My research interests are in the areas of: (i) rehabilitation psychology, in particular work-disability due to chronic pain and mild to moderate mental health problems; and; (ii) modes and models of mental health and rehabilitation service delivery, suitable for use in rural settings. My current research projects include: evaluation of community-based, rural mental health programs; service delivery using video-conferencing technology; and, exploring the impact of climate change on rural Australian children.Dr Amy Lykins
Special interests: My research interests are primarily in the areas of human sexuality and sexual health, specifically: (i) the development and nature of sexual preferences; (ii) female sexual health issues; (iii) sexual dysfunctions and disorders—their development, assessment and treatment; and (iv) gender identity and gender identity disorder. I am particularly interested in studying the cognitive underpinnings of the aforementioned topics using psychophysiological (e.g., EEG, genital plethysmography) and cognitive-based methodologies (e.g., eye-tracking, dot-probe paradigm).Further clinical appointments are currently in process.
Other Psychology staff involved in the clinical program are:
Dr Will Coventry, who is responsible for teaching research methods and thesis preparation; Dr Rhonda Brown, Dr Graham Jamieson, Professor William (Bill) Noble, and Dr Einar Thorsteinsson. These staff contribute to the Health Psychology component of the program.Research projects by clinical students are open to supervision by any member of the Psychology Discipline, and students should browse the individual pages of all staff members.
Fees and Financial Assistance
There are currently 12 Commonwealth-supported places in the clinical program. Information on fees can be found at http://www.une.edu.au/for/current-students/costs/stufees.php
Students who transfer to the Clinical PhD after completion of the first year of Clinical Masters are ordinarily exempt from fees under the Research Training Scheme. For more information about financial assistance, see Why Obtain Clinical Training at UNE
Eligibility
- Applicants must have successfully completed a four year, or three year plus a fourth year, APAC-accredited sequence in psychology, within the last 10 years, with an upper second class Honours (2A) or equivalent overall mark, and be eligible for registration with the psychologist Registration Board as a conditional/provisional psychologist. An exception to this Standard may be made for currently registered psychologists who can demonstrate current compliance with Registration Board CPD requirements seeking to gain a professional postgraduate qualification.
- In ranking eligible applications the selection committee will take account of the whole of an applicant’s undergraduate record.
- Attendance in person for interview by the selection committee is required of all short-listed applicants.
- In determining admission to candidature, attention will be given to each applicant’s suitability for the roles and tasks required of a clinical psychologist. This will take account of such personal qualities as emotional and social intellect, empathic outlook, maturity and open-mindedness. Relevant occupational and/or service experience will also be considered.
- Entry to the PhD(Clin) program is by way of transfer after the first year of study in the MPsych(Clin) if grades are at a satisfactory level of Distinction or higher.
- Applicants for the programs who have completed their degrees at universities other than UNE should submit full documentation related to their qualifications in Psychology so that equivalence can be established. Qualifications completed outside Australia must be assessed for equivalence by the APS.
Advanced Standing
Advanced standing for the first year of the PhD(ClinPsych) may be granted to applicants who have completed the first year of the MPsych(Clin) or equivalent. Advanced standing will only be considered for first year work.
Applications:
Applications for 2012 close Tuesday October 4 2011 .
Applications will be submitted online and are opening in early August.
Online application forms are available from:
http://www.une.edu.au/for/future-students/postgraduates/admissions.php
Enquiries:
Email: Libby Fitzgerald
Telephone: (02) 6773 3189
