Graduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology

Course code: GD-CLINPSY

This course is available to domestic students only

Duration

2 years part time

Mode (Location)

On campus (Parkville)

Intake

January

Key dates

Fees

AUD $18,992 (2026 indicative first year fee). Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) are not available

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How to apply

Overview

This course provides a thorough grounding in the discipline of clinical psychology involving the assessment and treatment of children, adolescents, adults and aged persons presenting with mental illness. The seven coursework subjects cover assessment and diagnostic skills, therapeutic approaches to treatment, advanced psychopathology, advanced professional issues, and biological bases of mental illness. The placements provide at least 750 hours of patient-based training in the practice of clinical psychology in the University's Psychology Clinic and mental health agencies across Melbourne providing services in either an adult or child and adolescent setting.

Explore this course

Explore the subjects you could choose as part of this degree.

Year 1 (37.5 credit points)

Accordion
Introduction to Assessment and Diagnosis · 6.25 pts	Psychologists need to be able to provide patients with the most appropriate treatment to address the presenting issues and problems that have brought them to treatment. To do this, psychologists must be able to: assess the patient’s current situation and symptoms; understand how their history has influenced their current situation; and understand the patient’s living circumstances, their own unique range of strengths and weaknesses, supports that are available, and other relevant factors. On the basis of this information, psychologists arrive at an individualised ‘case formulation’ which will then guide the clinician to the most appropriate treatment options. This subject covers a range of fundamental issues in psychological interviewing and testing in professional settings that enable a clinician to develop case formulations. Specifically, students will be introduced to the principles and practice of diagnostic decision making, symptom assessment and monitoring, the logic of clinical inference-making, and the integration of material derived from the patient history with the mental state examination and other sources to arrive at a case formulation. View detailed information in the Handbook
Principles of Psychological Assessment · 6.25 pts	This subject introduces students who are studying clinical psychology or clinical neuropsychology at the graduate level to the principles and practice of psychological and neuropsychological assessment, covering childhood and adulthood. Current trends in the theoretical understanding of personality, psychopathology and cognitive ability will provide the conceptual basis assessment practice. It will be shown that psychological and neuropsychological assessment is best understood to include all aspects of the clinical encounter which lead to diagnostic case formulation. In particular, the subject content will address the application of techniques derived from psychological science to enhance correct classification of psychological conditions. View detailed information in the Handbook
Child Psychopathology · 6.25 pts	This subject focuses on the clinical manifestation, aetiology, diagnosis, assessment, and management of high-prevalence psychological disorders of childhood and adolescence. The role of systemic and developmental factors in understanding and managing young people’s psychological difficulties are a focus. Current theoretical models of common disorders will be presented. Ways in which psychological disorders manifest at different developmental stages will be discussed, and complexities associated with differential diagnosis considered. Challenges associated with assessment and formulation when there are multiple informants will be discussed. Students will be taught about evidence-based approaches to assessment and intervention for each disorder. There will be a strong focus, throughout, on case-based learning. View detailed information in the Handbook
Individual and Cultural Diversity · 6.25 pts	When people develop psychological disorders, whether in childhood, adulthood, or later life, they do not arise in a vacuum, but in a psychosocial context. Many individual and cultural factors contribute to this context, and the purpose of this subject is to explore some of these influences, and how they interact with each other. Such an understanding provides the context for relating to clients as a whole person, rather than merely focusing on symptoms and diagnosis of disorders. Consideration of these factors is also crucial to the processes of formulation and engaging clients in therapy. Topics covered include diagnoses as psychosocial phenomena, and factors in help-seeking and accessing the mental health system. The course considers aspects of diversity, such as physical health, cultural identity, gender identity, aging and family issues, especially as they relate to the presentation and treatment of psychological disorders. Ethical issues, theoretical perspectives, current clinical practice and evidence from the clinical research literature are emphasised. View detailed information in the Handbook
Advanced Psychopathology · 6.25 pts	This subject presents a comprehensive biopsychosocial approach to the examination and evaluation of various competing theories of aetiology; maintenance and treatment of psychological problems/disorders that commonly present to clinicians. It adopts a case-based methodology for examining how theoretical models apply to case formulation and treatment planning for different adult disorders. The conceptual strengths and weaknesses of these theoretical positions will be examined and discussed, and their empirical status will be evaluated. View detailed information in the Handbook
Advanced Psychological Practice 2 · 6.25 pts	This subject will provide students with an overview of medications used in the treatment of psychiatric disorders, including their mechanisms of action and side effects. Students will gain an understanding of the role of psychologists in working alongside other health practitioners who prescribe and monitor these treatments. Students will also be introduced to a range of biological aspects of psychological functioning, including the role of endocrine factors in normal functioning and psychological disorders. Students will gain an understanding of the role of psychologists in developing interventions based on these biological perspectives. View detailed information in the Handbook

Year 2 (62.5 credit points)

Accordion
Advanced Psychological Practice 1 · 6.25 pts	The overall aim of this subject is to provide a forum for the exploration of advanced therapeutic approaches and complex clinical issues in order to prepare graduates for the transition to working as a professional psychologist. A sense of professional identity and competence is fostered through the exploration of advanced treatment approaches and complex clinical practice issues. The subject is concerned with the examination of aspects of clinical psychology practice with an emphasis on students developing a critical approach to various clinical, professional practice and evaluation issues. Students will be given the opportunity to enhance their knowledge of advanced clinical practice issues, including psychotherapy process, treatment approaches for complex clinical presentations, risk assessment and primary prevention approaches. Students will gain critical understanding of public and private sector contexts for clinical practice, and related regulations, policies and procedures relating to service evaluation and quality assurance, supervision, practice management and professional development. View detailed information in the Handbook
Professional Placement (Clinical) 1 · 18.75 pts	This subject supports students to develop competencies of generally registered psychologists in a clinical psychology area of practice competency, via clinical practice within the University of Melbourne Psychology Clinic. In this process, students build on their existing skills and competencies by translating and integrating academic coursework into clinical practice. Students are required to complete at least 100 hours of direct client contact and an additional 200 hours of indirect client related activity in the University of Melbourne Psychology Clinic. Students will have the opportunity to observe a range of clinical presentations, conduct psychological assessments and deliver psychological interventions, under supervision with adult, child and family patients. they will gain experience in history taking, conducting mental state examinations, arriving at case formulations and making treatment plans. Under supervision, students will be given the opportunity to develop competence in the provision of psychological treatments to individuals and (where possible) groups. In addition, the subject aims to give the student experience of professional psychology practice, including professional presentation, report writing and record keeping, managing a clinical caseload, and liaising with other professional practitioners. Over the placement, students are required to complete at least 15 hours of psychological assessments as part of their direct client contact. The remainder of the required direct client contact hours will consist of intervention-focussed work. Students are required to participate in regular weekly individual and group supervision sessions. Supervisors for the Clinic placement will be registered as both psychologists (with Clinical Psychology endorsement) and supervisors with the Psychology Board of Australia (PBA). Students undertaking this subject must be fully registered with the (PBA) and meet other local and service-level regulatory requirements. Students are also required to attend and present cases seen on field placement at a weekly case conference in the Melbourne School of Psychological Science over the course of their enrolment in this subject. Finally, they will be required to complete an online training module that provides training in awareness of the risks associated with the clinical placement environment and ways to manage or control for these risks. View detailed information in the Handbook
Professional Placement (Clinical) 2 · 37.5 pts	This subject supports students to develop competencies of generally registered psychologists in a clinical psychology area of practice competency, via clinical practice within partner services and university-based group discussion. In this process, students translate and integrate academic coursework into clinical practice. Students are required to complete at least 200 hours of direct client contact and an additional 250 hours of indirect client related activity at an external agency, taking into account regulatory requirements for placements across the program (including, but not limited to, practise across the life span). Field placement activities include clinical assessment of referred cases, case formulation and diagnosis, development of management strategies where appropriate, recording interactions with and about clients, and attendance at relevant clinical meeting/ward rounds, and participation in supervision consistent with regulatory guidelines. Students are also required to attend and present cases seen on field placement at a weekly case conference in the Melbourne School of Psychological Science during the teaching semesters over the course of their enrolment in this subject. Students undertaking this subject must be fully registered with the Psychology Board of Australia (PBA) and meet other local and service-level regulatory requirements. External supervisors must be registered psychologists and be a Psychology Board of Australia-approved higher degree supervisor. View detailed information in the Handbook

Accordion

Advanced Psychological Practice 1 · 6.25 pts

The overall aim of this subject is to provide a forum for the exploration of advanced therapeutic approaches and complex clinical issues in order to prepare graduates for the transition to working as a professional psychologist.

A sense of professional identity and competence is fostered through the exploration of advanced treatment approaches and complex clinical practice issues. The subject is concerned with the examination of aspects of clinical psychology practice with an emphasis on students developing a critical approach to various clinical, professional practice and evaluation issues. Students will be given the opportunity to enhance their knowledge of advanced clinical practice issues, including psychotherapy process, treatment approaches for complex clinical presentations, risk assessment and primary prevention approaches. Students will gain critical understanding of public and private sector contexts for clinical practice, and related regulations, policies and procedures relating to service evaluation and quality assurance, supervision, practice management and professional development.

View detailed information in the Handbook

Professional Placement (Clinical) 1 · 18.75 pts

This subject supports students to develop competencies of generally registered psychologists in a clinical psychology area of practice competency, via clinical practice within the University of Melbourne Psychology Clinic. In this process, students build on their existing skills and competencies by translating and integrating academic coursework into clinical practice.

Students are required to complete at least 100 hours of direct client contact and an additional 200 hours of indirect client related activity in the University of Melbourne Psychology Clinic. Students will have the opportunity to observe a range of clinical presentations, conduct psychological assessments and deliver psychological interventions, under supervision with adult, child and family patients. they will gain experience in history taking, conducting mental state examinations, arriving at case formulations and making treatment plans. Under supervision, students will be given the opportunity to develop competence in the provision of psychological treatments to individuals and (where possible) groups. In addition, the subject aims to give the student experience of professional psychology practice, including professional presentation, report writing and record keeping, managing a clinical caseload, and liaising with other professional practitioners.

Over the placement, students are required to complete at least 15 hours of psychological assessments as part of their direct client contact. The remainder of the required direct client contact hours will consist of intervention-focussed work. Students are required to participate in regular weekly individual and group supervision sessions. Supervisors for the Clinic placement will be registered as both psychologists (with Clinical Psychology endorsement) and supervisors with the Psychology Board of Australia (PBA). Students undertaking this subject must be fully registered with the (PBA) and meet other local and service-level regulatory requirements.

Students are also required to attend and present cases seen on field placement at a weekly case conference in the Melbourne School of Psychological Science over the course of their enrolment in this subject. Finally, they will be required to complete an online training module that provides training in awareness of the risks associated with the clinical placement environment and ways to manage or control for these risks.

View detailed information in the Handbook

Professional Placement (Clinical) 2 · 37.5 pts

This subject supports students to develop competencies of generally registered psychologists in a clinical psychology area of practice competency, via clinical practice within partner services and university-based group discussion. In this process, students translate and integrate academic coursework into clinical practice.

Students are required to complete at least 200 hours of direct client contact and an additional 250 hours of indirect client related activity at an external agency, taking into account regulatory requirements for placements across the program (including, but not limited to, practise across the life span). Field placement activities include clinical assessment of referred cases, case formulation and diagnosis, development of management strategies where appropriate, recording interactions with and about clients, and attendance at relevant clinical meeting/ward rounds, and participation in supervision consistent with regulatory guidelines.

Students are also required to attend and present cases seen on field placement at a weekly case conference in the Melbourne School of Psychological Science during the teaching semesters over the course of their enrolment in this subject.

Students undertaking this subject must be fully registered with the Psychology Board of Australia (PBA) and meet other local and service-level regulatory requirements. External supervisors must be registered psychologists and be a Psychology Board of Australia-approved higher degree supervisor.

View detailed information in the Handbook