Inherent requirements for Flinders University postgraduate psychology degrees:
Flinders University and the College of Education, Psychology & Social Work (CEPSW) strongly support the right of all people to pursue a professional psychology course.
Inherent requirements are the essential components of a course or unit that demonstrate the abilities, knowledge and skills to achieve the core learning outcomes of the course or unit, while preserving the academic integrity of the University's learning, assessment and accreditation processes. The inherent requirements are the abilities, knowledge and skills needed to complete the course that must be met by all students.
Students with a disability or chronic health condition may be able to have reasonable adjustments made to enable them to meet these requirements.
The College is committed to making reasonable adjustments to teaching and learning, assessment, practicums and other activities to enable students to participate in their course. Reasonable adjustments must not fundamentally change the nature of the inherent requirement.
Students are required to undertake placement activities which reflect the Australian psychology clinical and professional practice context which may include mixed gender, religious and culturally diverse environments. For further information contact your Course Coordinator.
To support potential and current students' decision making, a series of inherent requirement statements have been developed. These statements specify the course requirements of the postgraduate psychology courses for student admission and progression. The statements are clustered under eight domains consisting of ethical behaviour, behavioural stability, legal, communication, cognition, relational skills, reflective skills and sustainable performance.
Our postgraduate psychology courses offer two pathways to registration with the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA), which is a partner board of the Australian Health Practitioners Registration Authority (AHPRA). The higher degree pathway enables you to apply for registration as a registered psychologist following successful completion of the Master of Psychology (Clinical) or Doctor of Philosophy (Clinical Psychology). The 5+1 pathway requires successful completion of the one-year Master of Professional Psychology, which enables you to apply for an external sixth-year internship (which students must arrange themselves). Successful completion of these components enables you to apply for general registration as a registered psychologist.
The inherent requirements outlined below provide a guide to inform decision making for students and staff.
If you are intending to enrol in a postgraduate psychology course in the College of Education, Psychology and Social Work (CEPSW), you should look at these inherent requirement statements and think about whether you may experience challenges in meeting these requirements.
If you think you may experience challenges for any reason including a disability or chronic health condition, you should discuss your concerns with the CEPSW staff, such as the Course Coordinator, Head of Discipline, or College Disability Academic Advisor (CDAA). These staff can work collaboratively with you to determine reasonable adjustments to assist you to meet the inherent requirements. In the case where it is determined that inherent requirements cannot be met with reasonable adjustments, the University staff can provide guidance regarding other study options.
These inherent requirements should be read in conjunction with other course information, the PsyBA's codes, guidelines and policies and the APAC's standards and guidelines. The APAC is the accreditation authority for this course.
Each inherent requirement is made up of the following five levels:
The exemplars provided are not intended as an exhaustive list.
Level |
Inherent requirement statements |
1 |
Psychology is a profession governed by the codes, guidelines and policies of the Psychology Board of Australia (opens in new window) where psychologists are both accountable and responsible for ensuring professional behaviour in all contexts. Students / provisional psychologists should demonstrate knowledge and engage in ethical behaviour in practice. |
2 |
Student demonstrates knowledge of, and engages in ethical behaviour in practice. |
3 |
Justification of inherent requirement: » Compliance with the codes, guidelines and policies facilitates safe, competent interactions and relationships for students and/or the people they engage with. This ensures the physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of all. |
4 |
Adjustments must not compromise the codes, guidelines and policies of the Psychology Board of Australia or result in unethical behaviour. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the College Disability Academic Advisor and Course coordinator. |
5 |
Exemplars: » Complying with conduct required to maintain provisional registration as a psychologist. » Understanding and practising appropriate professional boundaries including confidentiality and duty of care in work with clients whilst on placement/practicum. » Demonstrating appropriate behaviour with confidential information in classroom settings. » Demonstrate ability to reflect on ethical dilemmas and issues and take responsibility for ensuring awareness of ethical behaviour. |
Level |
Inherent requirement statements |
1 |
Behavioural stability is required to function and adapt effectively and sensitively in this role. |
2 |
Student demonstrates behavioural stability to work constructively in a diverse and changing academic and clinical/professional environment, which may at times be challenging and unpredictable. |
3 |
Justification of inherent requirement: » Behavioural stability is required to work individually and in teams in diverse and changing environments. Students will be exposed to situations which are challenging and unpredictable, and will be required to have the behavioural stability to manage these objectively and professionally. |
4 |
Adjustments must support stable, effective and professional behaviour in both academic and placement/practicum settings. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the College Disability Academic Advisor and Course Coordinator. |
5 |
Exemplars: » The ability to be self-reliant, organised, and an effective time manager. » Demonstrating respectful behaviour and being receptive and responding appropriately to constructive feedback » Managing own emotional state in order to be able to develop and maintain an appropriate relationship with a diverse range of clients, professional colleagues and supervisors, academic staff and peers. |
Level |
Inherent requirement statements |
1 |
Psychology practice is mandated by specific legislation to enable the safe delivery of care. |
2 |
Student demonstrates knowledge and compliance with relevant laws and professional regulations. |
3 |
Justification of inherent requirement: » Knowledge, understanding and compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements are necessary pre-requisites to placements in order to reduce the risk of harm to self and others |
4 |
Adjustments must be consistent with legal and regulatory requirements. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the College Disability Academic Advisor and Course Coordinator. |
5 |
Exemplars: » Complying with legal requirements regarding all aspects of practice |
Level |
Inherent requirement statements |
1 |
Effective verbal communication, in English, is an essential requirement to provide safe and effective delivery of psychology care. |
2 |
Student demonstrates: |
3 |
Justification of inherent requirement: » Communicating in a way that displays respect and empathy to others and develops trusting relationships. |
4 |
Adjustments must address effectiveness, timeliness, clarity and accuracy issues to ensure appropriate support. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the College Disability Academic Advisor and Course Coordinator. |
5 |
Exemplars: » Participating in tutorial, simulation and applied psychology discussions. » Responding appropriately in an interview in the field placement environment. » Collecting information from clients by asking questions during assessments » Explaining a treatment plan to a client » Discussing the client's progress with other professionals |
Non-verbal
Level |
Inherent requirement statements |
1 |
Effective non-verbal communication is fundamental to the psychology profession and needs to be respectful, clear, attentive, empathic and non-judgemental. |
2 |
Student demonstrates: |
3 |
Justification of inherent requirement: » The ability to observe and understand non-verbal cues assists with building rapport with people and gaining their trust and respect in academic and professional relationships. |
4 |
Adjustments must enable the recognition, assessment and initiation of an appropriate response to non-verbal cues as well as initiation of effective non-verbal communication in a timely and appropriate manner. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the College Disability Academic Advisor and Course Coordinator.. |
5 |
Exemplars: » Recognising and responding to non-verbal cues in the field placement environment. |
Level |
Inherent requirement statements |
1 |
Effective written communication, in English, is a fundamental psychology student responsibility with professional and legal ramifications. |
2 |
Student demonstrates capacity to construct coherent written communication appropriate to the circumstances. |
3 |
Justification of inherent requirement: » Construction of written text-based assessment tasks to reflect the required academic standards are necessary to convey knowledge and understanding of relevant subject matter for professional practice. |
4 |
Adjustments must not compromise the necessary standards of clarity, accuracy and accessibility to ensure effective recording and transmission of information in both academic and field placement settings. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the College Disability Academic Advisor and Course Coordinator. |
5 |
Exemplars: » Constructing an essay to required academic standards. |
Level |
Inherent requirement statements |
1 |
Consistent and effective knowledge and cognitive skills must be demonstrated to undertake safe and competent clinical psychology practice. |
2 |
Student demonstrates: |
3 |
Justification of inherent requirement: » Safe and effective psychology practice is based on knowledge that must be sourced, understood and applied appropriately. » A range of knowledge and cognitive skills is a requirement for course accreditation, field placements and professional registration by AHPRA. |
4 |
Adjustments for knowledge or cognitive skills impairments must not compromise or impede student's ability to demonstrate the minimum acceptable level of knowledge and cognitive skill required to practice safely. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the College Disability Academic Advisor and Course Coordinator. |
5 |
Exemplars: » Ability to conceptualise and use appropriate knowledge in response to academic assessment items. » Ability to apply academic knowledge, and knowledge of policy and procedures in field placement settings, for example through developing and testing hypotheses, developing treatment plans and then conducting individual sessions for clients based upon this. |
Level |
Inherent requirement statements |
1 |
Competent literacy skills are essential to permit safe and effective practice of psychology. |
2 |
Student demonstrates: |
3 |
Justification of inherent requirement: » The ability to acquire information and to accurately convey messages is fundamental to ensure safe and effective assessment, treatment and delivery of care. |
4 |
Adjustments to address literacy issues must not compromise the student's ability to demonstrate the minimum acceptable capacity to effectively acquire, comprehend, apply and communicate accurate information. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the College Disability Academic Advisor and Course Coordinator. |
5 |
Exemplars: » Conveying a spoken message accurately and effectively in a field placement setting. |
|
Inherent requirement statements |
1 |
Competent and accurate numeracy skills are essential to provide safe and effective psychology practice management. |
2 |
Student demonstrates: |
3 |
Justification of inherent requirement: » Competent application of numeracy skills is essential in psychology to facilitate accurate and effective delivery of results when collecting and interpreting numerical data. |
4 |
Adjustments to address numeracy issues must not compromise the student's ability to demonstrate the minimum acceptable capacity to manage and interpret numerical data. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the College Disability Academic Advisor and Course Coordinator. |
5 |
Exemplars: » Accurately scoring and interpreting psychometric assessments and psychological measures (outcome data) while on field placement. » Accurately gathering and interpreting data using psychology specialist software, e.g. SPSS. |
Level |
Inherent requirement statements |
1 |
Psychological practice requires the ability to use highly developed interpersonal skills and establish strong relationships with a wide range of individuals, groups and communities. |
2 |
Student demonstrates: |
3 |
Justification of inherent requirement: » Highly developed relational skills are a cornerstone of effective therapeutic relationships that permit effective engagement, assessment, intervention and closure. |
4 |
Adjustments must not compromise the student's ability to demonstrate an acceptable level of effective relational skills. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the College Disability Academic Advisor and Course Coordinator. |
5 |
Exemplars: » Rapidly building rapport with a client in order to engage them in an assessment or therapeutic session while on field placement |
Level |
Inherent requirement statements |
1 |
Psychological practice requires self-awareness and a capacity for reflection and reflexivity in order to consider the effect of one's own issues, actions, values and behaviours on practice. |
2 |
Student demonstrates: |
3 |
Justification of inherent requirement: » Participation in supervision is a key teaching strategy in psychological education which requires well developed understanding oneself in order to appropriately engage in this activity. |
4 |
Adjustments for reflective skills impairments must not compromise the student's ability to demonstrate an acceptable minimum level of capacity in this area. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the College Disability Academic Advisor and Course Coordinator. |
5 |
Exemplars: » Identifying when a practice issue is outside one's scope or expertise, or when one's practice may be negatively affected by personal experience and/or reactions. |
Level |
Inherent requirement statements |
1 |
Psychological practice requires both physical and mental performance at a consistent and sustained level to meet individual needs over time. |
2 |
Student demonstrates: |
3 |
Justification of inherent requirement: » Sufficient energy and physical and mental endurance is an essential requirement needed to perform multiple tasks in an assigned period to provide safe and effective care. |
4 |
Adjustments must ensure that performance is consistent and sustained over a given period. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the College Disability Academic Advisor and Course Coordinator. |
5 |
Exemplars: » Participating in educational settings, e.g., tutorials, lectures throughout the day. |
The contents on this page were adapted from http://www.westernsydney.edu.au/ir
Inherent Requirements http://www.westernsydney.edu.au/ir
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