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Unit of study_
PSYC4000: Foundations of Professional Psychology
2025 unit information
Foundations of Professional Psychology is designed to equip you with the knowledge, critical thinking and practical skills that provide the foundation for professional practice in psychology. It will build upon the background in psychological science established in the undergraduate Psychology program to develop your understanding and capacity for critical evaluation of the theoretical and empirical bases underpinning the construction, implementation and interpretation of major cognitive and personality assessment instruments, and the development and implementation of evidence-based psychological interventions. Through the lectures, practical activities and assessments, you will also develop an understanding of current regulatory and legal contexts, including the National Health Practitioner Regulation Act 2009, mandatory reporting requirements, and other relevant legislation. You will also be introduced to the Australian National Practice Standards for the Mental Health Workforce. Lectures on ethical practice will cover key issues in the psychology profession's Code of Conduct including professional relationships and the importance of confidentiality, informed consent and record keeping. The implications of cultural diversity and the factors that need to be considered in culturally informed practice will also be illustrated and evaluated. This unit will meet the accreditation criteria for Honours programs in Psychology and provide students with the essential foundations for psychological practice in a range of contexts.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Science
| Study level | Undergraduate |
|---|---|
| Academic unit | Psychology Academic Operations |
| Credit points | 6 |
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Prerequisites:
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[24 credit points of PSYC3XXX including PSYC3010] or [18 credit points of PSYC3XXX including PSYC3010 and (HPSC3023 or SCPU3001)] |
|---|---|
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Corequisites:
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PSYC4104 |
| Prohibitions:
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None |
| Assumed knowledge:
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None |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. Understand the scientist-practitioner model and its application to professional practice
- LO2. Understand and critically evaluate the principles underpinning basic psychological intervention strategies that can be applied across a range of contexts
- LO3. Apply basic assessment strategies in situations appropriate to psychological practice, and demonstrate knowledge of the construction, implementation and interpretation of psychometric theory and principles of the more widely used standardised psychological test instruments
- LO4. Demonstrate appropriate interpersonal communication and interview skills in situations appropriate to psychological practice and research, including active listening, clarifying and reflecting, effective questioning, summarising and paraphrasing, developing rapport, appropriate cultural responsiveness, and empathic responding.
- LO5. Understand the role of psychologists in multidisciplinary settings and recognise issues involved in working in mental health organisations.
- LO6. Understand the regulatory legal context and ethical codes governing professional psychology practice.
- LO7. Develop cultural awareness and cultural safety to apply psychological knowledge competently and ethically, particularly in respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and culture.
Unit availability
This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.
The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.
| Session | MoA ? | Location | Outline ? |
|---|---|---|---|
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Intensive August 2025
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Block mode | Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney |
Outline unavailable
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Modes of attendance (MoA)
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