UWA Handbook 2025

Unit Overview

Description

Typically, children are referred for assessment by parents, carers, teachers or other professionals working with them. The issues for which they are referred are of concern to the referring party; they are usually, but not necessarily, of concern for the child. Issues that cause most concern vary with the age of the child but typically include problems with emotional development, learning and behaviour. The unit introduces students to the presentation of children with a variety of mental health disorders that typically arise during the developmental years; the role of culture in development, and culturally competent care; assessment tools and techniques; diagnostic criteria and differential diagnosis; communication and consultation with stakeholders; and common evidence-based interventions.

Credit

6 points

Offering
(see Timetable)

Availability	Location	Mode
Semester 1	UWA (Perth)	Face to face

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) explain the cultural competence and cultural safety models with respect to practice in child and adolescent clinical psychology and explain how personally engaging in related activities affects practice.; (2) evaluate the scientific literature and generate evidence-based interventions to questions common in professional practice across child and adolescent development and as appropriate to context, communicating these in oral and written formats.; (3) evaluate psychological disorders ranging in chronicity and complexity relevant to children and adolescents presented in cases, with reference to international taxonomies; (4) apply advanced knowledge to synthesise information from multiple sources, including the major assessment tools and processes that are used to gather information relevant to children and adolescents, and integrate this information to inform diagnosis and case formulation.; (5) select, tailor, and communicate (orally and in writing) appropriate evidence-based interventions for use with child and adolescent clients and ways to monitor progress, sensitive to development stage and context, as presented in case studies; and (6) understand and apply knowledge of developmental systems and biopsychosocial models of health to interpret and synthesize assessment information with knowledge of psychopathology to inform case formulation, diagnosis and intervention selection for child and adolescent clients as presented in cases.

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) case study intervention and reflection; (2) case study diagnosis and formulation; (3) test; and (4) attendance. Further information is available in the unit outline.

To pass this unit, a student must: (a) achieve an overall mark of 50 per cent or higher for the unit; and (b) achieve the requisite requirements(s) or a mark of 50 per cent or greater, whichever is higher and specified in the unit outline, for the attendance component.

Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Unit Coordinator(s)

Dr Vance Locke

Unit rules

Prerequisites

Enrolment in

01870/54570 Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Clinical Psychology
or 53370 Graduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology

and Successful completion of

two Unit(s) PSYC5672 Foundations in Clinical Skills I
and Unit(s) PSYC5673 Foundations in Clinical Skills II

Contact hours

lectures: 12 x 3 hours (lecture attendance is compulsory)

Note

Students enrolled in an APAC accredited program must hold provisional registration as a psychologist. It is the students' responsibility to ensure registration eligibility. Enrolled students are also responsible for maintaining provisional registration for the duration of their enrolment in the program.

Texts

Prinstein MJ, Youngstrom, EA, Mash, EA & Barkley, RA (Eds.) (2019). Treatment of Disorders in Childhood and Adolescence. New York, NY: Guilford Press, xiii+ 914 pp.