Postgraduate Clinical Psychology Placements in Victoria: The Experience of Students and Supervisors

Abstract

In a recent study conducted at Swinburne University of Technology, researchers examined the challenges involved in coordinating, undertaking, and supervising clinical psychology placements within Victoria. The aim of the investigation was to develop and improve strategies ensuring the sustainable provision of university‐based postgraduate psychology programmes. Results provide detailed information about the components involved in this multifaceted problem. Findings indicate that those involved in clinical placements within university training programmes in Victoria are experiencing major difficulties and that these difficulties raise serious concerns regarding the future provision of clinical placements within the postgraduate system. This article focuses on student and supervisor experiences and perspectives. Implications are discussed.

Key words:

• clinical placements
• clinical psychology training
• postgraduate training
• students
• supervisors

Acknowledgement

This research was conducted with the support of the Scholarship of Learning and Teaching (SoLT) grant, 2011, from the Faculty of Life and Social Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology.

Notes

1. The proposed 5 + 1 model will ameliorate this barrier to some degree by providing a small improvement over the 4 + 2 model in standardised practical skill development; however, the degree of such improvements remains to be tested and is unlikely to consistently match the quality of training included in an accredited postgraduate degree.

2. Data collected from a third group of stakeholders, university placement coordinators, is the subject of a separate publication.

Additional information

Funding

Scholarship of Learning and Teaching (SoLT)