Postgraduate - Course4508 - Master of Mental Health Science

This course is offered by the Southern Clinical School, Department of Psychiatry at Monash University. Students can choose from three designated specialist pathways to develop specialist skills in forensic behavioural science, community mental health or child psychotherapy.

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 9, the Bologna Cycle 2 and Monash Graduate AttributesAustralian Qualifications Framework level 9, the Bologna Cycle 2 and Monash Graduate Attributes (http://opvclt.monash.edu.au/curriculum-by-design/aligning-course-outcomes-with-aqf-bologna.html).

Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that graduates will be able to:

• critically evaluate the available literature and identify gaps for research
• undertake practice-based research projects
• develop, apply and champion evidence based best practice principles in their designated area of practice (forensic/community/child psychotherapy)
• provide leadership in healthcare policy and practice reforms
• implement practice based changes to positively influence the delivery and outcomes of mental health care interventions and practices.

Students seeking to be considered eligible for professional recognition (at Graduate Diploma level) in the Child Psychotherapy pathway/stream need to complete all 8 CPS units. Successful completion fulfils one of the criteria for professionals to be employed under the Child Psychotherapists Award and to be eligible for membership of the Victorian Child Psychotherapists' Association.

This course consists of 12 units. Students must complete two course core units (12 points), and select one of the following options:

(a.) an additional 10 units (60 points) comprising a minimum of six core units, and elective units undertaken in one of the available specialist pathways; the specialisation will be acknowledged on the student's testamur. Students choose from:

• child psychotherapy
• community mental health
• forensic behavioural science

(b.) an additional 10 units (60 points) chosen from any of the core and elective unit offerings, for which no specialisation will be recorded

(c.) an additional 8 units (48 points) chosen from a specialist pathway or any of the core and elective unit offerings, completed with a minimum High Distinction (80 per cent) average score, and an agreed supervised research project (12 points).

• Psychology

Core units

Students must complete the following (to be taken in second or third year):

• CRH5001 Research methods in health
• CRH5032 Applied research for health practitioners

Research project

Eligible students enrol in the following units as they progress through the research project:

• MHS5002 Data analysis and results
• MHS5003 Writing up and submission

Specialist pathways

Child psychotherapy

Core units

• CPS5001 Psychoanalytic and developmental theories I
• CPS5002 Normal developmental observation
• CPS5003 Psychoanalytic and developmental theories II
• CPS5004 Psychodynamic assessment of children and adolescents

Electives

• CPS5005 Principles of child psychotherapy
• CPS5006 Principles of adolescent psychotherapy
• CPS5007 Principles of short-term therapy and crisis work and
• CPS5008 Principles of working with parents.

Note: Students seeking to be considered eligible for professional recognition (at graduate diploma level) in the Child Psychotherapy pathway/stream need to complete all eight CPS-coded units. Successful completion fulfills one of the criteria for professionals to be employed under the Child Psychotherapists Award and to be eligible for membership of the Victorian Child Psychotherapists' Association.

Community mental health

Core units

• CMH5001 Clinical practice essentials
• CMH5002 The context for mental health practice

Electives

• CMH5003 Concepts on mental health illness
• CMH5004 Issues for mental health
• CMH5005 Mental health of the elderly
• CMH5006 Transcultural mental health
• CMH5008 Dual disabilities: Mental illness, intellectual disability and developmental disorders
• CMH5009 Advanced psychological interventions and
• CMH5010 Primary mental health practice.

Forensic behavioural science

Core units

• FBS5001 Fundamentals of forensic behavioural science and
• FBS5002 The role of mental health in criminal offending

Electives

• FBS5003 Mental health and the correctional system
• FBS5004 Developmental aspects of forensic behavioural science
• FBS5005 The assessment and management of problem behaviours
• FBS5006 Advanced risk assessment and risk management and
• FBS5009 Introduction to forensic mental health practice

Minimum grade for course completion

A minimum pass mark of 50 is required for each unit.

Those students seeking to complete this course with a research project will require a High Distinction average over eight units (including the two core CRH research units) to be considered eligible for the research project

Minimum grade for articulation

Upon completion of this course, students will be ranked according to H1/H2A equivalence in order to establish HDR pathways.

Students wishing to exit this course may apply to graduate with one of the following, provided they have satisfied the requirements for that award:

• Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Science
• Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Science.

Master of Mental Health Science