12 points, SCA Band 1, 0.250 EFTSL
Postgraduate - Unit
Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.
Faculty
Chief examiner(s)
Nicky Jacobs
(Semester 1, Term 2)
Tristan Snell
(Semester 2, Term 4)
Coordinator(s)
Nicky Jacobs
(Semester 1, Term 2)
Gill Hanna
(Semester 2)
Angela Gorman-Alesi
(Term 4)
Unit guides
Offered
- First semester 2018 (Flexible)
- Second semester 2018 (Flexible)
- Term 2 2018 (Off-campus block of classes)
- Term 4 2018 (Off-campus block of classes)
- Term 2 2018 (Off-campus block of classes)
- Term 4 2018 (Off-campus block of classes)
Co-requisites
EDF5534 and must be enrolled in course owned by Faculty of Education.
Synopsis
This unit extends students' counselling practice through a focus on three elements of professionalism: evidence-based practice, advanced assessment and intervention, and reflective practice. In this unit, students will examine applied and academic research and evaluation in relation to mental health issues and counselling, and evaluate the quality of, and approaches used to gather, research evidence. Over the course of this unit students will also reflect and draw on their current or previous clinical professional experience, consolidating their skill in documenting evidence-based interventions and choosing appropriate assessment tools and instruments. Under supervision, students take up opportunities for self-reflection on their own professional development as counsellors.
Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this unit students should be able to:
- demonstrate advanced knowledge and skills of professional counselling practice
- examine research-based evidence and evaluate it according to quality indicators
- demonstrate an understanding of advanced intervention planning to address client needs
- extend familiarity with a variety of assessment instruments and tools and implement these in practice
- reflect on the legal, ethical and professional principles and practices relevant to counselling.
Fieldwork
After satisfactorily completing this unit, 10 non-contact hours are automatically accrued towards the total of 300 professional experience hours completed over the duration of the Master of Counselling course.
Assessment
Literature review (4000 words, 50%)
Reflective essay (4000 words, 50%)
Workload requirements
Flexible mode offers a stand-alone online offering that allows students to learn and engage in content and assessment in a supported way. It also provides a face-to-face component over the semester to engage students with the online learning content, which students can attend if they are able and interested.
Minimum total expected workload equals 288 hours per semester comprising:
- Contact hours for flexible students:
- 20 hours on campus classes, 12 hours online classes and 4 hours directed online learning over the semester, or
- 24 hours directed online learning and 12 hours online classes over the semester
- Requirements for offshore Kaplan-based students:
- one intensive block (usually from Thursday to Sunday)
- at least 14 hours of online study per term
- Additional requirements (all students):
- independent study to make up the minimum required hours per semester
See also Unit timetable information