Unit Outline

In this unit, you will take your first steps into professional psychological practice by working with a simulated client in a structured placement environment. Under supervision, you will conduct an intake interview, develop a case formulation, collaboratively set treatment goals, and implement evidence-based interventions. You will also explore ethical and professional issues relevant to practice and begin developing your professional identity. Learning activities include role play, simulated client sessions, group supervision, and guided self-reflection. This unit is designed to build your foundational skills and prepare you for future placement experiences.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1	Apply foundational knowledge of psychological theories, ethics, and cultural frameworks to inform psychology practice in a simulated context.
2	Implement evidence-based psychological interventions to enhance client treatment outcomes.
3	Integrate professional and ethical behaviour in all aspects of simulated practice to enhance client safety.
4	Reflect on personal and professional development to identify strengths and areas for continued growth.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Concurrent Pre-requisite	PSY701Assessment Skills in Psychology Practice 1 AND PSY703 Intervention Skills in Psychology Practice 1 AND PSY702 Ethics and Professional Psychology Practice 1
Anti-requisite (mutual excl)	KHA730

Alterations as a result of student feedback

Based on student feedback, changes have been made to the structure of assessment tasks providing students with more formal assessment opportunities before the final summative assessment.

As always, the teaching team will greatly appreciate your feedback both informally during the delivery of the unit in 2026, and formally through the University of Tasmania’s Unit Survey following your completion of the unit.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Simulated Client File Notes	Refer to Assessment Description	0 %	LO1, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 2:	Reflective Learning Journal	Refer to Assessment Description	0 %	LO1, LO4
Assessment Task 3:	Simulated Client Role Plays	Refer to Assessment Description	0 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 4:	Mid-Semester Simulated Placement Competency Assessment	Refer to Assessment Description	0 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 5:	End of Simulated Placement Competency Assessment	Refer to Assessment Description	0 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Simulated Client File Notes

Task Description:

You are required to complete and submit file notes each week based on your simulated client role-play. File notes should follow professional documentation standards, including accurate, concise, and ethically appropriate recording of client information, interventions used, and session outcomes.

File notes will be submitted weekly and written feedback provided fortnightly. All submissions will be read, and fortnightly feedback will pertain to both submissions within the fortnightly assessment period. This process allows you to demonstrate consistent professional record-keeping while progressively integrating feedback.

Task Length:

Variable

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

0 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Communicate case formulations, assessment and/or intervention approaches.	LO3
2	Identify and apply ethical, legal, and professional standards in all aspects of simulated practice to maximise client safety.	LO1, LO3
3	Incorporate supervisor feedback to inform practice.	LO4

Assessment Task 2: Reflective Learning Journal

Task Description:

Throughout the semester, you will maintain a reflective learning journal to document your experiences, insights, and challenges arising from simulated placement activities. Each week, you are expected to write a reflective entry that critically considers your developing skills, the application of psychological knowledge, and areas for growth.

Your reflections should demonstrate self-awareness and professional reflexivity by linking your experiences to relevant psychological theories, ethical standards, cultural frameworks, and feedback received from supervisors. Every four weeks, you will receive consolidated feedback on your journal to support your ongoing professional development.

Task Length:

Variable

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

0 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Integrate knowledge of psychological theories, models, culture and research to inform practice.	LO1
2	Incorporate supervisor feedback to inform practice.	LO4
3	Use supervision, feedback and self-evaluation to reflect on personal and professional development.	LO4

Assessment Task 3: Simulated Client Role Plays

Task Description:

Across the semester, you will participate in weekly simulated role-plays designed to reflect realistic professional practice scenarios. These role-plays provide an opportunity to practise applying psychological knowledge, communication skills, and intervention techniques ethically and professionally in a supported learning environment. You will receive written formative feedback on your performance on at least four observed sessions and verbal formative feedback in class on at least six observed sessions during the placement to develop skills in delivering psychological services.

Task Length:

Variable

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

0 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Integrate knowledge of psychological theories, models, culture and research to inform practice.	LO1
2	Apply evidence-based psychological interventions.	LO2
3	Communicate case formulations, assessment and/or intervention approaches to enhance client treatment outcomes.	LO3
4	Use evidence to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions.	LO1, LO2
5	Apply ethical, legal, and professional standards in all aspects of simulated practice.	LO1, LO3
6	Incorporate supervisor feedback to inform practice.	LO4

Assessment Task 4: Mid-Semester Simulated Placement Competency Assessment

Task Description:

At the mid-point of simulated placement, your learning will be assessed using the Simulated Placement Competency Assessment Form. The mid-placement review is formative and is designed to provide structured feedback on your performance across key domains of practice. It provides an opportunity to receive targeted, developmental feedback prior to the final competency assessment. It enables you to adjust your approach, consolidate progress, and address any areas requiring further growth to ensure you are well-prepared for the end-of-placement competency assessment.

Task Length:

Variable

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

0 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Integrate knowledge of psychological theories, models, culture and research to inform practice.	LO1
2	Apply evidence-based psychological interventions that align with case formulations to enhance simulated client treatment outcomes.	LO2
3	Communicate case formulations, assessment and intervention approaches to enhance client treatment outcomes.	LO3
4	Use evidence to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions.	LO1, LO2
5	Identify and apply ethical, legal, and professional standards in all aspects of simulated practice to maximise client safety.	LO1, LO3
6	Incorporate supervisor feedback to inform practice.	LO4
7	Use supervision, feedback and self-evaluation to reflect on personal and professional development	LO4

Assessment Task 5: End of Simulated Placement Competency Assessment

Task Description:

At the end of the simulated placement, your learning will be assessed using the Simulated Placement Competency Assessment Form. This end-of-placement review is summative and represents the culmination of your learning across the semester This review provides a comprehensive evaluation of your performance across all seven psychology competencies and your preparedness to apply these skills safely and effectively on placement. A UP must be achieved on all competencies on this assessment task in order to receive an overall pass on this unit.

Task Length:

Variable

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

0 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Integrate knowledge of psychological theories, models, culture and research to inform practice.	LO1
2	Apply evidence-based psychological interventions that align with case formulations to enhance simulated client treatment outcomes.	LO2
3	Communicate case formulations, assessment and intervention approaches to enhance client treatment outcomes.	LO3
4	Use evidence to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions.	LO1, LO2
5	Identify and apply ethical, legal, and professional standards in all aspects of simulated practice to maximise client safety.	LO1, LO3
6	Incorporate supervisor feedback to inform practice.	LO4
7	Use supervision, feedback and self-evaluation to reflect on personal and professional development.	LO4

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes.
Your grade will be determined in the following way:
All assessments within the Postgraduate Professional Training Programs at the University of Tasmania adhere to an ungraded pass profile. Similarly, your academic transcript will use this same grading system.

This means all assessable work will be graded as either UP (ungraded pass) or NN (fail grade); A grade of NN on an assessment task indicates you need to continue towards achieving that competency. You are required to achieve a UP on your end of placement assessment in order to successfully pass this unit of study. Please note that to achieve a UP grade on an assessment piece you must pass all criteria for the assessment.

At the end of semester you may receive a grade of AO (assessment ongoing). An AO grade is used when some assessment tasks for the unit have not been completed at the end of or when resubmissions are needed before a mark can be finalised.

Marks are reviewed by the Unit Coordinator and School of Psychological Sciences Assessment Committee and may be adjusted to ensure fairness, consistency, and appropriateness before the final marks and grades are assigned in accordance with University policy and the specified unit assessment. Grades and marks are also reviewed by the Health Assessors’ Committee.
Note: In order to obtain a full passing grade in this unit, you must submit and achieve a UP grade on all competencies on the End of Placement Competency Assessment.

Academic progress review

The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.