Educational Psychology Practicum Information

Practicum Placements within the Master of Educational Psychology and Doctor of Educational Psychology courses at The University of Melbourne are a carefully designed set of supervised learning experiences created to suit the individual student.

In conjunction with all other course components, they provide the opportunity for students to gain direct experience in a range of settings, to increase their repertoire of practitioner skills, and to gain formal professional qualifications.

As a key component of the course, placements are assessed and students are required to satisfactorily demonstrate their capacity as a practitioner. It is envisaged that future employment opportunities may become available for some students as a result of their placement within certain settings.

This site provides a guide for students and field work supervisors, so that important information is available and the required procedures are outlined.

It should be noted that where supervisor is used it denotes field work supervisor. The Practicum Placements Coordinator is the Educational Psychology staff member responsible for the coordination of placements and assistance to students whilst they are undertaking the placement. At present, that is Ms Vicki McKenzie Ph (03) 8344 0984

Nature and Scope of Practicum Placements

Practicum placements of 125 days in total for the Masters and 215 days in total for the Doctorate, take place throughout the course, with full-time students undertaking one placement per semester and part-time students undertaking their placement over the period of enrolment in the course.

A minimum attendance of two days per week is required for each practicum. An interesting range of settings is available for placements, with at least 60 in an educational environment. The various sites include schools, tertiary institutions, community organisations and, at times, private practices. Special partnerships with several placement sites have now been formed where innovative projects provide unique opportunities for student development and experience.

Experienced educational psychologists with demonstrated excellence in the field are invited by the University to become field supervisors. Together with the Practicum Placement Co-ordinator, the supervisors create individually designed practica appropriate to the goals of the course. The previous experiences, interests and career aspirations of students are included in practica plans where possible.

The practica are of equal duration, but differ in levels of skill development and autonomy, with the first placement providing a general introduction to the role of the practitioner, opportunities for observation and beginning skills. By the close of the final placement, the student will be expected to have become ready for employment in the profession, with high levels of independent practice in the key competencies being assessed.

Students must make themselves familiar with the requirements of registration of health practitioners and of the privacy legislation, by consulting the websites of the Victorian Psychologists' Registration Board and the Australian Psychological
Society.

Practicum Progress Chart
Practicum Flow Chart
Practicum Kit