Doctor of Clinical and Health Psychology

The Doctor of Clinical and Health Psychology is a professional qualification for those who wish to work as Clinical Psychologists or Health Psychologists. It aims to educate psychologists who can apply psychological research and methods to: the prevention and management of disease and mental disorder; the promotion and maintenance of (mental) health; the identification of psychological factors contributing to illness and disorder; and the improvement of the health care system and health policy.

The program has been approved by the College of Clinical Psychologists and the College of Health Psychologists of the Australian Psychological Society (APS) for the purpose of determining eligibility for college membership.

This program is currently under review for AQF compliance, and is available only to students who commenced in the program prior to 2013. There will be no further intake to the program. Courses in the program will still be available for students currently enrolled in the program, until all students have met requirements to qualify for the degree.

This degree is the first in Australia to offer graduates Australian Psychological Society (APS) membership to both the Clinical College and the Health College. It is also the first accredited training program in Health Psychology in New South Wales.

There are many career opportunities for Clinical Psychologists and Health Psychologists in Area Health Services (both mental health and physical health) and other government agencies such as the Department of Community Services and the Department of Ageing, Disability & Home Care, as well as in non-government organisations and in the private sectors. By having dual college membership, Clinical/Health psychologists will have the skills to work within clinical settings with individual patients and/or their families, and will also be equipped to work as health promotion practitioners across a variety of settings.

Admission to the degree would be available to graduates who meet the following requirements:

1. Hold a four-year degree (or an equivalent three year/one year postgraduate combination) in Psychology that has been accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council;

2. Eligibility for provisional registration with NSW Psychologists Registration Board;

3. Satisfy the School of Psychology of their suitability for the professional practice of Clinical and Health Psychology and their ability to conduct doctoral level research;

4. Applicants would normally be expected to have had several years of relevant professional experience. i.e. helping people with physical and/or mental health problems or otherwise work with children, adolescents, adults or the elderly.

Selection criteria will also be based on applicants demonstrating a clear understanding of Clinical and Health Psychology and the areas in which a Clinical and Health Psychologist might work.

When evaluating suitability, the School will take into account previous relevant experience, reports of referees, units of study previously completed, and the outcome of a selection interview. Selection criteria will also be based on applicants demonstrating a clear understanding of Clinical Psychology and the areas in which a Clinical Psychologist might work.

This program is currently under review for AQF compliance, and is available only to students who commenced in the program prior to 2013. There will be no further intake to the program. Courses in the program will still be available for students currently enrolled in the program, until all students have met requirements to qualify for the degree.

• Desirable criteria include research experience additional to Honours and involvement with professional organisations (eg. APAC or Australian Society for Behavioural Health and Medicine).

  All applicants are required to submit a professional portfolio directly to the University in addition to the application lodged through UAC.

  The professional portfolio must include an application cover letter, a resume, and appropriate attachments. The attachments will include reports from referees and certified copies of university transcripts

The Pro Vice Chancellor, on the recommendation of the Faculty Board may grant credit for coursework units if

(a) they can be demonstrated to be directly equivalent in terms of content and depth of study to the corresponding components of the Doctoral program, and

(b) they were completed within the previous five years in a program accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council

Credit may be granted for the prior award of a Masters degree in Health Psychology or Clinical Psychology (or equivalents) accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council but only to a maximum of 120 units, and no credit may be granted for a previous research thesis.

The approval guidelines of both the College of Clinical and the College of Health Psychologists (of the Australian Psychological Society) stipulate that students must spend at least 1500 hours in placements. This requirement will be met with five of the courses within the program being devoted to placements, with the last one (500 hours) being referred to as an 'internship'.

This degree program is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council and has approval from the College of Clinical Psychologists and the College of Health Psychologists, for the purposes of determining eligibility for membership of the College.

International students must comply with the University of Newcastle's English language proficiency requirements.

It is also a requirement of the Psychology Board of Australia (PBA) that all non-Australian qualifications, including qualifications from New Zealand, are assessed by the Australian Psychological Society (APS). The Australian Psychological Society (APS) is the national assessing authority in Australia for assessment of overseas academic qualifications in psychology. For a fee of $AUD 600, the APS determines the level at which an applicant's qualifications are equivalent to an Australian program of study that has been accredited by the Society.

A telephone interview may be offered, but International students are asked to arrange access to a computer with a webcam and SKYPE. International students are asked to include on their letter of application a SKYPE address and the landline telephone number that they will be contactable on during the interview period.

Students with a disability who require reasonable adjustments to undertake their program should contact the Disability Support Service before semester or early in the semester. Some adjustments need up to 4 weeks lead time to organise, so it is imperative that early contact is made. The Disability Support Service and relevant Faculty and School officers will work together to ensure reasonably adjustments are provided in a timely manner.

Please note: All students must fulfil the inherent requirements of the programs and courses they are undertaking. While reasonable adjustments can be made, these adjustments cannot compromise academic integrity. It is the student's responsibility to check all the requirements of courses and consider the effects of any medical condition or disability on their ability to complete course requirements. Please visit http://www.newcastle.edu.au/service/disability/index.html for more information.

All students can access additional learning development mechanisms provided by the Centre for Teaching and Learning at http://www.newcastle.edu.au/unit/centre-for-teaching-and-learning/about-the-centre/learning-development/

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students can draw on the assistance and support provided by the Indigenous Support and Development Service through the Wollotuka Institute.