UWA Handbook 2026

Unit Overview

Description

This unit comprises the first practical placement experience in the Clinical Neuropsychology program. Students explore the application of professional, ethical, and evidence-based practice within a clinical training setting and evaluate how assessment and intervention skills are developed in real-world contexts. Key themes include psychological and neuropsychological assessment across the lifespan, including children, adults, and older adults, and the development of skills in interview techniques, test selection, scoring, interpretation, and communication of results. Students are given the opportunity to engage in supervised clinical work within the Robin Winkler Clinic, including feedback sessions, case conferences, and report writing. The unit also addresses professional preparation through a series of workshops covering culturally aware neuropsychological practice, neurodiversity-affirming approaches, conducting interviews and feedback sessions, and psychopharmacology.

NOTE:

Given that APAC standards require students to demonstrate appropriate knowledge and skills for safe practice before providing psychological services, students must successfully complete all Semester 1 unit assessments to the satisfaction of the unit coordinator to commence and continue the PSYC5580 Internal Placement unit.

Credit

12 points

Offering

Availability	Location	Mode	First year of offer
Not available in 2026	UWA (Perth)	On-campus

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) apply evidence-informed, scientific, and culturally responsive methods to conduct comprehensive neuropsychological assessment and case formulation—integrating information from interviews, risk assessments, prior records, behavioural observations, collateral and functional data, and psychometrically sound testing (including symptom validity measures)—to make accurate diagnoses and guide appropriate intervention and risk-management decisions for clients from diverse backgrounds (e.g., age, culture, gender, neurodiversity, etc); (2) apply knowledge of neuroanatomy, neuropathology and disease processes, brain-behaviour relationships, theories of cognitive neuroscience, and psychopharmacology to neuropsychological practice; (3) implement setting-specific professional practice policies and procedures including professional and socio-culturally responsive written and oral communication with clients and colleagues regarding findings and recommendations; (4) demonstrate effective and respectful professional interactions with colleagues, peers, and supervisors; consulting with supervisors and other professionals when appropriate; and (5) engage in self-reflective practice and responsiveness to feedback, maintaining professional and ethical conduct and decision making, including working within the boundaries of one's competence.

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) supervisor placement evaluation documentations; (2) active participation and attendance at all placement activities; and (3) completion of all required placement documentation. Further information is available in the unit outline.

To pass this unit, a student must: (a) achieve an overall mark of 50 per cent or higher for the unit; and (b) achieve the requisite requirements(s) or a mark of 50 per cent or greater, whichever is higher and specified in the unit outline, for the supervisor placement evaluation documentations, active participation and attendance at all placement activities, and completion of all required placement documentation components.

This unit is assessed on an ungraded pass/ungraded failed basis. All assessment items must be successfully completed.

Supplementary assessment is not available in this unit.

Unit Coordinator(s)

Dr Diana Harvey

Unit rules

Prerequisites

Enrolment in

70560 Master of Psychology (Clinical Neuropsychology)

and Successful completion of

PSYC5658 Preparation for Placement
and PSYC5571 Professional Psychology: Psychological Assessment
and PSYC5575 Professional Psychology: Working with Children
and PSYC5578 Foundations in Clinical Neuropsychology I
and unit coordinator`s approval

Contact hours

300-400 hrs placement across the teaching period, including 5x3-hour workshops prior to seeing clients.

Note

NOTE:
Given that APAC standards require students to demonstrate appropriate knowledge and skills for safe practice before providing psychological services, students must successfully complete all Semester 1 unit assessments to the satisfaction of the unit coordinator to commence and continue the PSYC5580 Internal Placement unit.