Operating within the School of Psychology, our clinical academic and professional staff provide comprehensive training across coursework, research-led practice and clinical placements with child, family and adult populations.
Our programs adopt a Scientist-Practitioner model, led by practising clinical psychologists with expertise in their research areas recognised at an international level. The course aims to develop foundational skills in cognitive-behavioural therapy, building towards advanced skills training as well as breadth across multiple models of treatment.
We are actively committed to fa workplace and educational environment that promotes equity and cultural safety for all staff and students, in all aspects of our program, including curriculum, the Psychology Clinic, and research. We support the empowerment and self-determination of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and embrace Indigenous psychology as a movement and development that has supported and included Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of understanding wellbeing.
Our aim is to recognise the diversity of each individual, family and community and embed this recognition in an understanding of the wider historical, social and political factors that affect the well-being of community members. We are also committed to developing direct partnerships with diverse community members, both in terms of advisory roles, participatory research and the inclusion of lived experience in the classroom.
The Clinical Psychology Unit offers students projects in a wide variety of research areas, based on the expertise of individual academic staff members. Our strengths include the nature and treatment of anxiety disorders, school-based bullying, eating disorders, child conduct problems, family therapy and community based approaches, memory and sleep disorders in children, and health psychology.
The Clinical Psychology Unit operates the Psychology Clinic which provides psychological assessment, treatment and psychometric assessment services at low cost. Our services are for adults, adolescents, children and their families. We welcome clients from the general community, as well as University staff and students. As a teaching, training and research clinic at the University of Sydney, our clinic is staffed by postgraduate trainees who work under the supervision of highly experienced clinical psychologists and neuropsychologists. Our treatments and psychometric assessments reflect the latest developments in clinical practice and the highest standards of care.
We invite clinical psychologists to become a supervisor for the Master of Clinical Psychology (MCP) and Master of Clinical Psychology and Doctor of Philosophy (MCP/PhD) students on external clinical placements which take place in the second year of the student's study program, in external community and hospital mental health and health settings as well as education settings.
Clinical placements are planned to be 2 days a week for 24 over two periods: January to June and July to December. Students are expected to complete a minimum of 100 hours of direct client contact and 48 hours of individual supervision. Supervisors need to complete evaluation forms with the student during various stages of the placement (contract, mid placement review, end of placement review and weekly clinical logs). Evaluation forms are due before the end of the clinical placement, in order to meet University of Sydney deadlines for submission of results. All relevant information regarding the supervision of clinical psychology students is available from the external placement handbook.
Clinical supervisors are required to have the following before providing supervision to students in training:
Supervisors must be appointed as an "Honorary Affiliate" to the University of Sydney, with appointments renewed 3-yearly. You are invited to contact the Faculty of Science Placements Officer – Psychology who will provide the necessary application documents and outline the application process. In summary this involves:
Contact the Faculty of Science Placements Officer by emailing:
science.psychology-placements@sydney.edu.au
Students meet individually with the Clinic Director who is also the External Placement Coordinator, to discuss their interests and preferences. The External Placement Orientation also supports students’ understanding and preparation for external placements. The Clinic Director then makes contact with the nominated Placement Coordinator at the various placement sites to indicate that students are ready to be placed in line with each placement site and supervisor’s local processes.
Supervisors appointed as Honorary Affiliates of the University of Sydney are entitled to some privileges such as a University of Sydney Library card and attendance at Professional Development seminars and School of Psychology Colloquiums.
One means by which we can recompense Supervisors for their labour is by providing on-going training in the form of study days and workshops for the purposes of Continuing Education points. We will advise you of such opportunities as they come up.
Please see the full School of Psychology staff list here.
