Students

PSYP8906 – Working with Children and Families

2021 – Session 2, Intensive attendance, North Ryde

Session 2 Learning and Teaching Update

The decision has been made to conduct study online for the remainder of Session 2 for all units WITHOUT mandatory on-campus learning activities. Exams for Session 2 will also be online where possible to do so.

This is due to the extension of the lockdown orders and to provide certainty around arrangements for the remainder of Session 2. We hope to return to campus beyond Session 2 as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so.

Some classes/teaching activities cannot be moved online and must be taught on campus. You should already know if you are in one of these classes/teaching activities and your unit convenor will provide you with more information via iLearn. If you want to confirm, see the list of units with mandatory on-campus classes/teaching activities.

Visit the MQ COVID-19 information page for more detail.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Joanne Earl
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MProfPsych
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
The focus of this unit is on the emotional, social, cognitive and behavioural development of children, the range of problems that children present with and the impact of these problems on children and their families. The Unit teaches students different therapeutic approaches to family problems, including strengths based practice and creative therapeutic approaches for working with children. Skills for the assessment and intervention in a range of childhood problems, including intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, are developed. Skills training in parent management interventions and skills in working with families to improve parenting capacity is provided. Issues relating to the "over-diagnosis" of and overuse of medication in children and adolescents and the transition from childhood to adolescence and early adulthood are also considered.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

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

  • ULO1: Identify the characteristics of common psychological disorders during childhood and adolescence.
  • ULO2: Apply knowledge inherent to the practice of professional psychology to evaluate relevant theory and evidence-based research for the purposes of designing and implementing assessments and interventions appropriate for children and families.
  • ULO3: Apply professional practice principles concerning the psychotherapeutic relationship and interventions with children and families.
  • ULO4: Apply decision-making strategies consistent with the regulation of the profession to resolve ethical questions when working with children and families
  • ULO5: Demonstrate knowledge of professional, legal and other obstacles to working with children and youth, across a variety of contexts.
  • ULO6: Implement communication skills effectively in writing and through verbal communication.

General Assessment Information

Please see iLearn for detailed descriptions of assessment requirements and the rubrics used to provide feedback. Students must attempt all assessment tasks to achieve a grade of pass or higher for this unit.

All extensions need to be formally requested via ask.mq.edu.au in line with the special consideration policy. Late submissions, without an approved extension, will receive a 5% per day penalty including weekends and public holidays. If you submit the assessment task 10 days or more beyond the due date, you will be awarded a maximum of 50% of the overall assessment marks. No further submissions will be accepted after the marked assignments are returned and feedback is released to students.

In line with  Psychology policy, letter grades, not numeric marks, will be released for assessment tasks in this unit. Any requests for remark need to follow the Psychology process and must be applied within 2 weeks of the assessment task being returned. 

All assessments for this unit are compulsory in order to be eligible to pass the unit. Any student who does not attempt an assessment in this unit will be granted a Fail Absent grade.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Taped interview of interaction with a child 40% No 11th September 2021 by 5pm
Assessment and Intervention Plan 60% No 2nd October 2021 by 5pm

Taped interview of interaction with a child

Assessment Type 1: Simulation/role play
Indicative Time on Task 2: 44 hours
Due: 11th September 2021 by 5pm
Weighting: 40%

Students are required to record a 25 minute simulated child interview with a peer.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify the characteristics of common psychological disorders during childhood and adolescence.
  • Apply knowledge inherent to the practice of professional psychology to evaluate relevant theory and evidence-based research for the purposes of designing and implementing assessments and interventions appropriate for children and families.
  • Apply professional practice principles concerning the psychotherapeutic relationship and interventions with children and families.
  • Apply decision-making strategies consistent with the regulation of the profession to resolve ethical questions when working with children and families
  • Demonstrate knowledge of professional, legal and other obstacles to working with children and youth, across a variety of contexts.
  • Implement communication skills effectively in writing and through verbal communication.

Assessment and Intervention Plan

Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 68 hours
Due: 2nd October 2021 by 5pm
Weighting: 60%

Students will be provided with a referral letter from a School Counsellor for an adolescent in need of external psychological support and counselling. In 2,000 words students are required to:

  1. Present their initial case impressions and working formulation, based on the referral information provided, research theory and evidence.
  2. Drawing on the case information, their initial impressions, what they have learnt in class and additional research, provide a detailed 10 session assessment and intervention plan, outlining what they would do, with whom and why.
  3. Chose one potential treatment goal for this adolescent based on the case information and their initial impressions, and design an age appropriate activity to help the adolescent learn a new skill to help meet that treatment goal, in line with their proposed intervention plan.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify the characteristics of common psychological disorders during childhood and adolescence.
  • Apply knowledge inherent to the practice of professional psychology to evaluate relevant theory and evidence-based research for the purposes of designing and implementing assessments and interventions appropriate for children and families.
  • Apply professional practice principles concerning the psychotherapeutic relationship and interventions with children and families.
  • Apply decision-making strategies consistent with the regulation of the profession to resolve ethical questions when working with children and families
  • Demonstrate knowledge of professional, legal and other obstacles to working with children and youth, across a variety of contexts.
  • Implement communication skills effectively in writing and through verbal communication.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

This course consists of four workshops from 9am to 4pm. Each workshop will have a lecture component and hands-on skills practice component. Please see iLearn for instructions, slides, additional resources and reading materials relevant for each workshop. These can be found in the allocated section on iLearn for each individual workshop.

Unit Schedule

  • Workshop 1 (Wednesday 25th August 2021) Foundations of Working with Children and Families
  • Workshop 2 (Wednesday 1st September 2021) Anxiety and Low Mood During Childhood
  • Workshop 3 (Wednesday 8th September 2021) Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Workshop 4 (Wednesday 15th September 2021) Disruptive Behaviour and Trauma During Childhood

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.


Unit information based on version 2021.04 of the Handbook