Internal training

Internal training is offered to psychologists working across the RCH and the MCRI campus.

Staff training

The Mental Health Psychology Service coordinates a range of training opportunities for psychology staff that is provided by both internal and external experts. As experts in the field of paediatric psychology, psychologists across the hospital also regularly provide training to other health disciplines across the hospital. If you are interested having one of the psychologists in the hospital providing consultation or training to your department, please contact or Dr Claire Burton claire.burton@rch.org.au or Dr Alice Morgan  alice.morgan@rch.org.au.

External training

Psychologists working across the RCH are leaders in the field of paediatric psychology and often present at external seminars and conferences. The Mental Health Psychology Service also coordinates the annual psychology seminar that focuses on topical issues, challenges and advancements in the field of psychology. If you are interested having one of the psychologists in the hospital provide training to an external service, please contact or Dr Claire Burton claire.burton@rch.org.au or Dr Alice Morgan alice.morgan@rch.org.au. 

Registrar program

The service also coordinates a registrar program for staff completing board-approved supervised practice as part of their registrar program. Registrars will have access to clinical supervision and professional development opportunities designed to assist them to meet the requirements of their registrar program and achieve endorsement in their area of specialization.

Internships, clinical training and supervision

Within the hospital, the Mental Health Psychology Service coordinates internships for postgraduate students completing AHPRA accredited courses (eg Clinical Psychology, Neuropsychology). Internships are offered across a variety of medical and mental health teams and interns are supervised by senior psychologists who are Psychology Board of Australia approved supervisors.

Clinical psychology placement students

Students on placement at the RCH can expect to participate in a variety of activities relevant for future clinical practice. Specific duties vary across placements, however generally students can expect to undertake a combination of the following:

• Observation of developmental, behavioural, emotional and psychosocial assessments by clinical psychologists and other interdisciplinary team members, to provide an understanding of presenting problems and background
• Joint assessment sessions of children and adolescents referred to the service with other team members, which may include standardised, comprehensive cognitive, neuropsychological, and educational achievement tests to evaluate intellectual and learning ability;
• Undertake independent diagnostic assessment involving structured interviews and rating scales
• Undertake short term interventions, ie up to six months, based on a range of treatment models and techniques including cognitive behaviour therapy, individual psychotherapy, family therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, pain management, parenting skills, group therapy
• Secondary and tertiary consultation and liaison to professionals within the hospital regarding psychological problems related to children, parents and families;
• Attendance and participation in family meetings, case conferences, team patient updates and review meetings;
• Completion of multi-disciplinary inpatient discharge summary reports and/or outpatient reports;
• Regular individual supervision with a fully qualified AHPRA clinical supervisor, and opportunities for group and peer supervision.