Graduate Certificate of Forensic Psychiatric Practice

Overview

The Graduate Certificate of Forensic Psychiatric Practice is designed for psychiatrists who wish to specialise in forensic practice. Students will learn the academic and practical skills relevant to this subject matter, including principles of risk assessment, expert testimony, writing forensic court reports, and ethical conduct. This course is the only dedicated qualification of its type available in Australasia.

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

• Apply specialised knowledge of core issues and theories required for the practice of psychiatry in forensic settings, with responsivity to the needs of marginalised groups, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• apply specialised knowledge of the technical aspects of law, forensic systems, and ethics, enabling professional psychiatric practice across a range of settings
• evaluate, critically analyse and respond to challenges unique to working in forensic settings
• identify relevant methods, concepts and theories within forensic psychiatry, to enable evidence based practice in their discipline
• effectively communicate relevant knowledge and ideas with the diverse range of professionals and clients encountered in forensic settings
• Apply knowledge of legal frameworks, culturally safe professional practice and offending behaviour wherever forensic issues are relevant to their work
• adapt knowledge and core practice skills in forensic psychiatry in a manner which is responsible and largely autonomous.

Career opportunities

This course provides the specific training for forensic psychiatrists to graduate as skilled professionals and leaders in the field. This program may also be used by existing consultant psychiatrists as a contribution towards mandated professional development activities.

Course rules

To qualify for the award of Graduate Certificate of Forensic Psychiatric Practice students must complete 50 credit points comprising of:

• three [3] core units of Study (37.5 credit points)
• one [1] elective unit of study from list of specified alternatives (12.5 credit points) entry

Standard enrolment is normally part-time

Graduate skills

Graduates will be expected to be:

• capable in their chosen professional, vocational or study areas
• entrepreneurial in contributing to innovation and development within their business, workplace or community
• able to deal with success and failure through informed critique and self-reflection
• effective and ethical in work and community situations
• adaptable and able to manage change: have the general capacity for flexibility and are open to new and different ways of doing things; able to work across a variety of situations and with a variety of people; recognise the need for lifelong learning
• aware of local and international environments: have cultural sensitivity and a respect for multiple points of view.

Professional recognition

All registrar psychiatrists are required to complete a course of advanced training comprised of professional placements, an accredited academic course and a scholarly project, in order to be eligible to join the RANZCP. SUT is currently accredited as a provider of the academic course component of this eligibility criteria. All Graduates of the GC-FPP will have satisfied the academic qualification required as one component of the eligibility criteria to be admitted to the RANZCP.

Maximum Academic Credit

The maximum level of credit that can be granted for the Graduate Certificate of Forensic Psychiatric Practice is 25 credit points (normally two units)