Forensic Psychology, Children and Families
Duration
- One semester/teaching period
Contact hours
- 36 hours and 2 workshops
On-campus unit delivery combines face-to-face and digital learning.
2025 teaching periods
| Hawthorn Higher Ed. Semester 1 |
||
|---|---|---|
Dates: Results: Last self enrolment: Census: Last withdraw without fail: |
Prerequisites
Nil
Corequisites
Nil
Aims and objectives
Aims:
The unit of study is designed to introduce students to a range of disorders seen in infancy, childhood and adolescence and the key principles relevant to conducting psychological assessments and treatments with children/adolescents and their families. Special attention is given to the assessment and intervention methods for young offenders. Students will be introduced to the Children’s Court and Family Court of Australia. Students will become familiar with areas such as the determination of guardianship, custody and access, psychological consequences of divorce, family violence, custody evaluations and access determination, and should have an understanding of the role and skills of mediation in family disputes. With respect to Children’s Court matters, they will become familiar with protective issues and criminal matters.
Unit Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this unit students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate a substantial body of knowledge of theoretical models of forensic psychology as applied to children and families
2. Comprehend and synthesise expert theoretical knowledge concerning the role of the psychologist in forensic settings where children and families are present.
3. Critically evaluate and apply methods of assessing and treating children and families in forensic contexts.
4. Explain and critique theoretical positions to other professionals and services within the forensic context.
Upon completion of this unit students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate a substantial body of knowledge of theoretical models of forensic psychology as applied to children and families
2. Comprehend and synthesise expert theoretical knowledge concerning the role of the psychologist in forensic settings where children and families are present.
3. Critically evaluate and apply methods of assessing and treating children and families in forensic contexts.
4. Explain and critique theoretical positions to other professionals and services within the forensic context.
Unit information in detail
- Teaching methods, assessment, general skills outcomes and content.
Teaching methods
Hours per week | Number of Weeks | Total | |
Face to Face Contact Seminar A Seminar B | 3 3 | 12 7 | 36 7 |
Unspecified Learning Activities Independent learning | Recommended | 12 | 93 |
TOTAL | 150 hours/12.5cp |
Assessment
Types | Individual/Group Role | Weighting | Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) |
Tutorial Paper | Individual | 40% | 1, 2, 3, 4 |
| Child Observation Report | Individual | 60% | 1, 2, 3, 4 |
Reports (x2) Hurdle | Individual | Pass/Fail | 1, 2, 3, 4 |
General skills outcomes
Key Generic Skills
Graduates are capable in their chosen professional area:
• Competence with the management of clients in a professional manner within specialist settings.
• Competence in therapeutic interventions.
• Ability to conduct psychological assessments
• Therapy skills in working with individual clients.
• Competence in directing and evaluating group programs.
Graduates are adaptable and work effectively and ethically:
• Applying the APS Code of Ethics and Guidelines.
Graduates are aware of environments:
• Respect clients from diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Understand the impact of culture on therapy.
• Competence with the management of clients in a professional manner within specialist settings.
• Competence in therapeutic interventions.
• Ability to conduct psychological assessments
• Therapy skills in working with individual clients.
• Competence in directing and evaluating group programs.
Graduates are adaptable and work effectively and ethically:
• Applying the APS Code of Ethics and Guidelines.
Graduates are aware of environments:
• Respect clients from diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Understand the impact of culture on therapy.
Content
• Classification, diagnosis and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders
• Assessment
• Disorders of infancy and early childhood
• Disorders of childhood
• Working with adolescents
• When to refer and referral sources
• Depression, anxiety and mental state examinations in older adolescents
• Treatment approaches for children and adolescents
• Case observation
• Introduction and overview of child forensic psychology
• Introduction to children, family and law
• Interviewing children and child victims, Child maltreatment
• Assessments of youth: protective assessments
• Family Court assessments: custody and access
• Assessment and treatment of young offenders
• Assessment
• Disorders of infancy and early childhood
• Disorders of childhood
• Working with adolescents
• When to refer and referral sources
• Depression, anxiety and mental state examinations in older adolescents
• Treatment approaches for children and adolescents
• Case observation
• Introduction and overview of child forensic psychology
• Introduction to children, family and law
• Interviewing children and child victims, Child maltreatment
• Assessments of youth: protective assessments
• Family Court assessments: custody and access
• Assessment and treatment of young offenders