Post Graduate Professional Development
in
Educational and Developmental Psychology

For the first time in 2008, the School will broaden the excellent postgraduate training opportunities it offers in Educational and Developmental Psychology to two courses which can be completed by professional development. Teachers, psychologists and allied professionals already in service will join Masters level students to undertake evidence-based professional development in the innovative Graduate Certificate/Diploma in Educational and Developmental Psychology. This program is specifically designed to meet the needs of busy professionals and as far as we know is the first of its type in Australia

Access to this program
Students can either enrol direct to the Grad Cert or Dip or get a “taste” of the program by enroling in one unit through Access UWA as a Continuing Education student. It is anticipated that this unit will then be able to be credited to either the Grad Cert or Dip if the student decides to enrol in the formal Grad Cert/Dip programme.
Units will be offered in a 4 – 6 pm time slot to facilitate access by people working in school systems or developmental settings.

Further training options
Psychologists who complete the Grad Cert or Dip and then decide that they would like to undertake the M Psych (Ed and Dev) can apply for entry into the MPsych (Ed and Devel). If they are accepted into the Masters programme, they can then credit three of the Grad Cert/Dip units towards their MPsych.

Graduate Certificate/Graduate Diploma in Educational and Developmental Psychology
The Grad Cert/Dip offers a range of professional development opportunities for professionals working in education, the behavioural sciences and human development throughout the lifespan. The program is offered part time and aims to assist professionals to keep “up to date” with recent research and its applications. In addition, this programme has been created to offer a formal course structure which can assist professionals in building their promotional pathway (e.g., to Level 3 Teacher; Senior Psychologist). Programme units have been developed through discussion with representatives from administration and practice in relevant fields. In particular, units are designed to support teachers and professionals working within the framework of early intervention followed by inclusive education and collaborative practice. A one year sequence of units leads to a Grad Cert (Ed and Dev) and a two year sequence leads to the Grad Dip (Ed and Dev).

All units are based on the principle of linking research to practice. In each unit students complete two topics. This arrangement is designed to optimise flexibility for students to pursue their individual 'professional development' needs. In each unit, topics will vary from year to year according to staff availability, student preferences, industry demands, and access to visiting specialists in relevant areas. Most topics will run in a workshop format designed to extend students’ knowledge base and their professional competencies.

The core program consists of three Special Topics units which cover a range of issues of high relevance to educational and developmental psychology. In some units a choice will be provided out of 4 topics. For example, one of the Special Topics units available in 2008 allows students to select two topics from the following: (1) understanding autism spectrum disorders; (2) children’s social development: The effects of language on children’s social and emotional development; (3) children’s memory: How does it work? (4) foundations of literacy and early identification of children at risk. Five Advanced Topics Units include: Emotional Problems, Attention and Memory, Children with a Disability in Context, Managing Stress and Trauma, and Master Classes.

Want to know more?
Course Map and Unit Outlines (PDF)