Key Facts
Course Overview
The Master of Professional Psychology (MPP) represents the first year of the ‘5+1’ pathway to general registration as a psychologist. The course prepares selected graduates of an APAC accredited fourth year course in psychology, who are eligible for registration as a provisional psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA), to meet the core capabilities and attributes required to practice.
The MPP has been designed specifically to meet APAC and PsyBA guidelines and provides a level of education in professional psychology to be eligible to apply for the Psychology Board of Australia ‘5+1 internship model’ for general registration with AHPRA.
The eight core competencies are covered throughout units in ethics and professional practice, psychological assessment and psychotherapy, treatment, applied needs analysis, pre-placement competency workshops, and 300 hours of supervised practicum, which includes an industry placement, or equivalent, individual and group supervision, and simulated learning experiences.
What does this course offer you?
- Graduates are eligible for direct entry to undertake Cairnmillar’s MPPP, a fully supported internship year. This 5+1 double-Masters program is unique to the Cairnmillar Institute, and for more information reach out to our Admissions team ([email protected]).
- Robust placement program –internal clinic opportunities and excellent links with industry partners and further employment.
All units can be undertaken at the Hawthorn East campus or via the online campus. Students can complete the course entirely at Hawthorn East, entirely online, or choose a mixture of units offered at Hawthorn East or online.
Please note: Cairnmillar’s courses are subject to minimum and maximum group numbers. Courses may be cancelled or postponed if minimum numbers are not achieved by the start date of the course. Courses may close prior to the start date if the maximum numbers are reached. In that situation, eligible applicants will be offered a place in the next available intake.
Course Information Session
Application Period
Applications will close on December 6th 2024!
Course Structure
This program consists of 100 credit points. Students undertake a total of seven units of study consisting of four coursework units (50 credit points), two placement units (37.5 credit points) and one research unit (12.5 credit points).
| Semester | Unit Code | Unit Name | Credit Points |
| 1 | MPP501 | Professional Practice Issues | 12.5 |
| 1 | MPP502 | Foundations in Psychological Assessment & Psychopathology | 12.5 |
| 1 | MPP560 | Practicum & Supervised Placement 1 | 25 |
| 2 | MPP503 | Advanced Skills in Psychological Assessment & Psychopathology | 12.5 |
| 2 | MPP504 | Psychological Treatment Models | 12.5 |
| 2 | MPP550 | Applied Research for the Practicing Psychologist | 12.5 |
| 2 | MPP562 | Practicum & Supervised Placement 2 | 12.5 |
Entry Requirements
Applicants must have successfully completed an APAC-accredited fourth year course in psychology, obtaining a minimum weighted average mark of 70 overall and be eligible to hold provisional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia.
Applicants must be willing to undertake a Victorian Police Check and Working with Children Check if they are successful.
International students must apply for the in-person study mode and provide evidence of meeting certain English language requirements. For more information, see our International Students page.
The following documentation is also required:
- Most recent academic transcripts.
- Proof of residency/citizenship in the form of a passport, birth certificate, or citizenship certificate.
- Two academic and one professional reference
Short-listed applicants will be invited to attend an admissions interview with members of Cairnmillar’s academic faculty. This provides applicants with the opportunity to discuss any questions they have about the course of study. Further information on interviews can be found on the FAQ page here.
Inherent Requirements
Inherent requirements are those skills, values and behaviours which must be demonstrated by students in order that they successfully complete the program of study. As a guide for prospective and current students, a series of inherent requirement statements have been developed that relate to student admission and progression through the course. These requirements are mandatory; however, there may be some flexibility in how they can be demonstrated. Click here to view the Inherent Requirements.
Graduate Learning Outcomes
Students who satisfactorily complete this course will be able to demonstrate skill and knowledge in the following areas:
Knowledge of the discipline
- Demonstrate core professional psychology principles across a range of settings
- Assess and diagnose a variety of client presentations with reference to the DSM-5
- Interpret current literature and research regarding psychological issues and disorders, to formulate appropriate assessments and interventions.
Ethical, legal & professional matters
- Demonstrate knowledge of the Australian Psychological Society’s Code of Ethics as well as relevant legislation that informs current professional practice
- Apply ethical principles in simulation and in professional practice.
Psychological assessment and measurement
- Develop knowledge of a broad range of assessment measures and understand the theoretical frameworks and psychometric properties that support their empirical validation, and knowledge of appropriateness to assessing particular presentations and disorders
- Demonstrate an ability to administer, score, interpret and write up specific assessment batteries.
Intervention strategies
- Demonstrate an understanding of a select range of empirically validated interventions suitable for use with adults and children
- Demonstrate application of this understanding through ethical application of treatments in simulation and placement practicum, including their evaluation.
Research and evaluation
- Demonstrate an understanding of the application of qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods research designs in professional psychological practice
- Conduct a high-quality needs analysis in treatment or psychosocial support settings and recommend an implementable solution.
Communication and Interpersonal Relationships
- Demonstrate effective and efficient written and oral communication skills
- Relate appropriately to clients and professionals across academic and clinical settings.
Working within a Cross Cultural Context
- Develop an understanding of culturally sensitive psychological practice and demonstrate competence in working with clients from diverse backgrounds where placement settings allow.
Practice across the Lifespan
- Develop knowledge of age-appropriate psychological assessments and interventions, and where possible apply this in placement settings.
Reflective practice
- Demonstrate an appreciation of the importance of reflective self-practice and the ability to implement constructive feedback in order to improve clinical practice.
Fees & Scholarships
*Total fees are estimates only based on the current fee schedule. Annual tuition fee review and possible increases applies, see: Fees & Scholarships.
For information on tuition fees and what scholarships might apply to this course, please visit the Fees & Scholarships page.
Career Opportunities & Study Pathways
Excellent career opportunities are available in educational and developmental settings, private practice, forensic and organisational psychology, community health centres, schools, rehabilitation providers, human resources, and community health agencies.
Completion of the Master of Professional Psychology one year program enables graduates to complete the AHPRA 5+1 Internship year, which in turn leads to registration as a psychologist with Psychology Board of Australia.
Cairnmillar offers the 6th year internship program in the Master of Professional Psychology Practice. This 5+1 program at Cairnmillar is currently unique. For information about the difference between Cairnmillar’s MPP and MPPP courses, please click here.
Accreditation
The Master of Professional Psychology is a Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) accredited program and sits within level 9 of the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).
This program is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC). Further information on conditional accreditation can be found on the APAC website, as well as in APAC’s publicly available accreditation reports.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Students applying for this program may enter a process in which they may be granted credit or partial credit towards the qualification in recognition of previous experience where an equivalence of earlier learning can be established.
Credit transfer for an Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) course, is only applicable for recently completed APAC accredited postgraduate programs.
Credit or partial credit is not granted in recognition of knowledge or skills gained through work or life experience. The granting of credit for placements on the basis of previous experience gained as a registered psychologist is not permitted by APAC.
Cairnmillar’s RPL policy can be viewed here and further information can be found here.
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