Training in Clinical Training in Clinical Neuropsychology – an Neuropsychology – an Australian Experience Australian Experience

Dr. Ruth BreenDr. Ruth BreenClinical Neuropsychologist, Ninewells Clinical Neuropsychologist, Ninewells

Hospital and The Centre for Brain Injury Hospital and The Centre for Brain Injury Rehabilitation, Royal Victoria Hospital, Rehabilitation, Royal Victoria Hospital,

DundeeDundee

OutlineOutline Studying in MelbourneStudying in Melbourne

Clinical Neuropsychology training in Clinical Neuropsychology training in AustraliaAustralia– Doctorate in Clinical NeuropsychologyDoctorate in Clinical Neuropsychology

Psychology networks and employment in Psychology networks and employment in AustraliaAustralia

Differences between Australian and UK Differences between Australian and UK TrainingTraining

Melbourne, AustraliaMelbourne, Australia

University of MelbourneUniversity of Melbourne

Universities in MelbourneUniversities in Melbourne University of MelbourneUniversity of Melbourne

Monash UniversityMonash University

La Trobe UniversityLa Trobe University

Victoria UniversityVictoria University

RMIT (Royal Melbourne University of RMIT (Royal Melbourne University of Technology)Technology)

Doctorate in Clinical Neuropsychology, Doctorate in Clinical Neuropsychology, University of Melbourne, AustraliaUniversity of Melbourne, Australia

Parallel courses: Parallel courses: – Clinical PsychologyClinical Psychology– Child Clinical PsychologyChild Clinical Psychology– Forensic Psychology Forensic Psychology – Health PsychologyHealth Psychology

Course No: 6Course No: 6

Course length: 3+ yearsCourse length: 3+ years

Doctorate in Clinical Neuropsychology, University Doctorate in Clinical Neuropsychology, University of Melbourne, Australia, continued…….of Melbourne, Australia, continued…….

Practical: placements – Neuropsychological within different Practical: placements – Neuropsychological within different settingssettings

Year 1: observationalYear 1: observational Year 2: 4 three-month placementsYear 2: 4 three-month placements Year 3: two six-month placementsYear 3: two six-month placements

Typical Example:Typical Example:– Yr 1:Yr 1: Observe clinician in Royal Melbourne, General Adult Observe clinician in Royal Melbourne, General Adult

NeuropsychologyNeuropsychology– Yr 2:Yr 2: 3 months in Acute Neurology (Adult); 3 months Royal 3 months in Acute Neurology (Adult); 3 months Royal

Children's Hospital; 3 months CDAMS (Cognitive, Dementia and Children's Hospital; 3 months CDAMS (Cognitive, Dementia and Memory Service); 3 months Specialist Epilepsy Service Memory Service); 3 months Specialist Epilepsy Service (Neurosurgery)(Neurosurgery)

– Yr 3:Yr 3: 6 months TBI Rehabilitation Centre; 6 months 6 months TBI Rehabilitation Centre; 6 months NeuropsychiatryNeuropsychiatry

Doctorate in Clinical Neuropsychology, University Doctorate in Clinical Neuropsychology, University of Melbourne, Australia, continued…….of Melbourne, Australia, continued…….

Theory: Theory: – Lectures/examsLectures/exams– CourseworkCoursework

Examples of Modules:Examples of Modules:– Adult Neuropsychological disordersAdult Neuropsychological disorders– Child Neuropsychological disordersChild Neuropsychological disorders– Structure and Function of the BrainStructure and Function of the Brain– Psychological Assessment and FormulationPsychological Assessment and Formulation– Psychological InterventionsPsychological Interventions– Neuroanatomy seminarsNeuroanatomy seminars– Neuropsychological RehabilitationNeuropsychological Rehabilitation

ThesisThesis

Topics of InterestTopics of Interest

““Neuropsychological and Psychosocial Neuropsychological and Psychosocial Outcome Profiles following Outcome Profiles following Endovascular Coiling for Intracranial Endovascular Coiling for Intracranial Aneurysms”Aneurysms”

Return to the UKReturn to the UK

Statement of Equivalence:Statement of Equivalence:– Set number of days in different Set number of days in different

specialtiesspecialties– Therapeutic focusTherapeutic focus– EssaysEssays

BPS/HPC Chartered AccreditationBPS/HPC Chartered Accreditation

Training Focus/EthosTraining Focus/Ethos

Embedded in NeurologyEmbedded in Neurology

Use of NeuroimagingUse of Neuroimaging

Hypothesis-testingHypothesis-testing

Differential DiagnosesDifferential Diagnoses

Australian Psychological Society Australian Psychological Society (APS) (APS)

The APS is the largest professional association for The APS is the largest professional association for psychologists in Australia, representing over psychologists in Australia, representing over 20,000 members.20,000 members.

APS members form a dynamic group that APS members form a dynamic group that advocate for psychologists at all levels of advocate for psychologists at all levels of government. government.

Promote the contributions Psychology makes to Promote the contributions Psychology makes to people's health and wellbeing, and to people's health and wellbeing, and to understanding important social issues facing understanding important social issues facing Australian society.Australian society.

MedicareMedicare Australia's publicly funded universal healthcare Australia's publicly funded universal healthcare

system, operated by the government authority system, operated by the government authority Medicare Australia.Medicare Australia.

Reciprocal agreement with Other countries Reciprocal agreement with Other countries worldwide (except for students!)worldwide (except for students!)

April 2006: Private Psychology to be publicly April 2006: Private Psychology to be publicly funded through Medicare. Currently not including funded through Medicare. Currently not including Neuropsychology.Neuropsychology.

APS: Clinicians apply to be assessed in order to APS: Clinicians apply to be assessed in order to practice under Medicarepractice under Medicare

CCN – College of Clinical CCN – College of Clinical NeuropsychologistsNeuropsychologists

Mechanism for Neuropsychologists all over Mechanism for Neuropsychologists all over Australia to stay linked with colleagues who share Australia to stay linked with colleagues who share similar clinical and research interests.similar clinical and research interests.

Brings together neuropsychologists in local areas Brings together neuropsychologists in local areas interested in a wide variety of neuropsychological interested in a wide variety of neuropsychological topics.topics.

250 members (not latest figures)250 members (not latest figures)

State-wideState-wide

Melbourne HospitalsMelbourne Hospitals Departments within HospitalsDepartments within Hospitals

Approx 20 hospitals with active Clinical Neuropsychology Approx 20 hospitals with active Clinical Neuropsychology departments, not counting rural centresdepartments, not counting rural centres

Between two and six fulltime/part-time Clinical Between two and six fulltime/part-time Clinical Neuropsychologists working within each dept, plus Neuropsychologists working within each dept, plus trainees (Graduate Neuropsychologists)trainees (Graduate Neuropsychologists)

Typical Rehab Team make-up:Typical Rehab Team make-up:– Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist, Speech and Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist, Speech and

Language Therapist, Nursing staff, Clinical Language Therapist, Nursing staff, Clinical Psychologist, Clinical NeuropsychologistPsychologist, Clinical Neuropsychologist

Types of Brain InjuryTypes of Brain Injury

Austin HealthAustin Health The Department of Clinical Neuropsychology at Austin Health The Department of Clinical Neuropsychology at Austin Health

provides inpatient and outpatient services to neurosciences, provides inpatient and outpatient services to neurosciences, psychiatry, aged care services, and all medical and surgical units. psychiatry, aged care services, and all medical and surgical units. The department caters for adults, with a restricted service available The department caters for adults, with a restricted service available to children (epilepsy only).to children (epilepsy only).

The department provides patient care, incorporating diagnostic The department provides patient care, incorporating diagnostic assessment services, involvement in rehabilitation programs, and assessment services, involvement in rehabilitation programs, and contributes to treatment/discharge planning procedures.contributes to treatment/discharge planning procedures.

In addition to the clinical program, the department offers student In addition to the clinical program, the department offers student placement programs to those undertaking university post-graduate placement programs to those undertaking university post-graduate training courses in clinical neuropsychology. The department also training courses in clinical neuropsychology. The department also has a heavy involvement in both independent and collaborative has a heavy involvement in both independent and collaborative research projects.research projects.

The department is the historical ‘home’ of the profession of clinical The department is the historical ‘home’ of the profession of clinical neuropsychology in Australia, having been established by Dr. Kevin neuropsychology in Australia, having been established by Dr. Kevin Walsh (AO BA MBBS MSc FBPsS) in the 1970’s under the aegis of The Walsh (AO BA MBBS MSc FBPsS) in the 1970’s under the aegis of The University of Melbourne.University of Melbourne.

Differences with UK TrainingDifferences with UK Training

Point of specialisationPoint of specialisation

Differentiation of specialtiesDifferentiation of specialties– Application in clinical practiceApplication in clinical practice

Neurology-focus rather than Neurology-focus rather than PsychiatryPsychiatry

Thank You for ListeningThank You for Listening