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Study postgraduate online through Open Universities Australia. Explore all degrees, subjects and short courses now.

This degree is delivered in collaboration with Queensland Health&#39;s Forensic Mental Health Service to provide students with a broad knowledge base of forensic mental health.  The target audience for this program are those with little professional knowledge of forensic mental health.  Students will leave the program with a broad understanding of research-based knowledge in forensic mental health and how it is applied in practice.

Gain a broad knowledge of forensic mental health and its overlap with the criminal justice system and mental health services. For psychologists, social workers, nurses and psychiatrists to be able to practice at an advanced level.

Graduate Certificate in Forensic Mental Health

This programme is designed to meet the needs of a wide variety of service professionals interested in the area of psychology and includes people working within policing, governmental departments of justice and child protection, legal practitioners, community services professionals (e.g., social workers), and health professionals (e.g., clinical psychologists, nurses) working within these contexts.

See how psychology interacts with the legal and criminal justice system. Explore the connections between crime and mental health. Deepen your understanding of victims and offenders. Apply your knowledge of human behaviour to real world settings.

Graduate Certificate in Forensic Psychology

Understanding Victims and Offenders

Risk Assessment and Management in Forensic Mental Health

Psychology and Policing

Psychology of Investigative and Legal Processes

Psychological Explanations of Criminal Behaviour

Mental Health, Psychology and the Criminal Justice System

This subject examines strategies for changing criminal behaviour. The interventions explored in the subject are most frequently observed within the correctional system in both custodial and community settings; however, programs utilised in other sectors of the criminal justice system (i.e. police, courts) and in affiliated social service organisations are also included in the course where forensic populations are their target treatment group. The subject draws on psychological principles and research evidence, linking theories of crime causation to foundations of behaviour modification and propensity-reducing interventions. A review of specific programs is presented, although the focus of the subject is on the overarching design principles associated with positive client outcomes.Assessment details will be advised at the beginning of the subject offering.

Draw on psychological principles and research to identify strategies to change behaviour within the correctional system. Probe specific rehabilitation programs used in both in community and institutional settings to question the rehabilitation ideal.

Interventions for Correctional Clients

Some people are more likely to commit particular crimes than are other people. Some people are more likely to become victims of crime than are other people. This subject of study explores variables that relate to victims and offenders. Serial victims and serial offenders are examined. Sexual crimes, violent crimes and family violence will be spotlighted and evidence relevant to victims, offenders and the decisions that they make will be assessed. Students will explore the methodological challenges associated with researching victims and offenders, and consider how the research evidence can translate to good practice within criminal justice contexts.
Please Note:  If it’s your first time studying a Curtin University subject you’ll need to complete their compulsory ‘Academic Integrity Program’. It only takes two hours to complete online, and provides you with vital information about studying with Curtin University. The Academic Integrity Program is compulsory, so if it’s not completed your subject grades will be withheld.
Find out more about the <a href="https://www.curtin.edu.au/students/essentials/rights/academic-integrity/aip/" target="_blank">Academic Integrity module</a>.

Understand why some people are more likely to commit particular crimes than others, and why certain citizens are more likely to be victims of these crimes. Cover sexual crimes, violent crimes and family violence in particular. 

The subject considers the most widely accepted approaches, in Forensic Mental Health (FMH), to risk assessment. Subject content primarily focuses upon the prediction of an individual&#39;s likelihood of harming other or being harmed by others. Risk and protective factors are examined beyond that of a present based individual level to include an understanding of developmental and environmental factors. The utility and applicability of different risk assessment tools is also considered as a component of an effective functional analysis and more broadly risk management in Forensic Mental Health.

Research risk assessment approaches and evaluate their application. Gain the skills to articulate which tools and methods are appropriate for different situations. Learn how to use risk management strategies to inform decision your making.

This subject was previously known as CCJ741.
Forensic mental health is an area of specialisation that involves the assessment and treatment of client&#39;s who are both mentally disordered and whose behaviour has led to or could possibly lead to offending. Forensic mental health as a field therefore represents the interface between community safety and client centred practice. The two key intervention targets in FMH are mental disorders and problem behaviours. This degree will address the first of these targets by providing students with knowledge of general mental health interventions and components of recovery/recovery processes. Students will also be provided with skills in the delivery of specific intervention strategies targeting the most common mental health presentations in FMH. Students will also be provided with the opportunity to practice the skill of treatment plan development and role play delivery of specific strategies.

Gain an overview of the role of mental health and offending in the forensic mental health client population. Examine and evaluate psychiatric interventions that are useful in a forensic mental health system. 

Interventions and Recovery in Forensic Mental Health (Clinical)

It is conservatively estimated that 70% of forensic mental health (FMH) clients in Australia are males of functioning intelligence who have English as their preferred language and who align themselves with the dominant Australian culture. As they comprise such a large proportion of the FMH client group, the majority of resources and interventions are targeted towards them. This then means that there are a number of minority populations within FMH, who without our intentional investment and understanding would not receive effective assessment, intervention and management. This subject examines the special needs of these minority FMH groups, namely the specific needs of the elderly, adolescents, women, people with an intellectual disability, people of a different culture or language, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Assessment details will be advised at the beginning of the subject offering.

Delve into legal and ethical issues you’ll need to consider when working with people with special needs and minority groups. Appreciate the importance of inclusive practice, modified clinical applications, assessment and interventions with these groups.

Minority Populations in Forensic Mental Health

This subject considers the most widely accepted approaches, in forensic mental health (FMH), to risk assessment. Subject content primarily focuses upon the prediction of an individual&#39;s likelihood of harming others or being harmed by others. Risk and protective factors are examined beyond that of a present based individual level to include an understanding of developmental and environmental factors. The utility and applicability of different risk assessment tools is also considered as a component of an effective functional analysis and more broadly risk management in forensic mental health.
This subject will provide a practical understanding of how risk assessment and management is utilised within forensic mental health.  This will include a foundation of the key principles for evaluating risk assessment tools, management processes and professional writing in forensic mental health.  This subject will then build upon this foundation to provide students with an understanding of how these principles apply in the assessment and management of different offender populations (violent offending, sexual offending, stalking and juvenile).  Students will follow and apply their learning to a number of client case studies across these population groups.  They will follow these clients from interview, assessment through to the development of reports which will communicate recommendations for risk management.
Assessment details will be advised at the beginning of the subject offering.

Understand how risk assessment tools and management processes are applied to key offender populations. This subject focuses on the prediction of an individual's likelihood of being harmed or harming others due to developmental or environmental factors.

Advanced Risk Assessment and Management in Forensic Mental Health

This subject examines the areas in which the criminal justice system and psychological theories of behaviour interact. Topics include the reliability of eyewitness testimony, truthfulness and credibility of witnesses, questioning child victims of sexual assault, the social dynamics of juries and the role of expert testimony.
In this subject, we study the roles of various actors that interact in the courtroom, such as judges, juries, expert witnesses, eyewitnesses, victims and defendants.null; The subject introduces interdisciplinary literatures: criminology, law and society/socio-legal studies, and psychology.null; Topics include the social dynamics of juries, judicial discretion, the validity of forensic science and the role of expert testimony, the reliability of eyewitness testimony, an examination of mental health courts and indigenous justice, and the prevalence of wrongful convictions.

Scrutinise the areas in which the criminal justice system and psychological theories of behaviour intersect. Study the roles of various actors in courts, such as judges, juries, expert witnesses, eyewitnesses, victims and defendants.

Law and Behaviour

Psychologists have assisted the work of the police in a number of ways and this subject of study introduces applications of psychology to police operations. Topics covered include false confessions and testimony, police interviewing, facial recognition, and eyewitnesses and error. The rise of evidence-based policing has encouraged psychologists to work closely with the police on developing practices that are grounded in empirical research, and this approach will be critically assessed. Police officers frequently experience work related stress and ways in which psychologists can assist officers in responding to stress are also examined. Students will be provided with an overview of the opportunities and limitations of police-psychology collaborations. The need for a pragmatic approach underscores this subject of study.
Please Note:  If it’s your first time studying a Curtin University subject you’ll need to complete their compulsory ‘Academic Integrity Program’. It only takes two hours to complete online, and provides you with vital information about studying with Curtin University. The Academic Integrity Program is compulsory, so if it’s not completed your subject grades will be withheld.
Find out more about the <a href="https://www.curtin.edu.au/students/essentials/rights/academic-integrity/aip/" target="_blank">Academic Integrity module</a>.

Learn how psychology can help police. You’ll dive head-first into false confessions and testimony, interviewing, facial recognition, eyewitnesses and human error. Beyond prosecution, learn how psychologists can assist police in times of stress.  

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