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Discipline of Psychiatry Structured Program

Introduction to the Discipline of Psychiatry

The Discipline of Psychiatry is part of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Adelaide, and is physically located at five geographic sites. These are the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Women's and Children's Hospital, Adelaide Clinic and Lyell McEwin Health Service. The Coordinator of the Postgraduate Training Program is Professor H Winefield.

Doctoral Degrees and Masters Degrees by Research

Research can be undertaken in any area where the candidate is appropriately qualified and the Discipline of Psychiatry can provide adequate resources, including supervision. The Department of Education Training and Youth Affairs (DETYA) has determined that a PhD is to be completed in 3 years and a Master's degree in two years of fulltime work. This requires candidates to plan their course of study carefully in order to complete their postgraduate training successfully. Doctoral Degrees and Masters Degrees obtained by research certify the attainment of a level of proficiency in research skills.

Guidelines are provided by the University of Adelaide's Code of Practice which defines standards to be achieved with each degree. This is continuously revised, and is available both in hard copy and via the Internet at the Adelaide Graduate Centre web site. In the Code of Practice, Doctoral Degrees are defined as having the objective to produce graduates with the capacity to conduct research independently at a high level of originality and quality. By the end of his/her candidature, the student ought to be capable of conceiving, designing and carrying to completion a research program without supervision. The PhD students should uncover new knowledge by the discovery of new facts, the formulation of theories, or the innovative reinterpretation of known data and established ideas.

Master Degrees by research are defined as having the objective of training students in research methodology and techniques and in their critical evaluation (appropriate to their field of study). Students are also trained in the application of such methodology by conducting a specified program of research under appropriate supervision.

The structured program for research degree students at the University of Adelaide is provided by individual departments or faculties. The goal of the program is to familiarise candidates with a range of key issues relevant to their higher degree. These include:

• An introduction to the requirements and expectations for successful PhD/MD research at the University.
• Issues to be considered in the identification of the research topic and the structure and content of the research proposal.
• Preliminary identification of the research topics and discussion of their academic feasibility, resource requirements and intellectual property implications.
• Discipline procedures regarding borrowing of equipment, sharing of departmental resources, computer systems and operation.
• University facilities to aid research including library resources and the language and learning unit of the Centre for Learning & Professional Development (CLPD) at the University of Adelaide . The CLPD is available to all students and offers training for seminar presentations and language/writing skills.
• Exposure to research methodology and technologies and the critical analytic skills required in the discipline.
• Exposure to research programs of staff in the Discipline.
• Skills needed to write and publish research papers and theses in the discipline.
• Techniques for effective seminar presentation and participation.
• The presentation of draft research proposals including consideration of the Outline of Proposed Research.
• Formal presentation of research proposals.

Structured Program for Candidates in the Discipline of Psychiatry

The Structured Program for candidates in the Discipline of Psychiatry is provided through a seminar program which takes place on a monthly basis in the Discipline of Psychiatry at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. This program consists of formal presentations by postgraduate students (see below) and presentation by staff in the Discipline of Psychiatry.

Seminars at the Royal Adelaide Hospital

The presentation by postgraduate students will consist of the following:

• In the first year after commencing candidature, each postgraduate student will present a one hour seminar outlining the research program which they plan to undertake. The student should plan to talk for 40 minutes to allow time for discussion. Students are strongly advised to practice their presentations and to employ transparencies or slides. It is also suggested that prior to the presentation of the seminar a brief summary of the proposed PhD/MD project (approximately three A4 pages in length) should be circulated to all academic staff, research officers and post graduate students in the Discipline of Psychiatry. The seminar will provide supervisors and the Post Graduate Committee with the opportunity to determine whether the student has identified a feasible project and begun to address initial key issues.
• During the third year of their candidature, each student will present a one hour seminar describing the results of his/her research. This seminar should include a major review of the research undertaken by the student and the results of this research.
• Presentations by staff will consist of summaries of research being conducted in the Discipline of Psychiatry. It is intended that these presentations will provide postgraduate students with an overview of work in the department.

Review of Progress of Postgraduate Students in the Discipline of Psychiatry

The principal role of the Postgraduate Committee in the Discipline of Psychiatry is to provide support for postgraduate students and their supervisors. Formal assessment of the progress of individual students is the responsibility of each student's supervisors. In order to provide support, the Committee has initiated several procedures to monitor the progress of postgraduate students in the department.

• The Postgraduate Committee in the Discipline of Psychiatry reviews each candidate's progress annually. This review is based on supervisors' reports, the presentation given by the student at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and, for students in the first year of their candidature, the literature review submitted to the committee. The review takes place towards the end of each academic year when supervisors reports are normally submitted to the university's Higher Degree Committee.
• The first year of a PhD/MD is a critical period for a candidate. During this year it is expected that postgraduate students will participate in the structured program provided in the Discipline of Psychiatry. As well as presenting a departmental seminar, it is expected that within twelve months of candidature each student will submit to the Postgraduate Committee in the Discipline of Psychiatry a full referenced literature review of approximately three to five thousand words. It is expected that the literature review will be comprehensive and will demonstrate the student's detailed knowledge in their area of research. The literature reviews will be assessed by staff in the Discipline of Psychiatry and the results of these assessments will be provided to the student. The literature review and the departmental presentation, together with supervisors' reports will form the basis of evaluating whether a student can transfer from a Masters of other qualification to a PhD. The University of Adelaide also requires supervisors to certify that students have successfully completed the first year structured program before they enrol in the second year of their PhD.
• There are only limited financial resources available to support research conducted by postgraduate students. As such, it is important for students to ensure that their project can be completed with the limited budget available to them. In order to ensure that adequate budget planning has been undertaken, the Postgraduate Committee request that within twelve months of candidature each postgraduate student submit to the Postgraduate Committee a budget for the proposed research to be undertaken for the PhD/MD. This will enable the committee to determine whether a project can be completed with the resources available to the students.
• Postgraduate students enrolled for Masters degrees will be expected to participate in the Structured Program although it is recognised that they must complete their training in a shorter period than PhD/MD students. Students wishing to enrol for a Masters degree should discuss their participation in the Structured Program with the Postgraduate Coordinator prior to their enrolment.

Expectations of Supervisors in the Discipline of Psychiatry

Postgraduate training in research requires students to develop a close relationship with one or more supervisors. Supervisors play a key role in providing advice to students about their research, serving as role models for students, and facilitating the development of students' ideas and insights. As such, students should select supervisors with great care and ensure that both they and their supervisors are able to undertake the rigorous work required to complete a PhD/MD. Supervisors must be conscious of the key role that they play in the academic and research life of their postgraduate students.

Common principles and responsibilities that apply to good supervision practice are identified in the University of Adelaide's ìCode of Practiceî. Supervisors and their students should ensure that they are familiar with this document. While it is the responsibility of the students to maintain regular contact with the supervisor, and not vice versa, the expectation is that supervisors in the Discipline of Psychiatry will meet in person with each student at least twice each month. It is also expected that supervisors will attend the academic seminars presented by their students. The provision of support for students is particularly important during the first year of a PhD/MD program when students must identify the focus of their research and complete a comprehensive literature review.

If problems arise which cannot be resolved by the supervisor and their student, advice can be sought from the Postgraduate Coordinator in the Discipline of Psychiatry.

For further information contact:

Professor Helen Winefield, Postgraduate Coordinator,

Phone: +618 8222-5153; fax: +618 8222 2865;
e-mail: helen.winefield@adelaide.edu.au