Mental Health Training

2027 DPC Applications OPEN!

The Developmental Psychiatry Course (DPC) is a one-year professional development course which operates as a foundation for professionals responding to the social, emotional, behavioural, and developmental problems of infants, children, youth, and families. It has been accepted for more than forty years as the benchmark for vocational training in fundamental skills for the infant, child, and youth mental health field.  

DPC is designed to improve participant’s understanding of how development across infancy to emerging adulthood informs the assessment, formulation, and diagnosis of common clinical problems. Participants will build skills to write reports integrating assessment findings into a collaborative formulation that guides development of a treatment plan with the young person and their family.

Participants can complete DPC Theory as a standalone course, or they can complete DPC Theory + Clinical.  Completion of DPC Theory is a pre-requisite for DPC Clinical.

DPC Theory

DPC Foundations:

DPC Foundations is a self-paced online package (4–6 hours), available on enrolment and to be completed before DPC Theory Core Training.  It provides the fundamental knowledge required for, and extended on, throughout the DPC, including information on areas such as:

• Culture, intersectionality and complexity.
• Clinical Assessment.
• Diagnosis.
• Major psychological theories

Core DPC Theory

DPC Theory is designed to move from knowledge acquisition to skill building. To achieve this, participants will be offered a variety of learning opportunities throughout the year: Core Modules, Elective Seminars, Core Training – Autism Fundamentals & Co-occurring Conditions, and four assessments to be completed across the DPC year. Note: DPC Theory+Clinical participants will complete three Theory assessments. The structure of DPC Theory is outlined below.

• Completion of 20 Core Modules, delivered via interactive online, self-paced learning packages followed by collaborative small group online tutorials led by senior infant, child, youth, and family mental health clinician educators.
• Attendance of at least three (3) 2hr online seminars delivered by leading specialists in the fields of infant, child, adolescent, and family mental health and wellbeing.
• Mindful’s 2-day Autism Fundamentals workshop

Core Modules

DPC Theory participants are offered a combination of self-directed learning and tasks including readings, visual aids, interactive quizzes and activities, and multi-media content, complimented by small group tutorial sessions provided over Zoom. 

The 20 Core Modules are divided into seven (7) Learning Blocks. Will provide further information about the Core Modules and Intended learning outcomes for that block shortly.

Block No.	Learning Block Title
1	Development from the Prenatal Period to Early Adulthood
2	Case Formulation
3	Risk & Suicidality across the Lifespan
4	Working with Diversity
5	Trauma
6	High Prevalence Presentations across the lifespan
7	Common Presentations in adolescent/adult Mental Health Services

Participants are encouraged to allocate approximately four (4) hours per week to engage with the DPC Theory content, complete tasks on the LMS, and meet the assessment requirements. This is a general estimate, and the actual time needed may vary depending on individual learning styles and preferences. Additional time will be required for those participants undertaking DPC Clinical. 

While subject to change, an example of the 2027 draft DPC Theory timetable can be found here.

Completion Requirements 

• Satisfactory completion of the DPC Foundations
• Completion of all Core Modules and their associated quizzes, activities, and tasks. 
• Attendance of at least 80% of online tutorials across Semester 1.
• Completion of LMS tasks for any tutorials missed. 
• Attendance of at least three (3) Elective Seminars across Semester 2.  
• Satisfactory completion of DPC Theory assessment tasks

 DPC Clinical

Integrates DPC Theory (as described above) with a 10-week clinical component. This combination is structured to enable participants to apply and refine the competencies acquired during DPC Theory within their respective clinical settings. DPC Clinical involves:

• Observation of clinical assessments conducted by more experienced clinicians within their own workplace
• Completion of 2 clinical assessments within their own workplace, with at least one completed under supervision of a more experienced clinician who will provide support and feedback.
• Participation in weekly (10 x 1.5hr) online Clinical Case Conferences with other DPC Clinical participants, facilitated by experienced senior Infant, Child, Youth and Family Mental Health clinician educators.   

Currently, DPC Clinical is only available in Victorian Infant, Child, Youth and Family Mental Health and Wellbeing Services. If interested, interstate Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services or other mental health and wellbeing providers (including those working in Victorian Children’s Health and Wellbeing Locals) are invited to contact Mindful to discuss how their teams may facilitate DPC Clinical.  

Completion Requirements

• Attendance of at least 80% of the Clinical Case Conferences (8 out of 10 conference weeks).  
• Completion of alternative tasks for any Clinical Case Conferences missed.    
• Participation and collaboration in activities designed to promote self-reflection regarding learning and development goals.    
• Satisfactory completion and submission of two full clinical assessment reports.   
• Satisfactory presentation of two cases at Clinical Case Conference.   

 

Selection Criteria for Acceptance into the DPC 

For acceptance into the DPC, participants must:  

• Have a relevant undergraduate qualification (relevance is determined by the DPC coordinators).   
• Have a current Working with Children Check (WWCC).  
• Have written employer approval to be released from work to undertake DPC. A form will be supplied to participants who meet this requirement. 
• For those applying for DPC Clinical, be willing to participate in online clinical case presentations and discussions with peers from different services.    

Applications and Cost

How to apply 

• Applications for DPC Theory Only will close on the 28 February 2027.
• If your service has a DPC Educator, it is recommended that you contact them to discuss your suitability for the DPC; they will support you in the application process if required.

Cost for the DPC 

2027 costs are listed below; costs generally increase a small amount each year.

2027 DPC Theory+Clinical (Victoria):  $2,746 *

2027 DPC Theory (Victoria):    $2,310 (Incl GST) **

2027 DPC Theory (All other):    $2,703 (Incl GST) **

*DPC Theory+Clinical is a GST-exempt training program. DPC Theory incurs GST.

*DPC Theory+Clinical payment Schedule for 2027 for Interstate participants is negotiated with each interstate service.  Please contact [email protected]  

** DPC Theory (Victoria): 1^st Instalment fee: $660 (Incl GST),2^nd Instalment fee: $1,210 (Incl GST) 3^rd Instalment fee: $440 (Incl GST)

** DPC Theory (All Other): 1^st Instalment fee: $660 (Incl GST),2^nd Instalment fee: $1,603 (Incl GST) 3^rd Instalment fee: $440 (Incl GST)

* Click here to pay the DPC Theory (Vicoria / Non- Victoria) deposit fee/full fee

Important Dates 

• 2027 DPC Theory Only application submission (1 Oct 2026 to 28 February 2027) 

• Pay the 1st Instalment fee or full fee 

• Enrol in DPC Foundation online Module (once receive the fee above) 

• Pay the 2nd Instalment fee for full fee  

• Enrol in DPC Theory online from 10 March 2027 (once receive the fee above) 

• DPC Theory live tutoring starts from Wednesday 14 April 2027 

• DPC Clinical online part enrolment in July 2027 

Click here to apply DPC Theory Only

Withdrawal fees 

Participants who choose to fully withdraw from the DPC, will be required to re-enrol and pay all associated course fees should they decide to continue with the DPC at a later date. Credit for work completed will be considered on a case-by-case basis.   

A full refund of fees paid, will be granted in the event of the following:   

• Mindful cancels the course.  
• An error is made at the time of enrolment e.g. if a student enrolled but has previously completed.  
• If Participant has had access to DPC Foundations (pre-requisite course) for one month or less and withdraws before Wednesday 10 March 2027.

Withdrawal after course commencement will attract course fees. Under normal circumstances refunds are not given for partial completion of the course, however a partial refund may be considered depending on withdrawal circumstances. Fees associated with course withdrawal are detailed in the DPC Theory and DPC Clinical Handbooks.    

Partial scholarships funded by the Department of Health (DH) are only available to eligible participants completing DPC Theory+Clinical to be eligible for the subsidy.  Withdrawal from DPC Theory+Clinical makes participants ineligible for the scholarship and may be personally responsible for any course fees accrued. 

Fees Associated with Withdrawal from DPC Theory   

The table below specifies the partial refund of fees within specified timeframes for participants completing DPC Theory. 

Date of withdrawal	Fees payable
More than one month after first accessing DPC Foundations	$150 (Incl. GST)
Withdrawal after course commencement but before Wednesday 5 May 2027 (Week 4)	1st Instalment fee+ $55 (Incl. GST) (admin fee)
Withdrawal between 6 May and 4 August 2027	1st Instalment fee + 2nd Instalment fee+ $55 (Incl. GST) (admin fee)
Withdrawal from DPC Theory after 4 August 2027	Full DPC Theory Fees

The table below specifies the partial refund of fees within specified timeframes for participants completing DPC Theory + Clinical. 

Date of withdrawal	Fees payable
More than one month after first accessing DPC Foundations	$150 (Incl. GST)
Withdrawal after course commencement but before Wednesday 5 May 2027 (Week 4)	1st Instalment fee + $55 (Incl. GST) (admin fee)
Withdrawal between 6 May and 4 August 2027	1st Instalment fee + 2nd Instalment fee+ $55 (Incl. GST) (admin fee)
Continue DPC Theory and Withdrawal from DPC Clinical between 4 August and 6 October2027	1st Instalment fee + 2nd Instalment fee+ $55 (Incl. GST) (admin fee) + 20% of DPC Clinical fee ($717)
Withdrawal from DPC Theory after 4 August 2027	Full DPC Theory Fees
Withdrawal from either DPC Theory or DPC Clinical after 6 October 2027 (Clinical part starts)	Full DPC Clinical + Theory Fees

For further information about the DPC, contact Mindful: [email protected] 

Download the flyer