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Previous research has identified non‐attendance in community clinics as a serious problem, especially in terms of viability of these clinics. Yet, the same research offers little clarification about how to combat these non‐attendance rates. The current study was an initiative at the University of South Australia School of Psychology Clinic, which sought to reduce the non‐attendance rate through the use of telephone reminders for appointments in the following week. Reminders were made during alternating weeks to determine whether there was any impact on the rates of non‐attendance in general and for first appointments only. Other factors investigated included age, gender, socioeconomic status and the type of telephone number. Results suggest that telephone reminders may be effective for first appointments, especially when made to females and landlines. These findings clarify previous studies and are a sound basis for improving the viability of Australian university‐based community clinics.

Crime impacts upon the community at multiple levels, causing distress and loss for the victims, and feelings of insecurity for the public, as well as adding to the drain on financial resources for governments. This makes the accurate identification of risk of reoffending and the determination of efficacious rehabilitation strategies imperative. Key principles in cognitive and behavioural psychology can contribute to this task. This paper will review the issue of risk assessment and describe the applicability of functional analysis to forensic psychology. Two studies by the authors will be used to illustrate concepts raised in this review. The paper will conclude with a model that may help guide the realistic implementation of detailed individual functional analyses of offenders' behaviour.

The present paper outlines the development and evaluation of an allocation committee to distribute community placements on an equitable basis between universities. Although based on our experience in South Australia with the University Placement Allocation Committee (UPAC), the primary goal is to outline the steps that would be useful if placement coordinators at other universities in Australia decided to establish and maintain an allocation committee. A survey of field supervisors was also conducted and field supervisors endorsed UPAC as a constructive mechanism for allocating community placements.

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