Postgraduate: Course rule and topic information

Graduate Certificate in Palliative Care in Aged Care

(GradCertPallCAgedCare)

Program of Study

INTRODUCTION

The Graduate Certificate in Palliative Care in Aged Care is an 18-unit program offered by the Faculty of Health Sciences on a Commonwealth Supported basis.

The course articulates with the Graduate Diploma in Palliative Care in Aged Care and the Master of Palliative Care in Aged Care. The sequentially developed topics allow progression through the awards. Students who hold the graduate certificate receive credit for their topics towards the graduate diploma or Master of Palliative Care in Aged Care. The program can be undertaken part-time for two to four semesters.

COURSE AIMS

This course aims to meet the professional development needs of practitioners involved in policy, planning or delivery of palliative care services to older persons in a range of aged care settings. It seeks to introduce students to the basic principles and skills involved in the provision of palliative care within a broader study of ageing. It aims to provide practitioners from backgrounds in either gerontology, aged care or palliative care with education in the specialty area of palliative care in aged care.

Specifically, the course aims:

to introduce the core concepts of death, dying, palliative care and applied gerontology and the implications of these concepts for professional practice;
to outline views of ageing, including the 'life-course perspective';
to introduce concepts of ageing and dying in a global context;
to model an interdisciplinary approach to addressing problem solving, assessment and management within professional practice;
to examine the legislative and ethical issues pertaining to the provision of palliative care in aged care settings;
to introduce the students to knowledge and skills required to assess and critique gerontological and palliative care research;
to provide opportunities for students to access and develop skills in continuing online learning and web-based research in relation to professional practice and continuing professional education.

COURSE RULE

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must normally hold an approved degree or equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution in an area related to palliative care or gerontology. The Faculty Board may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature.

PROGRAM OF STUDY [November, 2007]

To qualify for the Graduate Certificate a student must complete 18 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the program of study below.

Not all topics are necessarily available in a given year.

All topics are compulsory:

AGES8001

Introduction to Social Gerontology

3

AGES8002

Principles of Clinical Gerontology

3

AGES8003

Psychological Dimensions of Ageing

3

PALL8410

Palliative Care in Aged Care Settings

3

PALL8411

Palliative Clinical Management A

3

PALL8413

Communication at the End of Life A

3

Except with permission of the Faculty Board:

the course must be completed within six consecutive semesters;
no topic may be attempted more than twice.

The award of a grade of Fail (F) in 9 units or more, or the award of a grade of Fail (F) in the same topic on more than one occasion, may constitute prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress for the purposes of the University's Policy on Student Progress.