Postgraduate: Course rule and topic information
Master of Palliative Care in Aged Care
(MPallCAged Care)
Program of Study
INTRODUCTION
The Master of Palliative Care in Aged Care is a 54-unit program comprising of 3 streams of study. Stream A comprises of 54 units of coursework, Stream B comprises of 36 units of coursework and an 18-unit project and Stream C comprises 18 units of course work and a 36-unit thesis. This course is offered by the Faculty of Health Sciences on a Commonwealth Supported basis.
The course articulates with the Graduate Certificate in Palliative Care in Aged Care and the Graduate Diploma in Palliative Care in Aged Care. The sequentially developed topics allow progression through the awards. Students who hold a graduate certificate or graduate diploma receive credit for topics already taken.
COURSE AIMS
The course aims to deepen and extend the knowledge and skills that are required and to provide an opportunity for students to reflect critically on their practice in the light of current evidence and of the experience of other students and faculty. This broad aim is achieved through the following:
- catering primarily for professionals, the course provides the opportunity to build a knowledge base to improve their care for elderly people living with a life limiting illness;
- providing a ladder of awards that have exit and entrance points that reflect the different educational needs of individuals working, or wishing to work in palliative care or aged care;
- enabling practitioners in the area to select a series of topics built on core material, that will assist them to address particular needs within their practice and employment;
- bringing together people from diverse backgrounds and disciplines to work together in appraisal, assessment and problem-solving required of a interdisciplinary/multi-professional team in this area;
- utilising a range of lecturers and discipline backgrounds, to challenge students to be more creative in their practice;
- providing opportunities for students to enhance their practice in management, teaching and research together with their clinical work;
- developing independent critical thinkers who will guide the practice of palliative aged care into the next stage of its development
- preparing graduates who will be able to advance knowledge and practice research in the area of palliative care in aged care.
COURSE RULE
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must normally hold an approved degree or an equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution and have not less than two years' work experience in palliative care or aged care or in a related field or hold a 4-year degree or 3-year degree plus honours.
Or one of the following;
- Graduate Certificate in Palliative Care in Aged Care
- Graduate Certificate in Health (Palliative Care)
- Graduate Certificate in Applied Gerontology
- Graduate Diploma in Palliative Care in Aged Care
- Graduate Diploma in Palliative Care
- Graduate Diploma in Applied Gerontology
However, the Faculty Board may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature.
Credit may be given, on application, for comparable prior studies.
PROGRAM OF STUDY
[November, 2007]
The Master of Palliative Care in Aged Care provides 3 pathways:
- Stream A - coursework and practicum
- Stream B - coursework and research project, or
- Stream C - thesis
The research methods topic component of each stream increases incrementally: 6 units in Stream A; 12 units in Stream B; and 18 units in Stream C.
To qualify for the Master of Palliative Care in Aged Care, a student must complete 54 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the program of study below.
STREAM A
All students must complete:
- 18 units of core topics
- 24-30 units of electives; and
- 6, 9 or 12 units of Practicum
CORE TOPICS
Students must study all of the following core topics:
|
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 |
plus 6 units from the following topics:
|
AGES8005 |
Research and Evaluation in Ageing Studies |
3 |
|
AGES8006 |
Demography and Epidemiology of Ageing |
3 |
|
MMED8901 |
Clinical Research Methods |
6 |
|
PHCA8005 |
Designing Questionnaires and Surveys |
6 |
|
PHCA8006 |
Qualititative Research |
6 |
|
PHCA8007 |
Research in Primary Health Care: Theory and Practice |
6 |
or other appropriate research topic approved by course coordinator
ELECTIVES
18-24 units of electives from the following, depending on size of Practicum:
|
AGES8005 |
Research and Evaluation in Ageing Studies |
3 |
|
AGES8006 |
Demography and Epidemiology of Ageing |
3 |
|
AGES8010 |
Mental Health and the Older Person |
3 |
|
AGES8011 |
Administration and Management of Aged Care Services A |
3 |
|
AGES8013 |
Medication and Ageing |
3 |
|
AGES8014 |
Managing Dementia-Related Behaviours |
3 |
|
AGES8016 |
Administration and Management of Aged Care Services B |
3 |
|
MMED8901 |
Clinical Research Methods |
6 |
|
NURS9704 |
Politics, Problems and Pressures in Aged Care |
3 |
|
PALL8407 |
Oncology for Palliative Care |
6 |
|
PALL8409 |
Spiritual and Cultural Aspects of Palliative Care |
6 |
|
PALL8412 |
Palliative Clinical Management B |
3 |
|
PALL8414 |
Communication at the End of Life B |
3 |
|
PALL8415 |
Advanced Palliative Clinical Management |
6 |
|
PALL8416 |
Palliative Care for Indigenous Populations |
6 |
|
PHCA8005 |
Designing Questionnaires and Surveys |
6 |
|
PHCA8006 |
Qualitative Research |
6 |
|
PHCA8007 |
Research in Primary Health care: Theory and Practice |
6 |
|
REHB8006 |
Rehabilitation of Degenerative Neuro Disorders |
6 |
or other elective topics from other departments, faculties or universities in related fields (PHCA8007 and MMED8901 are not both to be undertaken as they cover comparable content).
Practicum: 6, 9 or 12 units
STREAM B
All students must complete:
- 30 units of core topics; plus
- 6 units of electives; and
- 18 units PALL8417 Research Project
CORE TOPICS
Students must study all of the following core topics:
|
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 |
plus 12 units from the following topics:
|
AGES8005 |
Research and Evaluation in Ageing Studies |
3 |
AGES8006 |
Demography and Epidemiology of Ageing |
3 |
|
MMED8901 |
Clinical Research Methods |
6 |
|
PHCA8005 |
Designing Questionnaires and Surveys |
6 |
|
PHCA8006 |
Qualitative Research |
6 |
|
PHCA8007 |
Research in Primary Health Care: Theory and Practice |
6 |
or other elective topics from other departments, faculties or universities in related fields (PHCA8007 and MMED8901 are not both to be undertaken as they cover comparable content).
ELECTIVE TOPICS
6 units from the following topics:
|
AGES8010 |
Mental Health and the Older Person |
3 |
|
AGES8011 |
Administration and Management of Aged Care Services A |
3 |
|
AGES8013 |
Medication and Ageing |
3 |
|
AGES8014 |
Managing Dementia-Related Behaviours |
3 |
|
AGES8016 |
Administration and Management of Aged Care Services B |
3 |
|
MMED8901 |
Clinical Research Methods |
6 |
|
NURS9704 |
Politics, Problems and Pressures in Aged Care |
3 |
|
PALL8407 |
Oncology for Palliative Care |
6 |
|
PALL8409 |
Spiritual and Cultural Aspects of Palliative Care |
6 |
|
PALL8412 |
Palliative Clinical Management B |
3 |
|
PALL8414 |
Communication at the End of Life B |
3 |
|
PALL8415 |
Advanced Palliative Clinical Management |
6 |
|
PALL8416 |
Palliative Care for Indigenous Populations |
6 |
|
PHCA8005 |
Designing Questionnaires and Surveys |
6 |
|
PHCA8006 |
Qualitative Research |
6 |
|
PHCA8007 |
Research in Primary Health Care: Theory and Practice |
6 |
|
REHB8006 |
Rehabilitation of Degenerative Neuro Disorders |
6 |
or other elective topics from other departments, faculties or universities in related fields (PHCA8007 and MMED8901 are not both to be undertaken as they cover comparable content).
Research Project
STREAM C
All students must complete 18 units of research method topics, then a 36-unit thesis PALL9000.
Research Method Topics
18 units from the following topics:
|
AGES8005 |
Research and Evaluation in Ageing Studies |
3 |
|
AGES8006 |
Demography and Epidemiology of Ageing |
3 |
|
MMED8901 |
Clinical Research Methods |
6 |
|
PHCA8005 |
Designing Questionnaires and Surveys |
6 |
|
PHCA8006 |
Qualititative Research |
6 |
|
PHCA8007 |
Research in Primary Health Care: Theory and Practice |
6 |
or other appropriate research topic approved by course coordinator (PHCA8007 and MMED8901 are not both to be undertaken as they cover comparable content).
Thesis: 36 units
Except with permission of the Faculty Board the program must be completed full-time within three consecutive semesters or part-time within ten consecutive semesters.
A lesser period may be set for students granted credit for previous studies.
The award of a grade of Fail (F) in 12 units or more may constitute prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress for the purpose of the University's Policy on Student Progress.
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