The General Practice and Community specialisation is offered by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences and is completed as part of the Master of Nursing (Coursework and Specialisation). 

This is to be read in conjunction with the course rule for the Master of Nursing (Coursework and Specialisation).

Admission requirements

Applicants must normally hold an approved degree or equivalent qualification and must be registered nurses.

However, the Board may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature.

In addition, applicants must provide a supporting statement from their employer stating their
willingness to facilitate the extended clinical practice components of the course within their workplace and/or provide evidence that an affiliated health agency will facilitate the clinical practice in a supernumerary capacity.

This specialisation involves a Professional Experience Placement (PEP).  Please check additional requirements on the School of Nursing & Midwifery PEP web pages.

Specialisation aims

The specialisation aims to

  • facilitate development of specialised knowledge, skills and attributes for application in General Practice and Community nursing environments
  • extend student knowledge in research for practice development

Learning outcomes 

In addition to the Learning Outcomes of the Master of Nursing (Coursework and Specialisation), on completion of this course, students in the General Practice and Community specialisation will be able to:

  • critique evidence to provide effective clinical nursing services in general practice and community nursing settings within a Primary Health Care framework
  • apply the principles of health promotion and education to care for individuals, their carers and the wider community
  • demonstrate knowledge and skills required to care for individuals and groups in general practice and community settings
  • coordinate general practice and community nursing services
  • work effectively as a leader and/or as a member of a primary health care team
  • critically analyse socio-political contexts that shape care of individuals and groups in general practice and community nursing environments

Program of study

Students choosing this specialisation undertake an 18 unit specialisation, 27 units of coursework and 9 units of option topics. 

To qualify for the Master of Nursing (Coursework and Specialisation) with a General Practice and Community specialisation, a student must complete 54 units with a grade of Pass or NGP or better in each topic, according to the program of study set out below.

Except with permission of the Faculty Board:

  • no topic may be attempted more than twice;
  • a student may not include a topic which repeats work previously undertaken;

The award of a grade of Fail (F) in the same topic on more than one occasion or in 9 units or more, or failure to complete the course within eight consecutive semesters may constitute prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress for the purpose of the University''s Policy on Student Progress.

Not all elective topics will be available in any given year or semester.

Specialisation - General Practice and Community - Core topics

13.5 units comprising:

NURS8720  Primary Health Care Constructs and Contexts (4.5 units)
NURS8721  Community and Primary Health Care Nursing (4.5 units)
NURS8722  Clinical Care in Community Nursing (PEP) (4.5 units)

4.5 units selected from:

MHSC8111  Managing Chronic Conditions – Self-Management Support Approaches (4.5 units)
MHSC8112  Perspectives on Chronic Diseases Management (4.5 units)
MHSC8114  The Persons’ Experiences of Self-Management (4.5 units)

Core - Coursework topics

plus 27 units comprising:

NURS9123  Epidemiology and Population Studies for Health Care Practice (4.5 units)
NURS9124  Advanced Thinking, Communicating and Problem Solving for Health Professionals (4.5 units)
NURS9126  Leadership in Health Studies  (4.5 units)
NURS9219  Introduction to Research (4.5 units)
NURS9222  Capstone: Advancing Research Knowledge to Inform Healthcare Practice (9 unit)

Option - Year 1 & 2 topics

plus 9 units selected from:

NURS9708  Social Context of Health and Ageing (4.5 units)
NURS8730  Diabetes Management (4.5 units)
NURS8733  Psychosocial Aspects of Diabetes Management (4.5 units)
NURS9710  The Three Ds -Dementia, Delirium and Depression (4.5 units)
NURS8821  Health Maintenance for Infants, Children and Young People (4.5 units)
NURS8824  Introduction to Working with Infants, Children and Families (4.5 units)

In consultation with the Course Coordinator, students may select as their option topic(s) other postgraduate topics offered by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science, excluding Professional Experience Placement (PEP) topics.