ObjectivesThe 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.Learning outcomesAt the completion of this course, students will have: * further developed their knowledge and skills in palliative care theory and practice; * critically reflected on their own practice; * applied theory to practice; * critically appraised theory, research and professional literature; * written a piece of independent intellectual work which adds to existing knowledge; and * submitted for publication within the professional palliative care literature.
Entry requirementsApplicants 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 GerontologyHowever, 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.
Academic titleMaster of Palliative Care in Aged Care
Course descriptionThe 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.
PROGRAM OF STUDY [November, 2008]
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
Suffering, Futility and Ethics and Rehabilitation in Palliative Care
6
PALL8416
Palliative Care for Indigenous Populations
6
PALL8418
Understanding Cancer
3
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
PALL8405
Practicum
6
PALL8420
Extended Practicum
3/6
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
Suffering, Futility and Ethics and Rehabilitation in Palliative Care
6
PALL8416
Palliative Care for Indigenous Populations
6
PALL8418
Understanding Cancer
3
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
PALL8417
Research Project
18
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
PALL9000
Thesis
36
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.