Master of Palliative Care in Aged Care

The Master of Palliative Care in Aged Care is a 54-unit program comprising of 2 streams of study. Stream A comprises of 54 units of coursework, and Stream B comprises of 36 units of coursework and an 18-unit project. This course is offered by the Faculty of Health Sciences.
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.

• Admission requirements
• Course aims
• Learning outcomes
• Program of study
  
  

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&##39; 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.

Course aims

The course aims to deepen and extend students&##39; knowledge and skills that are required for palliative care in aged care in a global context 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. 

Learning outcomes

At the completion of this course, students should be able to:

• articulate the core course concepts of contemporary gerontology and palliative care (eg. healthy ageing and dying, life-course, generativity, loss and grief, interdisciplinary practice, ageist stereotyping)
• apply theory to practice through critical reflection on their own practice in the light of current best evidence
• write a piece of independent intellectual work which adds to existing knowledge in palliative care in aged care
• have developed skills to publish within the peer-reviewed literature
• apply skills for life-long learning (including critical appraisal of evolving evidence in literature, self-awareness of learning needs and developing strategies for further learning) in palliative care in aged care
  

Program of study

The Master of Palliative Care in Aged Care provides 2 pathways:

• Stream A - coursework and practicum, or
• Stream B - coursework and research project

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:

• 31.5 units of core topics
• 13.5 units of elective topics; and
• 9 units of research methods topics.

Stream B - All students must complete:

• 36 units of core topics; plus
• 9 units of elective topics; and
• 9 units of research methods topics.

Stream A - Coursework & Practicum - Core Year 1 & 2 topics

31.5 units comprising:

 AGES8020  Introduction to Social Gerontology  (4.5 units)
 PALL8430  Communication at the End of Life A  (4.5 units)
 PALL8431  Communication at the End of Life B  (4.5 units)
 PALL8432  Understanding Literature for Evidence-Based Practice  (4.5 units)
 PALL8436  Palliative Care in Aged Care Settings  (4.5 units)
 PALL8443  Practicum  (9 units)

plus 9 units of research methods topics. 

plus 13.5 units of elective topics from the list below.

Stream B - Coursework & Research Project - Core Year 1 & 2 topics

36 units comprising:

 AGES8020  Introduction to Social Gerontology  (4.5 units)
 PALL8417  Research Project  (18 units)
 PALL8430  Communication at the End of Life A  (4.5 units)
 PALL8432  Understanding Literature for Evidence-Based Practice  (4.5 units)
 PALL8436  Palliative Care in Aged Care Settings  (4.5 units)

plus 9 units of research methods topics.

plus 9 units of elective topics from the list below.

Stream A & B - Elective topics

 AGES8021  Introduction to Clinical Gerontology  (4.5 units)
 AGES8022  Psychological Dimensions of Ageing  (4.5 units)
 AGES8023  Healthy Ageing (Mental Health)  (4.5 units)
 AGES8024  Medication and Ageing  (4.5 units)
 AGES8025  Best Practice in Dementia Care  (4.5 units)
 PALL8431  Communication at the End of Life B  (4.5 units) Stream B students only
 PALL8434  Oncology for Palliative Care  (4.5 units)
 PALL8435  Issues in Care of the Spirit in Palliative Care  (4.5 units)
 PALL8437  Palliative Clinical Management A  (4.5 units)
 PALL8438  Palliative Clinical Management B  (4.5 units)
 PALL8439  Suffering, Futility and Ethics in Palliative Care  (4.5 units)
 PALL8440  Palliative Care for Indigenous Populations  (4.5 units)
 PALL8441  Understanding Cancer  (4.5 units)
 PPHR9711  Ageing of Populations - Causes and Consequences  (4.5 units)

Stream A & B - Research Methods topics

Students are requested to consult with their course coordinator to select topics appropriate to their area of research interest. Available topics include:

 MMED8903  Clinical Research Methods  (4.5 units)
 MMED8904  Health Sciences Research Methods  (4.5 units)
 PHCA8502  Qualitative Research Methods  (9 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 9 units or more may constitute prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress for the purpose of the University&##39;s Policy on Student Progress.