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

The course articulates with 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

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:

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' 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 teaching 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:

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:

  • 40.5 units of core topics
  • 13.5 units of option topics

Stream B - All students must complete:

  • 45 units of core topics
  • 9 units of option topics

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

40.5 units comprising:

 AGES8020  Introduction to Social Gerontology  (4.5 units)
 AGES8026 Design and Ethics in Research with Vulnerable Populations (4.5 units)
 MMED8904 Health Sciences Research Methods (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 13.5 units of option topics selected 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)
 AGES8026 Design and Ethics in Research with Vulnerable Populations (4.5 units)
 MMED8904 Health Sciences Research Methods (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 option topics from the list below.

Stream A & B - Option 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)
 AGES8028  Leadership to Support Person-centred 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)

* Should the student’s research project require their understanding and use of a research methodology not covered by MMED8904, the student may select an alternative topic with the approval of their Course Coordinator

Except with permission of the Faculty Board the program must be completed full-time within four 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's Policy on Student Progress.