Optometry Residency PG (10412.1)

Required texts

There is no prescribed textbook for this Unit of study. It is advised that you revise all suitable material from pre-requisite units of study and any additional revision requested by your specific clinical site. In the subsequent unit, Assessment of Optometric Competency (AOC) your theoretical knowledge gained from the Bachelor of Vision Science and Master's of Optometry units may be potentially be assessed and it is expected knowledge. Therefore you should be continually revising all materials taught in preparation for AOC. Please see Canvas for required resources as they vary between clinical sites.

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

Late submission of assignments without an approved extension will result in a penalty of 5% reduced marks from the total available, per calendar day (includes weekends, public holidays, even when the University is closed ) late. For an example: an essay awarded 60% (60/100) submitted 2 days late will receive a mark adjustment of 5% per day; therefore, the adjusted maximum mark for that item will be 50% (50/100). An assignment submitted over 7 days late will not be accepted and will receive a mark of zero. For clarification, one (1) minute past the specified due date and time is considered a late submission. Penalties on late submissions will be strictly enforced.  More details can be found in the Assessment Procedures.

Your application will not be processed without the required information, your signature and relevant supporting documentation.

Special assessment requirements

Criteria for passing this unit

The final mark for this unit will be calculated by an accumulation of marks from each assessment item. To achieve a passing grade or higher in this unit, students must:

• Attempt all assessment items
• Achieve a final aggregate (overall) mark of 50% or higher
• Attend the full 16 weeks clinical placement and meet at least half the required total number of patients as an independent patient manager required by OCANZ. The placement period for this unit may be extended for this purpose.
• Complete the e-portfolio submission by keeping a record of your clinical placement by completing the clinical experience log on smartabase and be entered within the last 5 mins of seeing each patient. Failing to complete clinical logs immediately following patients will result in a time penalty in accordance with Assignment extension policy at UC. For example, a delay in submission will result in a penalty of 5% reduced marks from the total available, per calendar day until 7 days have expired at which time no marks will be awarded.
• Complete the e-portfolio submission. The assignment must be completed satisfactorily for you to pass the clinical placement. In the case of an inadequate or incomplete e- portfolio you will fail the placement and need to repeat the unit.
• During the internal placement period the first 10 patient assessments (irrespective of assessment category) will be formative assessment only, followed by summative assessment for all subsequent assessments. Students that have not been assessed as competent at a skill for 20% of patients during their summative period yet have an overall mark of at least 50%, those students will be required to do at least an additional 3 patient assessments until they are competent at the skill levels identified as weak after the summative period.
• Competency is defined as being competent for at least 3 additional patients. Marks are with-held for that duration. These additional patients do not contribute to the mark for ePortfolio Part A
• The e-portfolio grade can be withheld until the appropriate competency/safety level is reached - this is a hurdle that needs to be passed. Any extra patients will be seen within the UC Eye Clinic in non-standard teaching periods.
• Any action or omission that results in patient harm can result in failure of an assessment task, including patient assessment, regardless of the aggregate mark.

The Unit Convener reserves the right to question students orally on any of their submitted work.

Supplementary assessment

This unit is not in the final semester of the course, and a supplementary assessment is not available.

Academic integrity

Students have a responsibility to uphold University standards on ethical scholarship. Good scholarship involves building on the work of others and use of others' work must be acknowledged with proper attribution made. Cheating, plagiarism, and falsification of data are dishonest practices that contravene academic values. Refer to the University's Student Charter for more information.

To enhance understanding of academic integrity, all students are expected to complete the Academic Integrity Module (AIM) at least once during their course of study. You can access this module within UCLearn (Canvas) through the 'Academic Integrity and Avoiding Plagiarism' link in the Study Help site.

Use of Text-Matching Software

The University of Canberra uses text-matching software to help students and staff reduce plagiarism and improve understanding of academic integrity. The software matches submitted text in student assignments against material from various sources: the internet, published books and journals, and previously submitted student texts.

Learner engagement

The primary learning activity is the examination of patients (in person and by observation) in the UC Eye Clinic setting. The development of diagnostic and management skills in relation to those patients will be developed utilizing the following assessment modalities:

• Case presentations – based on own patients seen in the clinic
• Weekly SOAPE assignments – based on one's peers' patients seen in the clinic
• E-Portfolio – marked individual patient assessments with individualized case feedback
• Reflection – critiquing of own knowledge journey in relation to the unit learning outcome

In order to get the most out of your studies, it is strongly recommended that you plan your time commitments, actively engage in class discussions (online or face-to-face) and work with your peers as part of your study. The amount of time you will need to spend on study in this unit will depend on a number of factors including your prior knowledge, learning skill level and learning style. Nevertheless, in planning your time commitments you should note that for a 3 credit point unit the total notional workload over the semester or term is assumed to be 150 hours. The total workload for units of different credit point value should vary proportionally. For example, for a 6 credit point unit the total notional workload over a semester or term is assumed to be 300 hours. In the absence of patients you should practice skills as they will be required to demonstrate competencies all skills successfully in a subsequent unit called Assessment of Optometric Competency.

Inclusion and engagement

It is strongly recommended that students who need assistance in undertaking the unit because of disability or an ongoing health condition register with the Inclusion and Engagement Office as soon as possible so that reasonable adjustment arrangements can be made. Impairments that impacts a students ability to carry out ocular assessments are required to be disclosed to the unit convenor and clinical educators. Alternative examination techniques and strategies will be taught to students who require it, to ensure that they can appropriately examine patients and that patient safety is not compromised.

Participation requirements

Participation in each placement is approximately 5 days per week for 16 weeks or equivalent but may be extended to meet the requisite number of patients required for OCANZ accreditation or to ensure ability to complete each skill that is assessed in ePortfolio Part A  are met. Part time placements may be available.

Placements may be outside the ACT and around Australia.

It is expected that students unable to fulfil these participation requirements will inform the Unit Convener as soon as practical by email.

Absence from external placement activities must be reported to the clinical educator on site and clinical coordinator at UC. Failure to adhere to these requirements may result in failure of the associated assessment piece. Consideration will be given for illness, however evidence such as a medical certificate will be required.

Students are required to cooperate in workshops or remediation sessions where students may be asked to practice optometry skills on each other so each student is in turn and in approximately equal duration and patient and practitioner.

Required IT skills

The use of UCLearn Canvas, library searching skills, word and data processing (Microsoft Office Suite) and electronic presentation skills are necessary for this unit.

In-unit costs

Costs associated with a clinical placement include but are not limited to:

• Travel to practical and work integrated learning (clinical placement) locations
• Accommodation costs at interstate placements
• Uniform related costs and uniform maintenance

Work placement, internships or practicums

This unit involves WIL projects.

Students must adhere to University Policy during WIL experiences, in cluding the University-of-Canberra-Student-Conduct-Rules-2018-.pdf , the WIL Procedure Policy, Assessment Policy and Assessment Procedures University Policy Library (canberra.edu.au). 

This unit has pre-placement requirements (e.g. Working with Vulnerable Poeple registrations, immunisations, recording of relevant details in InPlace etc), which must be completed prior to your placement. 

Additional information

Pursuant to the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009, optometry practitioners (registered optometrists) and education providers have an obligation to report ‘notifiable conduct', to the Optometry Board of Australia in order to prevent the public being placed at risk of harm.

Education providers are also required, under s.143 of the National Law, to make mandatory notifications in relation to students, if the provider reasonably believes:

1. a student enrolled with the provider has an impairment that, in the course of the student undertaking clinical training, may place the public at substantial risk of harm; or

2. a student for whom the provider has arranged clinical training has an impairment that, in the course of the student undertaking the clinical training, may place the public at substantial risk of harm.

Practitioners are required to make a mandatory notification in relation to a student if the practitioner reasonably believes that a student has an impairment that, in the course of the student undertaking clinical training, may place the public at substantial risk of harm.

All concerns raised within the Discipline of Optometry or by clinical preceptors will be reviewed by the Head of Discipline and the Course Convener before any reporting action is taken.

These professional obligations are taken seriously by staff and the University. Students should be aware of their obligations under student registration.

For further information, please refer to: https://www.optometryboard.gov.au/policies-codes- guidelines/guidelines-for-mandatory-notifications.aspx

• Semester 1, 2023, On-Campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (215747)
• Semester 2, 2022, On-Campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (209544)
• Semester 2, 2021, On-Campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (209226)