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 including Smarterbase entries 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:

• This is a non-standard unit, therefore it will not follow semester timetable and may begin sooner and extend beyond the conventional 14 week semester schedule
• 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.

Meeting external accreditation requirements across three placement units in the Master of Optometry course, including this unit.

You will be completing patient consultations during placements to meet external accreditation requirements in the units Optometry Residency PG (10412), Community Optometry PG (10331) and Assessment of Optometric Competence (10330). 

All (both formative and summative) consultations you see over these three units will count towards your requirements. You are required to see approximately 50% of your quota within the Optometry Residency unit, and 50% of your quota within the units Assessment of Optometric Competence and Community Optometry. At least 50% of your consultations must occur during internal placements at the UC Health Hub Eye clinic. 

In total, students must meet quotas across a range of patient categories. Specifically, students are required to independently manage (under supervision):

• At least 80 primary care consultations. Within those 80 consultations, there must be at least 60 consultations which are full and comprehensive consultations
• At least 15 contact lens consultations (a mixture of fits, deliveries and after care visits)
• At least 4 paediatric consultations
• At least 1 myopia management consultation
• At least 2 binocular vision consultations (at least one assessment, diagnosis and management, and at least one in-office vision training consultation)
• At least 4 geriatric consultations
• At least 1 low vision assessment (including prescribing and trialling of low vision aids)
• At least 5 ocular therapeutic consultations, with at least 2 of those consultations including prescription of Schedule 4 medication.
• At least 2 glaucoma consultations
• At least 4 medical retina consultations
• At least 3 anterior eye consultations
• At least 30 dispensing consultations

Students must receive a Satisfactory mark on at least 80% of their total consultations within each patient category across the three units and as listed above to pass that category. Satisfying OCANZ quota requirements is a hurdle for the unit Assessment of Optometric Competence.

While those are the minimal requirements for independent consultations, units may have additional requirements for shared consultations, according to specific guidelines that will be provided on CANVAS. This is to ensure that students benefit as a group in participating in the care of rarer patients e.g. during review clinics or specialty clinics. This quota will be monitored and recorded in the individual units.

The marking scheme rubric for your performance on consultations conducted while on placement in the individual units is provided in the related unit outlines. During the unit Assessment of Optometric Competence, quota from the 3 units will be considered as a whole to determine if students have met the minimal quota. Students who are marked unsatisfactory on more than 20% of a patient category are required to return to clinic and see additional patients until they are no longer marked unsatisfactory on more than 20% of a patient category. Meeting the minimal quota for independent and shared consultations satisfactorily is a hurdle requirement for Assessment of Optometric Competence.

Supplementary assessment

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

Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.

Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.

UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).

UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.

Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.

Learner engagement

Students are required to cooperate in (laboratory classes, workshops or remediation sessions) where students may be asked to practice optometry skills on each other, so each student is the patient and practitioner in turn and in approximately equal duration. By both conducting the clinical procedures and participating in the tests, you will gain an insight and empathy into the issues associated with testing visual function, both from the point of view of both an optometrist and patient. 

As stated earlier, this course aims to develop your professional and communication skills in preparation for your journey towards being a health professional. During classes and placements, you will be required to demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict. Any action or omission that affects the safety of your patient or peers or is deemed disrespectful to your patients, fellow students or the teaching staff can result in failure of a patient assessment task regardless of the aggregate mark for the assessment. Virtual classes have additional requirements where you will further develop communication skills in the virtual environment. While in a virtual environment, students are required to present themselves and communicate with peers, staff and invited speakers in a professional way. Hence the default for all virtual classes is for all student web cameras to be turned on during virtual classes. Instructors may require students to interact either verbally, through polls or the shared chat function. Students who do not participate in this way will be marked as absent for the class. Students who need guidance on expected behaviors and participation may consult with the unit convenor and/or Study Skills. Instructors may request that cameras are turned off under certain circumstances.

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 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.

Students are required to wear full student clinic uniform at all times during classes, workshops, during clinics and when on stand-by for the clinic while in the UC Health Hub or during field trips organised by the unit convenor or clinical educators, as students will be representing the UC Eye Clinic. Students are required to be present during the clinic even when not specifically scheduled for clinics or optical dispensing as they will be receiving feedback, remediation, practicing skills or improving product knowledge. Students who are on stand-by must be prepared to assist in the UC Eye Clinic as required depending on patient demand. 

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

This is a non-standard unit, therefore it will not follow semester timetable and may begin sooner and extend beyond the conventional semester schedule

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, tutorials 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.

Meeting external accreditation requirements across three placement units in the Master of Optometry course, including this unit.

You will be completing patient consultations during placements to meet external accreditation requirements in the units Optometry Residency PG (10412), Community Optometry PG (10331) and Assessment of Optometric Competence (10330). 

All (both formative and summative) consultations you see over these three units will count towards your requirements. You are required to see approximately 50% of your quota within the Optometry Residency unit, and 50% of your quota within the units Assessment of Optometric Competence and Community Optometry. At least 50% of your consultations must occur during internal placements at the UC Health Hub Eye clinic. 

In total, students must meet quotas across a range of patient categories. Specifically, students are required to independently manage (under supervision):

• At least 80 primary care consultations. Within those 80 consultations, there must be at least 60 consultations which are full and comprehensive consultations
• At least 15 contact lens consultations (a mixture of fits, deliveries and after care visits)
• At least 4 paediatric consultations
• At least 1 myopia management consultation
• At least 2 binocular vision consultations (at least one assessment, diagnosis and management, and at least one in-office vision training consultation)
• At least 4 geriatric consultations
• At least 1 low vision assessment (including prescribing and trialling of low vision aids)
• At least 5 ocular therapeutic consultations, with at least 2 of those consultations including prescription of Schedule 4 medication.
• At least 2 glaucoma consultations
• At least 4 medical retina consultations
• At least 3 anterior eye consultations
• At least 30 dispensing consultations

Students must receive a Satisfactory mark on at least 80% of their total consultations within each patient category across the three units and as listed above to pass that category. Satisfying OCANZ quota requirements is a hurdle for the unit Assessment of Optometric Competence.

While those are the minimal requirements for independent consultations, units may have additional requirements for shared consultations, according to specific guidelines that will be provided on CANVAS. This is to ensure that students benefit as a group in participating in the care of rarer patients e.g. during review clinics or specialty clinics. This quota will be monitored and recorded in the individual units.

The marking scheme rubric for your performance on consultations conducted while on placement in the individual units is provided in the related unit outlines. During the unit Assessment of Optometric Competence, quota from the 3 units will be considered as a whole to determine if students have met the minimal quota. Students who are marked unsatisfactory on more than 20% of a patient category are required to return to clinic and see additional patients until they are no longer marked unsatisfactory on more than 20% of a patient category. Meeting the minimal quota for independent and shared consultations satisfactorily is a hurdle requirement for Assessment of Optometric Competence.

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

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