Optometry in Practice PG (10413.1)

Required texts

Bowling, B. Kanski's Clinical Ophthalmology : A Systematic Approach (8th Ed.). London: Elsevier, 2016.
This book is available for purchase at the School Locker online-shop and for loan at the library (including online).

Bagheri, N., Wajda, B., Calvo, C., Durrani, A., Friedberg, M., Rapuano, C., & Wills Eye Hospital. The Wills Eye Manual: Office and Emergency Room Diagnosis and Treatment of Eye Disease (7th Ed.). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer, 2016.
This book is available for loan at the library (including online).

Elliott, D. B. Clinical Procedures in Primary Eye Care (5th Ed.) Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2021.
This book is available for loan at the library (including online).

Bruce, A. S. and Loughnan, M. S. Anterior Eye Disease and Therapeutics (2nd Ed.). Butterworth-Heinemann, 2011.
This book is available for loan at the library (including online).

It is advised that you revise all suitable material from pre-requisite units of study in the Bachelor of Vision Science and the Master of Optometry, and any additional revision requested by your specific clinical site. Please see Canvas for required resources as they vary between clinical sites.

Compulsory and optional readings that are specified by the Unit Convener throughout the session will be made available on Canvas as citations.

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

Extensions

Students can apply for an extension to the submission due date for an assessment item due to extenuating, evidenced circumstances (specific details are found in the Assessment Procedures). An extension must be applied for before the due date. Documentary evidence (e.g. medical certificate) will be expected for an extension to be granted; however, this will not guarantee that the application will be successful. The Unit Convener or relevant Program Director/Course Convener will decide whether to grant an extension and the length of the extension. An Assignment Extension form is available from the Student Forms page.

Late submissions

Penalties on late submissions will be strictly enforced. More details can be found in the Assessment Procedures. To support the provision of timely feedback to students within the unit, late penalties will apply for summative assessment where late submission is permitted. Late submissions without an approved extension or reasonable adjustment will result in a penalty of a make reduction of 10% of the available maximum marks per assessment item per day (or part thereof) up to and including three calendar days. If a student submits more than 3 calendar days late without an approved extension or reasonable adjustment, the student will be allocated a mark of zero for that assessment, with no feedback provided.

Approval of extensions based on extenuating circumstances will be dependent upon the production of supporting documentation and at the discretion of the unit convener.

Special assessment requirements

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

• Attempt all assessment items
• Achieve a minimum grade of at least 50% in each of:

1. Assessment item 1 Compulsory Placement and Case Study (10%)
2. Assessment item 2 E-portfolio: Smartabase (100 cases – 4 per day) (25%), Friday Yarning/tutorial presentation (5%), Case studies (20%)
3. Assessment item 3 Work Integrated Learning Assignment: parts A, B, C, D (40%) 

• Complete Assessment item 4 Preparation for Placement (0%) hurdle
•  Achieve a final aggregate mark of 50% or higher.

The unit convener reserves the right to question students orally on any of their submitted work.

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. 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 patients 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.

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.

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.

Participation requirements

Participation in each placement site is 5 days per week for 5 weeks. Part time placements are not available. Full attendance is required (including full attendance for specialty placements) for accreditation and successful completion of the unit.

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 (Unit Convener) at UC. Absence from seminars and tutorials must be explained by submission of an 'Absence form' to the Unit Convener. 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.

Complying with UC Graduate attributes of professionalism is a requirement for students enrolled in this unit.

Failure to comply and demonstrate these attributes will result in your practice placement being cancelled.

Due to variable student engagement, it will be compulsory to turn on your camera during online seminars and tutorials. 

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.

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

Note: To calculate your unit fees see: How do I calculate my fees? Your unit convener may have listed textbooks for you to purchase via The School Locker.

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
• Optometry equipment related cost and equipment maintenance 
   

Compulsory placement can include regional placement within Australia.

• Eligible students may apply for Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Student Support Scheme for financial support.
• There are also subsidised placement accomodations for UC Health Students.

Further details will be provided on CANVAS.

Work placement, internships or practicums

This unit involves WIL projects.

Students must adhere to University Policy during WIL experiences, including the Student Conduct Rules 2018, the WIL Procedure Policy, Assessment Policy and Assessment Procedures University Policy Library. 

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. 

Contact your Unit Convener if you have any concerns with meeting the requirements of this unit.

Part time placements are not available. Full attendance is required for accreditation and successful completion of the unit.

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.

The unit consists of work integrated learning or clinical placement over a minimum 5-week period. Individual placement timetables will be provided to each student by the Unit Convener. Placement dates and workshops will be advertised on the Canvas page and via student email. Please make sure you are check Canvas and your student email regularly.

This work integrated learning is face to face, in a range of clinical and health care sites in the ACT region and other metropolitan and/or regional Australian cities. The placements are always full time, and students must be prepared for accommodation away from home. Travel and accommodation are the responsibility of students. Information, handbooks and other relevant material will be available via Canvas. You are advised to log in daily as it will contain important message postings for students and resources. Failure to check regularly may result in students being unaware of  important information that may relate to their current or future clinical placements. Clinical placement may occur during non-standard teaching periods in Year 2 of the Master of Optometry degree. Dates for placements will be available on Canvas. These dates may affect academic and holiday breaks.
All clinical placements will occur during normal working hours of the various clinical facilities and may include after hours and weekend work. Generally, placements will  run from 9.00am-5:00pm Monday  to Friday.

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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