Dispensary Practice (11127.1)

Required texts

Required texts: (these are also required for the co-requisite Unit):

Rossi S, editor. Australian Medicines Handbook. Current edition. Adelaide: Australian Medicines Handbook Pty Ltd. It is not essential to have a hard copy of this book for your second year studies as you will have access via the UC Library. Available:

• online via the University of Canberra Library Pharmacy Subject Guide at URL:  https://canberra.libguides.com/health/pharmacy
• from the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia bookshop at URL: https://shop.psa.org.au/
• via the CaSPA representative (this is generally the cheapest option if you wish to purchase a hard copy of the text)
• at the UC Library;

Sansom LN, ed. Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary (APF). Current edition. Canberra: Pharmaceutical Society of Australia. Available:

• from the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia bookshop at URL: https://shop.psa.org.au/ You can purchase this at a reduced price after taking out free student membership of the PSA
• at the UC Library; 

Recommended texts: (these are also recommended for the co-requisite Unit):

Winfield AJ, Edafiogho I. 2005. Calculations for Pharmaceutical Practice. Elsevier Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh. Available at the UC Library.

Rutter P, Newby D. Community Pharmacy: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment. Current ed. Australian and New Zealand. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone; 334p. ISBN: 9780729540797. Available at the UC Library 

Aulton ME, editor. Aulton's Pharmaceutics: the design and manufacture of medicines, Current ed. Elsevier Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh. Available at the UC Library

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

It is a students' responsibility to be familiar with the electronic submission process (e.g., the use of UCLearn and Turnitin). Students are reminded to ensure they plan well enabling adequate time to submit assessments prior to the deadline, in order to avoid a mark adjustment. Be aware that even one minute past the deadline will attract a late penalty.

Extensions to assignments, placements, deferred intra-semester tests and examinations 

Students are only permitted one extension per assignment and one deferral per intra-semester test/examination/placement (on the grounds of illness or other special circumstances as per UC Assessment Procedures). Students are NOT PERMITTED to defer an already deferred intra-semester test, exam or placement. A request for extensions / deferral must be on the Assessment Extension Form with relevant documentation and must be lodged with the Unit Convener as soon as possible and no later than 3 business days from the due date. Students should note that deferral of exams held in the Final Assessment Period (which are centrally timetabled) follow a different process and are assessed by the examinations office.

Students must make themselves available for deferred assessments and placements which will be scheduled by the unit convener as per UC Assessment Procedures. For placements, please refer to the unit's Canvas site for further details and requirements. Any student unable to undertake the deferred intra-semester test, exam, assignment or placement will receive a mark of zero or fail grade for that assessment task.

Special assessment requirements

You are required to pass the following piece(s) of assessment (AND attain a mark of 50% overall) to pass this Unit.

• Students must complete the compounding assessment
• Students must pass the dispensing and problem solving assessment; the pass mark for this assessment is 50%
• Students must undertake the community pharmacy placement

Should you fail to pass the nominated assessment items, you will fail the Unit. 

Supplementary Academic Integrity Information

Contract Cheating

Contract cheating (academic outsourcing / ghost-writing) is a form of academic misconduct in which students submit written or creative work which has been drafted or produced by someone else and claim authorship for it. It includes (but is not limited to) using a third party, offering their services for commercial or other benefits, to complete (either partially or fully) an assignment or other assessment items on behalf of the student.

You are at risk of contract cheating if you ask someone to:

• complete an assignment for you
• substantially edit your assignment
• do your university work for you, with or without compensation 
• check test or quiz answers 
• sit a test or quiz for you 
• provide someone with your UC login details

You may also be at risk of contract cheating if you provide information to people or organisations outside UC, such as:

• assignment questions and briefs
• lecture notes
• marking rubrics and marking guides 

Students should note that sharing their assignments (current or previously submitted assignments) may result in referral to the Associate Dean of Education for investigation. 

UC considers contract cheating serious misconduct which may attract suspension or exclusion from the university. Furthermore, we as your education provider, have mandatory reporting responsibilities under National Law. We are required to notify the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA) if we believe that a registered health practitioner (including those with student registration) has behaved in a way that constitutes notifiable conduct including signature departure from accepted professional standards. Contract cheating may also result in UC submitting a mandatory notification to AHPRA. 

You can learn more about contract cheating in the Academic Integrity Module - which is a compulsory module that provides information about a range of issues including plagiarism and contract cheating. UC provides a range of services to support student learning - further information regarding Study Skills, Studiosity and Medical & Counselling services are available from your unit's Canvas site. 

Pharmacy students are expected to complete the AIM Quiz in the first two (2) weeks of their course.

 No submitted assessment pieces will be marked in this unit until the Quiz has been completed (proof of successful AIM completion may be requested by the Unit Convener).

Using Generative AI

Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools like ChatGPT can aid but should not replace independent thinking. If using genAI tools for the major project (topic development, book chapter, multimedia presentation), acknowledge their use or provide an appropriate citation. Acknowledgement is not required for low-level tasks such as improving spelling, grammar, and quality of written expression.

You are responsible for the content you submit. Be aware of limitations of GenAI tools such as inaccuracies, biases, and incomplete content. GenAI tools work best for topics you already understand, with carefully crafted prompting based on peer-reviewed research. Refine prompts for better results and fact-check generated content. Despite the risks, GenAI tools can aid brainstorming, concept explanation, synthesis of ideas, and improve the readability and quality of written expression. For further information please refer to UC library GenAI guide (https://canberra.libguides.com/genai) and the Academic Integrity Module.

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

This unit involves placements and therefore, additional student responsibilities are required in addition to those described in this section. Work-place learning requires strict adherence to professional practice principles and ethics. Client/patient confidentiality must always be maintained, including for assessment items such as reports or essays. The professional nature of this unit also requires 100% participation at all learning activities (lectures, practicals, etc. if scheduled- see section 3) for the successful completion of this unit. If attendance requirements cannot be satisfied (e.g. timetable clash), it is recommended that you meet your Course Convener to schedule this unit for a future semester.

Participation requirements

This Unit contains participatory elements which are vital to the Australian Pharmacy Council professional learning outcomes for this Unit. Except in the case of extenuating circumstances, 100% attendance is expected at all lectures, and 100% participation is required in all placements, externships, tutorials, practicals and presentations. It is expected that students unable to fulfil these participation requirements will inform the Unit Convener as soon as practical, by telephone or email. If attendance requirements cannot be regularly satisfied (e.g. timetable clash) it may be recommended that you schedule this unit for a future semester. Absence from external placement activities must also be reported to the relevant clinical placement coordinator and preceptor. 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 undertaking this unit certify that they have completed the Safety Declaration Form for Practical Class Work. If students are unsure or have not completed this declaration they should contact the unit convener.

Contact details for the Unit Convener and the Faculty of Health Placement Administration Office are given in Section 1.

Required IT skills

Students should be conversant with searching for and accessing information via electronic means; the use of Canvas; and word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software.  

In-unit costs

The following costs are expected for this unit:

• Self-printing of electronically provided material
• Purchase of a laboratory coat, safety glasses and calculator
• Pre-placement checks and vaccinations
• Discipline uniform and name badge to be worn on placements
• Cost of travel to placements

Work placement, internships or practicums

To complete this unit, pharmacy students must successfully complete the minimum number of placement hours stated in this unit outline. However, students may choose to complete additional hours of work integrated learning (WIL) or experiential pharmacy placement. A written request must be submitted and approved by the unit convener prior to the commencement of any additional WIL. Please note paid employment does not contribute to additional WIL.

If attendance requirements cannot be satisfied (e.g. timetable clash), it is recommended that you meet with your Course Convener to schedule this unit for a future semester.

Clinical placements and externships are an essential part of the UC Pharmacy courses. They enable knowledge to be embedded in a clinical context through the use of trained clinical preceptors and practicing professionals. This cannot be attained in any other setting. The control of access to external facilities derives from contractual arrangements with ACT Health and other organisations and UC is obliged to accept the rules and regulations that govern who they will accept into their premises. It is beyond UC's control to influence the health facilities to change their acceptability requirements.

• The successful completion of clinical placements/externships is a mandatory element of the Unit and the assessment of the Unit; and
• Some or all of the external agencies require a police check prior to permitting a student to undertake the clinical placement/externship; and
• The results of the police check may be used as a basis to refuse access to a clinical placement/externship at the external agency. This decision is solely at the discretion of the external agency; and
• Students unable to gain access to a clinical placement/externship at agencies approved by the University are unable to complete the mandatory requirements of the Unit. In this case the student will receive a NX (fail) grade and will not be eligible for a refund of any fees; and
• If the successful completion of a Unit is a mandatory requirement for the completion of a Course, an inability to complete the Unit means the student is unable to complete the requirements of the Course.

Students also need to note that the external agency reserves the right to withdraw access to a clinical placement/externship at any time prior or during a placement/externship at the sole discretion of the agency. In these circumstances the same implications noted above will apply.

Students also need to note that they bear the full risk in relation to loss of access to clinical placements/externship and the University will not be liable if an agency withdraws access to a clinical placement/externship because of the actions or omissions of a student.

UC pre-placement requirements – e.g. vaccines, manual handling, police checks etc.

This unit involves work integrated learning (Placement). Students must adhere to University policy during WIL activities, including the Student Conduct Rules 2018, the WIL Policy and WIL Procedure, and the Assessment Policy and Assessment Procedure.

This unit has pre-placement requirements (e.g. Working with Vulnerable People registration, immunisation/s). You must complete Pre-Place: Preparation for Work Integrated Learning prior to commencement of your Placement. You can self-enrol in this module through the UC Learn site here.

You are also required to complete details in InPlace, refer to inplace.canberra.edu.au. If you have any queries related to InPlace please contact placement@canberra.edu.au.

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

Please referred to Canvas for pre-placement requirements and due dates.

Student who have not met preplacement requirements by the specified due date will not be allocated a placement. This will result in a fail grade for the unit.

Industry mandatory pre-placement requirements (e.g. ACT Health & NSW e-learning modules etc.)

Some practice placement industry partners require students to complete further mandatory pre-placement requirements such as learning packages, prior to the commencing placement. Students will received specific instructions on what Industry mandatory pre-placement requirements are required to be completed and how to upload certificates of completion.  A due date will be set by the industry partner. Students are to complete the Industry mandatory pre-placement requirements and submit completion evidence as per the instructions of the specific industry partner by the due date.

Failure to complete mandatory industry partner pre-placement requirements by the due date will result in the practice placement being cancelled. This will result in a fail grade for the unit.

Additional information

Privacy and Confidentiality

As part of its partnership arrangements with Health Agencies, the Faculty of Health at the University of Canberra is aware of the issue of confidentiality of information gained from clinical placements and externships. Students are expected to analyse their experiences from these as part of their academic study. In order to support learning while protecting confidentiality of information, the following guidelines have been developed:

1. Pseudonyms should be used for the names of patients and organisations in all academic work.
2. Identifying information, including demographic information, should be modified in academic work, using terminology such as ‘similar to'.
3. Students should mark all academic work with sensitive information as ‘in-confidence' in the footer.
4. Students should develop ‘composite' patients/clients based upon their experiences with several patients or clients in one clinical experience if possible. Students should note that this is a ‘composite' and not intended to identify a single person.
5. Students should use the password-protect function on their word processing programs to further guard sensitive information.
6. Students should avoid naming other students in academic work, such as reflective pieces or portfolios.
7. Students should attend workshops for health science students on how to change information about patients in line with these recommendations.

For further information students may visit http://www.privacy.gov.au/act/#health

Pharmacy Style Guide for report formatting

Unless otherwise approved (in writing), all written assessment pieces (formative and summative) must conform to the following requirements:

• Headings in bold, maximum font size 16 pt.
• Font size: 11 pt – Times New Roman, Arial or Calibri.
• Margins no less than 1.5cm on all sides.
• Page number at bottom right hand corner of footer.
• Student identification number (number only) at top right hand corner of header.
• References given in NLM/Vancouver style (chronological numeric) ONLY. Information on this referencing styles can be found on the library website at https://canberra.libguides.com/c.php?g=599301&p=4149536
• Privacy statements if required.
• Assignment requirements (first page) as per above.
• Any word limits specified in assignments (in this Unit Outline or in task descriptions on Canvas) will INCLUDE all tables, figures and appendices, but EXCLUDE references (unless otherwise stated).
• Submissions which exceed the specified word (or page) length will be truncated at the word (or page) limit and only assessed to this point.

Mandatory Notifications to the Pharmacy Board of Australia

Pursuant to the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009, pharmacy practitioners (registered pharmacists) and education providers have an obligation to report ‘notifiable conduct', to the Pharmacy 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:

a) 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

b) 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 Pharmacy 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 the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency Pharmacy Guidelines for Mandatory Notifications available at:  https://www.pharmacyboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines/Guidelines-for-mandatory-notifications.aspx 

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