Professional Practice

Subject POPH90228 (2011)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2011.

Credit Points: 25
Level: 9 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject is not offered in 2011.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 26 contact hours comprising: A 1 hour meeting with supervisor once a month, attendance at 2 half day (4 hours) seminars for student verbal presentations, attendance at a monthly 2 hour Professional Practice workshop. Students are expected to spend a minimum of 160 hours working for the host organisation.
Total Time Commitment: 240 hours
Prerequisites: All Professional Practice applicants will be required to submit a Professional Practice Application. The application will be no more than 3 pages in length and will require students to: (i) detail the purpose, methodology and scope of the proposed project, and (ii) provide an account of how the work to be undertaken will result in fulfilment of the learning objectives for the subject. This application will be used to assess the suitability of the proposal. Successful applicants will be selected on the basis of academic merit and the quality of the submitted proposal. Applicants must have a weighted average mark of at least 70% for all relevant subjects.

A quota of 30 will apply.
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements: For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.
The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website.

Contact

Dr Melissa Russell
Centre for Molecular, Environmental, Genetic and Analytic (MEGA) Epidemiology
Melbourne School of Population Health
Email: melissar@unimelb.edu.au

OR

Academic Programs Office
Melbourne School of Population Health
Tel: +61 3 8344 9339
Fax: +61 3 8344 0824
Email: sph-gradinfo@unimelb.edu.au
Subject Overview: This subject is an elective subject within the Master of Public Health. It is designed to be taken by high-performing students who want to consolidate their public health training via an advanced professional work placement. Entry to the subject will be competitive and a quota will apply.

Students will undertake a supervised professional work placement with an appropriate organisation. Each practicum experience will be individually tailored and negotiated by the student, the supervisor and the host organisation. Students will learn to apply their academic knowledge to real-world public health challenges, developing their specialist and professional skill set by contributing to the needs of an agency, institution or community organisation concerned with population health. The practicum experience will enable students to bridge the gap between the classroom and public health practice, whilst developing contacts with experts in their chosen field.
Objectives: Upon completion of this subject, students should be able to:

  • Apply, integrate and synthesise knowledge and skills acquired throughout the course to tackle real-world public health challenges,
  • Analyse, evaluate and propose practical solutions to problems identified within the bounds of the project,
  • Solve practical problems whilst working with unstructured and incomplete information,
  • Develop professional networks within a given public health context,
  • Demonstrate and critically reflect upon key professional attributes sought by employers (such as communication and interpersonal skills, project management skills, team work and initiative) ,
  • Clearly communicate findings and results in a professional public health context.
Assessment:
  • A 15 minute oral presentation (10%) due by the mid-semester break in semester 1;
  • A 15 minute oral presentation (10%) due during the examination period in semester 2;
  • A critical reflective piece of 5,000 words (50%) due during the examination period in semester 2, detailing processes, challenges faced and reflections on achievement of learning objectives and development of key professional attributes throughout the course of the work placement;
  • A project report (30%), due during the examination period in semester 2, the nature of which will be determined in consultation with the supervisor, host organisation and subject coordinator.
Prescribed Texts: None
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills: Upon completion of this subject, students will have developed skills in:

  • Initiative, autonomy and organization,
  • Problem-solving,
  • Oral communication,
  • Finding, evaluating and using relevant information,
  • Written communication,
  • Working with others and in teams.
Notes: This subject has a quota of 30.
Related Course(s): Master of Public Health

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