M6001 Master of Advanced Health Care Practice

The course is structured in two parts: Part A. Foundations for advanced health care practice and Part B. Advanced specialist study. 

Part A. Foundations for advanced health care practice
In this part you will have the opportunity to complete scholarly practical studies that develop and expand your expertise within your area of specialist practice.

Part B. Advanced specialist study
This study will provide you with specialist professional knowledge and advanced skills in research or advanced professional practice in your chosen specialisation. Specialisations offer the choice of either a coursework focus or a research focus. The research focus provides a pathway to a higher degree by research.

Master's entry points

Depending on prior qualifications you may receive entry level credit (a form of block credit) which determines your point of entry to the course:

• If you are admitted at entry level 1 you complete 72 credit points, comprising Part A and Part B.*
• If you are admitted at entry level 2 you complete 48 credit points, comprising Part B.

• If you are eligible for credit for prior studies you may elect not to receive the credit and complete one of the higher credit-point options.
• *Entry level 1 is not available for the Radiation therapy specialisation.

Course progression map

The course progression map provides guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

The course comprises 72 points structured into two parts: Part A. Foundations for advanced health care practice (24 points) and Part B. Advanced specialist study (48 points).

Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated.

Part A. Foundations for advanced health care practice (24 points)

Medical imaging

You must complete 24 points from*:

• RAD5500 Multislice CT and clinical decision making 
• RAD4502 Foundations of x-ray image interpretation 
• SRH5001 Introduction to research methods for health
• SRH5032 Applied research for health
• RAD5503 Magnetic resonance imaging: Physical principles, MR safety and image optimisation
• RAD5504 Magnetic resonance imaging: Musculoskeletal system
• RAD5505 Magnetic resonance imaging: Head, spine, abdomen and pelvis
• RAD5506 Magnetic resonance imaging: Advanced imaging techniques
• MAP4200 Improving Indigenous equity in professional practice or PSY5012 Psychology: Allies in Indigenous health and wellbeing**

Occupational therapy

You must complete 24 points from any of the following groups of units:

Occupational therapy evidence and practice

• OCC5161 Human Occupational and health
• MAP4200 Improving Indigenous equity in professional practice or PSY5012 Psychology: Allies in Indigenous health and wellbeing*
• Up to 12 points of other relevant occupational therapy related postgraduate units as approved by the course coordinator

*PSY5012 is an intensive online unit delivered over 6 weeks. Refer to the handbook entry for expected workload requirements. Requirements for this unit may not align with units delivered in a standard academic semester.

Health education and promotion

• NUR5204 Education in health care practice (12 points)
• NUR5209 Education program development (12 points)

Research methods

• SRH5001 Introduction to research methods for health
• SRH5003 Designing and conducting health research (12 points)

Health systems management

• MPH5266 Clinical leadership and management 
• MPH5268 Financial management in health care
• MPH5020 Introduction to epidemiology and biostatistics

Leadership and quality improvement

• MPH5266 clinical leadership and management
• MPH5267 Principles of healthcare quality improvement

Paediatric physiotherapy

You must complete 24 points from:

• NUR5204 Education in health care practice (12 points)
• NUR5209 Education program development (12 points)
• PTY5103 Principles of paediatric physiotherapy
• SRH5001 Introduction to research methods for health
• SRH5003 Designing and conducting health research (12 points)
• MAP4200 Improving Indigenous equity in professional practice or PSY5012 Psychology: Allies in Indigenous health and wellbeing*

*PSY5012 is an intensive online unit delivered over 6 weeks. Refer to the handbook entry for expected workload requirements. Requirements for this unit may not align with units delivered in a standard academic semester.

Primary health care (not available in semester 2, 2023)

You must complete 24 points from any of the following groups of units:

Health education and promotion

• NUR5204 Education in health care practice (12 points)
• NUR5209 Education program development (12 points)
• PTY5105 Advanced physiotherapy clinical skills and project (12 points)*
• MAP4200 Improving Indigenous equity in professional practice or PSY5012 Psychology: Allies in Indigenous health and wellbeing**

Health systems management

• MPH5266 Clinical leadership and management 
• MPH5268 Financial management in health care
• MPH5020 Introduction to epidemiology and biostatistics

Leadership and quality improvement

• MPH5266 Clinical leadership and management
• MPH5267 Principles of healthcare quality improvement

Paramedicine

You must complete:

• PAR5401 Foundations of advanced paramedic practice (12 points)
• MPH5020 Introduction to epidemiology and biostatistics
• SRH5001 Introduction to research methods for health

Part B. Advanced specialist study (48 points)

You must complete either a. the research stream or b. the coursework stream as detailed below.

Notes: 

• If you are enrolled in the Primary health care specialisation the coursework stream is not available. You must complete the research stream (option 1 minor thesis OR option 2 research project).
• If you are enrolled in the Paramedicine specialisation the coursework stream is not available. You must complete the research stream option 1 minor thesis only. Option 2 research project is not available.
• If you are enrolled in the Occupational therapy specialisation, you may choose either the coursework stream, or the research stream option 2 research project. Option 1 minor thesis is not available.

a. Research stream

You must complete either Option 1 - Minor thesis or Option 2 - Research project.

Note: research topics will focus on the relevant specialisation. 

Option 1 - Minor thesis

You must complete:

• SRH5003 Designing and conducting health research (12 points) 
• MAP5000 Research in advanced health professional practice (12 points)
• MAP5001 Preparatory minor thesis (12 points)
• MAP5002 Minor thesis (12 points)

Option 2 - Research project

You must complete:

• MAP5003 Essentials of advanced health care practice and research (12 points)
• SRH5003 Designing and conducting health research (12 points)
• MAP5000 Research in advanced health professional practice (12 points)
• MAP5010 Advanced health practice research project (12 points)

b. Coursework stream

Medical imaging

You must complete:

• MAP5003 Essentials of advanced health care practice and research (12 points)

and complete at least 24 points (up to a maximum of 36 credit points) from the following:

• RAD5105 Pathology for imaging
• RAD5107 Hybrid and molecular imaging 
• RAD5108 Musculoskeletal x-ray image interpretation 1 
• RAD5109 Musculoskeletal x-ray image interpretation 2 
• RAD5110 Advanced CT and clinical decision-making 1 (12 points)
• RAD5111 Advanced CT and clinical decision-making 2
• RAD5112 Advanced MRI and clinical decision-making (12 points)
• RAD5114 X-ray image interpretation of the chest and abdomen
• RAD5500 Multislice CT and clinical decision making
• RAD5503 Magnetic resonance imaging: Physical principles, MR safety and Image optimisation
• RAD5504 Magnetic resonance imaging: Musculoskeletal system
• RAD5505 Magnetic resonance imaging: Head, spine, abdomen and pelvis 
• RAD5506 Magnetic resonance imaging: Advanced imaging techniques 

and up to 12 points from the following:

• MPH5266 Clinical leadership and management
• MPH5267 Principles of healthcare quality improvement
• NUR5204 Education in health care practice (12 points)
• NUR5209 Education program development (12 points)
• SRH5001 Introduction to research methods for health
• SRH5032 Applied research for health
• PSY5012 Psychology: Allies in Indigenous health and wellbeing*

*PSY5012 is an intensive online unit delivered over 6 weeks. Refer to the handbook entry for expected workload requirements. Requirements for this unit may not align with units delivered in a standard academic semester.

Occupational therapy

You must complete:

• MAP5003 Essentials of advanced health care practice and research (12 points)

and 36 points from any of the following groups of units:

Occupational therapy evidence and practice

• OCC5161 Human occupation and health
• PSY5012 Psychology: Allies in Indigenous health and wellbeing*
• Up to 12 points of other relevant occupational therapy related postgraduate units as approved by the course coordinator

*PSY5012 is an intensive online unit delivered over 6 weeks. Refer to the handbook entry for expected workload requirements. Requirements for this unit may not align with units delivered in a standard academic semester.

Health education and promotion

• NUR5204 Education in health care practice (12 points)
• NUR5209 Education program development (12 points)

Research methods

• SRH5001 Introduction to research methods for health
• SRH5003 Designing and conducting health research (12 points)

Health systems management

• MPH5266 clinical leadership and management
• MPH5268 Financial management in health care
• MPH5020 Introduction to epidemiology and biostatistics

Leadership and quality improvement

• MPH5266 clinical leadership and management 
• MPH5267 Principles of healthcare quality improvement

Paediatric physiotherapy

You must complete:

• MAP5003 Essentials of advanced health care practice and research (12 points)
• PTY5105 Advanced paediatric clinical skills and project (12 points)

and 24 points from the following units:

• PTY5100 Enhancing skills in paediatric physiotherapy 
• PTY5101 Advancing skills in paediatric physiotherapy: Cerebral palsy
• PTY5102 Advancing skills in paediatric physiotherapy: Neonates and infants 
• PTY5104 Advancing skills in paediatric physiotherapy: Complex and chronic conditions 
• PSY5012 Psychology: Allies in Indigenous health and wellbeing*
• up to 6 points of other relevant health-related postgraduate units as approved by the course coordinator

*PSY5012 is an intensive online unit delivered over 6 weeks. Refer to the handbook entry for expected workload requirements. Requirements for this unit may not align with units delivered in a standard academic semester.

Radiation therapy

You must complete:

• MAP5003 Essentials of advanced health care practice and research (12 points)
• RTP5102 Current issues in radiation therapy and oncology (12 points)

and 24 points from any of the following units (or available units from FMNHS as negotiated with the course coordinator):

Health systems management:

• MPH5266 Clinical leadership and management
• MPH5268 Financial management in health care
• MPH5020 Introduction to epidemiology and biostatistics 

Leadership and quality improvement:

• MPH5266 Clinical leadership and management 
• MPH5267 Principles of healthcare quality improvement 

Education practice:

• NUR5204 Education in health care practice (12 points)
• NUR5209 Education program development (12 points)

Radiation therapy practice:

• RTP5101 Patient care and assessment in radiation therapy (12 points)
• NUR5214 Advanced therapeutic interaction in nursing (12 points)
• RTP5104 Advanced imaging for radiation therapy (12 points)
• RTP5105 Principles of adaptive radiation therapy (12 points)
• RTP5106 Practice of adaptive radiation therapy (12 points)*
• PSY5012 Psychology: Allies in Indigenous health and wellbeing**

*RTP5106 is only available to students who are MRPBA registered and practising as a Radiation Therapist in Australia.

**PSY5012 is an intensive online unit delivered over 6 weeks. Refer to the handbook entry for expected workload requirements. Requirements for this unit may not align with units delivered in a standard academic semester.

Research methods:

• SRH5001 Introduction to research methods for health
• SRH5003 Designing and conducting health research (12 points)