96105 Clinical and Community Placement 1
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Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
Requisite(s): 96104c Communication and Counselling AND 96103c Medical Genetics and Genomics in Practice AND 96102c Research Methods in Genetic Counselling
The lower case 'c' after the subject code indicates that the subject is a corequisite. See definitions for details.
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
This is the first of four clinical placement subjects. Students begin to develop an understanding of the work genetic counsellors engage in by learning through observation of genetic counselling interactions in clinical settings. The core purpose of this subject is to prepare students to work with a diverse client group. Insight and openness to diverse ways of knowing, being and doing informs the work of genetic counsellors and the ways in which we interact with clients, families and colleagues. Students engage in observation and participation in community activities, meet a range of experts, weekly reflective practice supervision activities, and completion of an e-portfolio to record and reflect on the contribution of clinical and community experiences to their learning.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| 016. | Respect, protect and maintain client confidentiality |
|---|---|
| 040. | Reflect on the use of counselling skills to enhance practice and improve client outcomes |
| 041. | Engage in reflective practice |
| 045. | Apply knowledge of historical and contemporary Indigenous experience to genetic counselling practice |
| 066. | Adhere to laws, evidence-based guidelines, codes of conduct and policies that are relevant to genetic counselling practice |
| 070. | Implement strategies to continually improve own genetic counselling practice through ongoing learning |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
The learning outcomes for this subject are as follows:
- Apply evidence-based genetic and genomic health care to practice across a variety of settings and roles. (1.1)
- Apply professional self-awareness through self-reflection to enhance their practice in genetic and genomic counselling to improve client outcomes. (1.2)
- Demonstrate a critical awareness of cultural and societal diversity and disparity in health care into genetic counselling practice. (2.1)
- Critically reflect on ethical Indigenous research including relationship building, communication, client-centred and reflective practice to work with and for Indigenous Australians across the genetic counselling profession. (2.2)
- Demonstrate appropriate and effective relationships with people from diverse communities. (3.1)
- Establish, develop, and maintain appropriate and effective relationships with clients, within a multidisciplinary team, and as part of the wider health and social care network. (3.2)
- Demonstrate the core tenets of the genetic counselling profession, including professional and ethical behaviour and responding positively to changes in genetic and genomic healthcare. (5.2)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
This subject contributes to the following graduate attributes:
Practice ready:
Graduates of the Master of Genetic Counselling are knowledgeable and literate healthcare practitioners, with well-developed workplace communication skills. They are skilled in providing evidence-based care to clients and their families in a variety of settings as autonomous and collaborative practitioners.
Culturally competent:
Graduates of the Master of Genetic Counselling are self-reflective, culturally competent professionals who embrace cultural diversity. They work alongside Indigenous Australians, New Zealand Maori, Pacifica and other culturally and societally diverse groups to build equitable access to genetic and genomic healthcare.
Person-centred:
Graduates of the Master of Genetic Counselling are empathic, person-centred practitioners who form and value partnerships with individuals, families and communities. They facilitate understanding and adaptation to information provided by genetic and genomic technology for individuals and families.
Professionally competent:
Graduates of the Master of Genetic Counselling embody professional and ethical practice and uphold knowledge and competency standards both locally and globally. They embrace opportunities for leadership and contribute to shaping the future development of the genetic counselling profession.
Teaching and learning strategies
Preparation for Learning: This subject includes independent learning activities as part of the following modules: clinical observation placement, ways of knowing, doing and being, and out and about in your community. These tasks help to support the development of insight into the lived experiences of people with inherited conditions. They will be undertaken on Canvas.
Live and online workshops: Weekly live and online ‘meet the experts’ workshops provide students with opportunities to participate in discussion with guests who are experts in specific areas.
Block workshops: Students will attend a block at the start of the Autumn session, during which they will participate in workshops that will include preparation for clinical observations and community placements. Students will work collaboratively during the workshops to facilitate ongoing interaction during the live and online supervision sessions.
Reflective Learning: Students are encouraged to critically reflect on their learning and their skill development throughout the subject, to identify areas where they may improve their performance, and to assist in the development of lifelong learning. Reflective, collaborative learning will be encouraged through specific activities including weekly reflective practice supervision tutorials in small groups, and assessment tasks in which students will reflect on their emerging professional identity over the duration of the session.
Ongoing feedback: Verbal feedback will be provided throughout the subject during the reflective practice supervision tutorials. Opportunities for verbal formative feedback on assessment tasks are available prior to the due date and summative feedback is provided following final submission.
Content (topics)
Module 1 (Professional skills week and week 1):
- Client journey map workshop
- Preparation for clinical and community placement
Module 2 Clinical observation placement (weeks 2-13)
- Observation placement in a clinical genetic service (minimum 5 days)
- Engage with genetic counsellors working in diverse roles
Module 3 Ways of knowing, being and doing
- Explore experiences of diversity through a variety of media
- Cultural safety in practice
Module 4 Out and about in your community
- Photo diary
- Participation in community events and experiences
- Engagement with local community support and advocacy groups
Module 5 Weekly ‘meet the experts’ live and online sessions (weeks 2-8 and 10-13)
Module 6 Weekly Reflective supervision in small groups (weeks 2-14)
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Patient journey photo diary
| Intent: | This assessment task involves documenting your experience of a client visit to a hospital. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This task is aligned with the following subject learning objectives: 041, 045 and 070 This task is aligned with the following course learning outcomes: 1.2, 2.1 and 2.2 |
| Type: | Portfolio |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 20% |
| Length: | A 500 word reflection on the overall experience will be submitted along with a photo diary that includes notes and photographs responding to each task listed in Canvas. |
| Criteria: | You will be assessed on:
Detailed assessment criteria will be provided in Canvas. Students may be required to defend their work in an oral interview. |
Assessment task 2: Blog post “A day in the life of a genetic counsellor”
| Intent: | This assessment task involves communicating your observations of the work that genetic counsellors do in a routine day in an engaging way suitable for an audience of the general public. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This task is aligned with the following subject learning objectives: 016, 040, 041, 066 and 070 This task is aligned with the following course learning outcomes: 1.1, 1.2, 3.1, 3.2 and 5.2 |
| Type: | Journal |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 20% |
| Length: | 600 words |
| Criteria: | You will be assessed on:
Detailed assessment criteria will be provided in Canvas. Students may be required to defend their work in an oral interview. |
Assessment task 3: Process record
| Intent: | This assessment task involves active observation of and attentive listening to a genetic counsellor working with a client. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This task is aligned with the following subject learning objectives: 016, 041, 066 and 070 This task is aligned with the following course learning outcomes: 1.1, 1.2, 3.1, 3.2 and 5.2 |
| Type: | Reflection |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 20% |
| Length: | Verbatim recollection AND 500 word reflection |
| Criteria: | You will be assessed on:
Detailed assessment criteria will be provided in Canvas. Students may be required to defend their work in an oral interview. |
Assessment task 4: ePortfolio
| Intent: | During this subject students participate in clinical observations with genetic counsellors, activities in their local communities, engagement with diversity in a variety of media, reflective practice supervision, and interact with guests from patient support and advocacy groups. This assessment task involves compiling an ePortfolio to develop a record of these activities. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This task is aligned with the following subject learning objectives: 016, 040, 041, 045, 066 and 070 This task is aligned with the following course learning outcomes: 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2 and 5.2 |
| Type: | Portfolio |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 40% |
| Length: | Templates and word limits will be provided for the individual ePortfolio activities. A 500 word written refection. |
| Criteria: | You will be assessed on:
Detailed assessment criteria will be provided in Canvas. Students may be required to defend their work in an oral interview. |
Minimum requirements
In order to pass this Subject, a minimum grade of 50% must be achieved and students must submit all assessment tasks.
Students are required to attend a minimum of 85% of classes and 100% of placement activities.
Required texts
Coursework Assessments Procedures
Graduate School of Health Policy, Guidelines and Procedures (login required)
Additional required readings will be provided via Canvas