PMSC20012 - Primary Healthcare 1

Showing: 2026 HE Term 3
General Information

Unit Synopsis

This unit provides you with the knowledge and management strategies for functioning as a paramedic with a primary healthcare focus. This unit lays out the foundations of recognition and management of patients with common chronic and low acuity disease states through a detailed examination of the pathophysiology, epidemiology, history and assessment findings. You will be able to formulate a clinical diagnosis by incorporating presentation, history, assessment, diagnostic studies and other findings using an analytic approach and then utilise evidenced-based medicine for the management of a patient's condition. Additionally, the unit introduces you to palliative care and the paramedic practitioner's role in its delivery.

Details

Level Postgraduate
Unit Level 9
Credit Points 12
Student Contribution Band SCA Band 2
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load 0.25
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites There are no pre-requisites for the unit.

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Class Timetable View Unit Timetable
Residential School No Residential School

Unit Availabilities from Term 1 - 2027

Term 1 - 2027 Profile
Online

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 12-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 25 hours of study per week, making a total of 300 hours for the unit.

Assessment Tasks

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%).

Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades

Past Exams

Previous Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Source: Unit Coordinator Reflection
Feedback:
The inclusion of contemporary content in this 12-credit clinical unit is needed on an ongoing basis.

Recommendation:
Even though this unit was updated in 2023, it's important to note that as this specialty area continues to develop in the industry, the scope of practice and content requirements will also evolve. Thus, it is recommended to review content and industry changes on an ongoing basis.

Action Taken:
As recommended, we continue to review and update content for this unit on an ongoing basis.
Source: SUTE Unit comments
Feedback:
A student expressed feeling supported and appreciated the Unit Coordinator's assistance and guidance throughout the term.

Recommendation:
We recommend continuing to provide adequate support, time, and guidance to our PG students, considering their challenges with work and family commitments.

Action Taken:
In Progress
Source: Unit Coordinator reflections
Feedback:
Recent developments in Advanced Practice in Paramedicine and possible endorsement by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) could impact this unit in the near future

Recommendation:
It is recommended that we continue to engage with the Paramedicine Board of Australia and implement the necessary changes to the unit and the course as required when this information becomes available.

Action Taken:
In Progress
Unit Learning Outcomes
This information will not be available until 8 weeks before term.
To see Learning Outcomes from an earlier availability, please search via a previous term.