Postgraduate handbook 2004
Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

Master of General Practice Psychiatry (Clinical)

The course aims to equip general practitioners with the knowledge and skills required to effectively assess and manage psychiatric conditions in the general practice setting. It also aims to assist general practitioners to gain a clear understanding of their role as therapists, gatekeepers and members of a multidisciplinary team engaged in patient-centred care. In addition, the course covers assessment and management of somatoform disorders, personality disorders and psychotic disorder, focusing on the role of the general practitioner in managing these conditions. Management of mental illness in children, adolescents and the elderly is also covered, and the course concludes with grounding in neuropsychiatry, focusing on issues relevant to general practitioners.

Applicants are required to have completed the Graduate Certificate in General Practice Psychiatry to be eligible for entry into the masters, which has also been developed in conjunction with the University of Melbourne and involves four departments:

• Department of General Practice - Monash University
• Department of Psychological Medicine - Monash University
• Department of Psychiatry - University of Melbourne
• Department of General Practice and Public Health - University of Melbourne

The program is supported by:

• The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Victorian faculty
• The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, Victorian branch

The course is designed to meet the academic standards of a postgraduate degree, and at the same time contains subject matter that is relevant to day-to-day practice.

Course structure

The Master of General Practice Psychiatry is a 72-credit-point professional coursework masters. The 72 credit points will be made up of 24 credit points for recognition of prior learning, 24 credit points for the first year of study (Graduate Certificate in General Practice Psychiatry) and 24 credit points for the second year of study as shown below:

Semester 1

• MGP1008 Psychotic disorders (five weeks) (4 credit points)
• MGP1009 Personality disorders (five weeks) (4 credit points)
• MGP1010 Somatisation (four weeks) (4 credit points)

Semester 2

• MGP1011 Child, adolescent and family psychiatry (five weeks) (4 credit points)
• MGP1012 Aged care psychiatry (five weeks) (4 credit points)
• MGP1013 Neuropsychiatry (five weeks) (4 credit points)

Recognition of prior learning

• Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (24 credit points), or
• Seven years full-time general practice or part-time equivalent (24 credit points), or
• Completion of the first year of the current Graduate Diploma of Family Medicine (MFM2000 (Principles of general practice) and MFM2006 (Introduction to research methods) (24 credit points)

Students who do not fulfil the criterion for recognition of prior learning can obtain the extra 24 credit points by completing the following two units from the Graduate Diploma of Family Medicine:

• MFM2000 Principles of general practice (12 credit points)
• MFM2006 Introduction to research methods (12 credit points)

Assessment

Assessment is by written assignments based on case discussions and case management, reflective journals, case commentaries and clinical audit.

Inquiries

Inquiries should be directed to Ms Julieanne Tilbury, Department of General Practice, 867 Centre Road, East Bentleigh, Victoria 3165, telephone (03) 9579 3188, email julieanne.tilbury@med.monash.edu.au. Website http://www.med.monash.edu.au/general-practice/teaching/grad_studies.html.

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