Bachelor of Health Sciences

The Bachelor of Health Sciences will provide you with a sound foundation in health science and a broad overview of health care, and with skills in identifying, investigating, analysing and assessing health issues. This foundation leads to a number of specialisations enabling you to pursue a variety of allied and public health career paths. The course is suited to those who wish to undertake clinical work or research either immediately or after pursuing a post graduate degree, and those who wish to progress to the non-clinical health workforce including epidemiology, health promotion, planning or policy. The common thread is the commitment to an evidence based approach to delivering quality health care efficiently and effectively whether the focus is on individuals, families or communities.

Your studies commence at the Caulfield campus, where you will apply scientific approaches to the study and improvement of health, considering physiological, behavioural, developmental, social and environmental aspects of human health and disease. At the conclusion of the first semester of second year, you will continue with a chosen specialisation at its campus base of Peninsula, Caulfield or Clayton, developing an in-depth knowledge of the theory and practice of one of the following fields of health science:

• Emergency health and paramedic practice
• Human services
• Public health science
• Radiation sciences

Specialisations

Emergency health and paramedic practice

The Emergency Health and Paramedic Practice specialisation will prepare you for employment as paramedics in ambulance and community-based emergency health services (CBEH). Paramedics provide unscheduled health care for individuals experiencing a health emergency in the community, and initiate care and determine appropriate referral of patients to enable continuing care. Paramedics are also required to work with other emergency services to respond to a range of situations including mass casualty incidents.

Human services

The Human Services specialisation focuses on implementing and promoting child and family wellbeing programs and working with communities to build capacities. In particular, it looks towards improving the lives of people who are disadvantaged. The course covers cultural, psychological and environmental issues affecting human mental and physical health and the provision of human services. Students also undertake studies in human service practice relating to individuals, families, groups and communities.

There is an emphasis on current practice and participation in supervised professional practice which adds to the relevance of this degree. It also includes studies related to social work and human services research, social policy and management. Public Health Science

Public health science

The Public Health Science specialisation focuses on populations and communities rather than individuals, and spans the spectrum from promoting good health, through preventing disease, to managing illness and disability. The course includes aspects of biomedical sciences (such as physiology and pharmacology) and social sciences (such as sociology and program evaluation) along with epidemiology, biostatistics and research methods. It focuses on developing, implementing and evaluating programs and policies to promote health and prevent disease and injury; and undertaking public health research. The course has a global orientation, examining both Australian and international health challenges.

Radiation sciences

This specialisation combines scientific and technical knowledge with studies in health and patient care.

Radiation Therapy uses ionising radiations for the treatment of cancer and benign conditions.

Radiation physics and instrumentation, radiobiology, imaging anatomy, physiology, epidemiology, oncology, radiation therapy, cancer management strategies and patient care are covered. Beginner-level clinical skills are developed in the following areas: computerised tomography; radiation therapy planning; radiation therapy treatment; and patient care and management. Psychology, medico-legal and ethical aspects of health care, cultural and communicative competence, and occupational health and safety are also considered.

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 7, the Bologna Cycle 1 and Monash Graduate AttributesAustralian Qualifications Framework level 7, the Bologna Cycle 1 and Monash Graduate Attributes (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/alignmentofoutcomes.html).

Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that graduates will be able to:

1. apply knowledge of human health, disease and promotion to a range of professional contexts
2. demonstrate in-depth knowledge of a specific health science discipline
3. develop, apply, integrate and generate health science knowledge in professional contexts to analyse challenges and to develop effective solutions
4. collect, organise, analyse, interpret and report health data
5. communicate effectively with diverse audiences and in a variety of formats
6. work and learn in both independent and collaborative ways with others to encompass diverse abilities and perspectives
7. exercise personal, professional and social responsibility as a global citizen

Special requirements

Police checks

Students must have a current Police check regarding their suitability to undertake placements. Refer to the faculty's police checks webpage.

Working with Children checks

Students must have a current Working with Children check regarding their suitability to undertake placements. Refer to the faculty's Working with Children checks webpage.

Immunisation and infection requirements

In accordance with the National Health and Medical Research Council recommendations, this course requires that students comply with the faculty's Immunisation and vaccination policy and procedures. These are designed to provide maximum protection against the increased risk of some vaccine preventable diseases for students, patients and workers in a health care setting.

This policy, and the associated procedures require that students have certain specified vaccinations, and have their blood borne virus status determined, before they commence a clinical placement. Students who have not complied with this policy may not be able to undertake clinical placement, with the attendant academic consequences.

Health check (Emergency health and paramedic practice students only)

The health and fitness assessment process involves a review of medical history and physical fitness. You need to carefully consider your full medical history and ask questions early. A medical issue that you may otherwise assume is not an issue, may prevent you meeting the medical history test. Similarly the fitness test involves a thorough physical examination and includes a fitness test that may require you to undertake fitness preparation. Details of the physical assessment can be found on the Clinical placement information website.

If you have any questions or concerns about your medical history or physical health and fitness, you must call Ambulance Victoria Medical Services Provider on telephone 1800 240 395 to obtain information and advice prior to enrolling in the emergency health and paramedic practice specialisation. Monash does not accept responsibility for students who enrol but cannot complete the course due to an inability to meet the medical and fitness tests imposed by Ambulance Victoria.

The course develops through four themes of personal and professional development; population, communities, health and illness; the scientific basis of health care and applied practice.

Part A. Personal and professional development

These studies will develop your understanding of the roles, responsibilities and expectations of health professionals and the personal and professional attributes you will need in the workplace. These include communication and interpersonal skills, teamwork, critical thinking, ethical and legal issues, and reflective practice. You will also learn about research methodologies and the application of research to the field of health.

Part B. Population, communities, health and illness

The focus of these studies is the social, environmental and behavioural contexts of ill health, disease and injury and broad societal issues such as health promotion, the application of epidemiology and statistics in the assessment of health risk in populations, public health, community diversity, population and global health. You will also develop a sound understanding of evidence-based practice.

Part C. Scientific basis of health care practice

These studies provide the foundation scientific knowledge of human systems and technology that you will require to become an expert in your area of health science. Depending upon your specialisation this will range over physical, biomedical, mathematical and behavioural sciences.

Part D. Professional practice skills

This theme addresses competencies for health science practice within your area of specialisation. The specific skills may relate to basic and advanced life support, building child and family well-being and capacities, programs to promote health and prevent disease, or radiation science. Whatever your specialist context, the focus will be on the incorporation of the best available research evidence with the clinical reasoning skills of assessment, management, evaluation and health care across the lifespan and across a spectrum of environments and circumstances.

In addition:

Part E. Free elective study

Where available, elective study will enable you to further develop your knowledge of Health Science or to select units from across the University in which you are eligible to enrol.

This course comprises 144 points, of which 54 points are common to all specialisations and 90 points are specialisation specific.

The course develops through four themes of: A. Personal and professional development; B. Population, communities, health and illness; C. Scientific basis of health care, and D. Professional practice skills.

Units are clustered under themes that show the main emphasis of the unit, however, most units address more than one theme and almost all address theme A.

Elective units may be at any level, however, no more than 10 units (60 points) at level 1 may be credited to the Health Sciences course.

The course progression mapcourse progression map (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2016handbooks/maps/map-m2002.pdf) will assist you to plan to meet the course requirements, and guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

Units are six credit points unless otherwise stated.

Common units (54 points)

For the first year and a half students complete three common units (18 points) per semester at the Caulfield campus. During this time, one specialist unit per semester will also be completed at the home campus of the individual specialisation as indicated below. For the final year and a half students will be based at the home campus:

• Emergency health and paramedic practice - Peninsula
• Human services - Caulfield
• Public health science - Caulfield
• Radiation sciences - Clayton.

All students complete:

• BMA1011 Foundation of anatomy and physiology for health practice 1
• BMA1012 Foundations of anatomy and physiology for health practice 2
• HSC1100 Introduction to research and evidence
• HSC1200 Introduction to public health
• HSC1300 Human health and disease
• HSC1400 The Australian healthcare system
• HSC2100 Emerging challenges in health
• HSC2200 Health and the human lifespan
• HSC2300 Health promotion and disease prevention

Emergency health and paramedic practice (90 points)

Students complete:

• EPP1011 The contemporary paramedic
• EPP1012 Clinical concepts of paramedic practice 1
• EPP2011 Clinical concepts of paramedic practice 2
• EPP2012 Pharmacotherapy in community-based emergency health
• EPP2022 Paramedic management of cardiovascular conditions
• EPP2032 Paramedic clinical practice
• EPP2042 Paramedic management of trauma conditions
• EPP3011 Paramedic management of mental health
• EPP3012 Clinical Education, leadership and emergency preparedness
• EPP3021 Paramedic management of respiratory conditions
• EPP3022 Community care and paramedic practice
• EPP3030 Integrated clinical practice (12 points)
• EPP3031 Paramedic management of medical conditions
• EPP3032 Paramedic management of maternal and neonatal health

EPP units will be completed at the Peninsula campus.

Human services (90 points)

Students complete:

• ATS1254 Culture, power, difference: indigeneity and Australian identity
• ATS1366 The individual and society
• PSY1011 Psychology 1A
• SWK1011 Introduction to human services practice
• HSC2022 Culture, society and health
• SWK2001 Introduction to welfare state
• SWK2110 Social welfare and the law
• SWK2140 Social welfare practice with communities
• SWK3180 Supervised professional practice 1 (12 points)
• SWK3310 Social welfare practice and research
• SWK3400 Critical social work 1: frameworks for practice with children and families (12 points)
• SWK3440 Leadership in social work and human services
• SWK4031 Working with complexity

Public health (90 points)

Students complete:

• PBH2001 Foundations of epidemiology
• PBH2002 Foundations of Biostatistics
• PBH3001 Public health and clinical research methods

One of:

• PBH2003 Culture, society and health
• PBH2004 Health, law and ethics
• PBH2005 Health program planning
• PBH2006 Treatment and technologies

Two of:

• PBH3002 Disease prevention and control
• PBH3003 Environmental determinants of health and disease
• PBH3004 Health program evaluation
• PBH3005 Social and behavioural sciences in public health

One of:

• PBH3006 Action in public health research
• PBH3007 Health promotion practicum
• PBH3008 Case studies in global and public health

Two of:

• PBH3009 Chronic disease epidemiology and control
• PBH3010 Health data management
• PBH3011 Advanced biostatistics for public health
• PBH3012 Translating research into practice

Free elective study (36 points)

These units may be chosen from across the faculty or from across the University, including to complete a minor from another course, if you have the required prerequisites and there are no restrictions on enrolment.

Note: Students in the Public health science specialisation study at the Caulfield campus for the length of their course, however elective units may be undertaken at other Monash campuses. Elective units may be chosen from any discipline across Monash University as long as the required prerequisites, co-rerequisites and any other restrictions are met. No more than four level one elective units (24 points) may be completed.

Radiation sciences (90 points)

Students complete:

• BMS1031 Medical biophysics
• PSY1011 Psychology 1A
• PSY1022 Psychology 1B
• RTS2001 Professional practice in radiation therapy
• PBH2001 Foundations of epidemiology
• RAD2001 Medical imaging science (radiographic principles)
• RTS3001 Radiation therapy imaging anatomy
• RAD3002 Medical imaging science (computerised tomography)
• RAD3061 Medical imaging science (ultrasound)
• RAD3092 Magnetic resonance imaging (physics and technology)
• RTS4101 Radiation therapy science 1
• RTS4103 Radiation therapy science 3
• RTS4104 Radiation therapy principles and practice 1
• RTS4105 Radiation therapy principles and practice 2

Free elective study (6 points)

This unit may be chosen from across the faculty or from across the University if you have the required prerequisites and there are no restrictions on enrolment.

Students who successfully complete any specialisation in the Bachelor of Health Sciences course are eligible to apply for admission to M6012 Master of Social Work and M6004 Master of Radiation Therapy. For the latter you will need to achieve a credit average and pass a situational judgment test.

Students graduating with the Bachelor of Human Services and admitted to the Master of Social Work will be eligible to receive 24 points of credit toward it. Upon successful completion of the master's they will be eligible for accreditation with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).

Students graduating with the Bachelor of Radiation Sciences and admitted to the Master of Radiation Therapy will be eligible to receive 24 points of credit towards it. Upon successful completion of the masters, they will be eligible for general registration as a radiation therapist from the Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia.