Undergraduate - Curriculum
A brief description of each current curriculum component is provided below.
Lecture notes and presentations for some sessions are available through university online platforms for students. These sites require a password to be arranged by the university.
Monash University Medical School
Year 1
Health Knowledge and Society: Disability Module
This 2 week module on Disability lies within a teaching unit entitled Health Knowledge and Society in year 1 of the medical course. It comprises a lecture and three tutorials, including one in which students meet members of the community who have a role in the healthcare of people with disabilities. Ways in which disability has been understood are explored and the implications for service philosophies and frameworks are outlined. Students consider how their own attitudes towards people with disabilities have been formed and stereotypes are challenged. The attitudes, perspectives, roles, responsibilities and influence of the medical profession are examined and the relevance of our understandings to our current practice is considered.
Year 2
Student Presented Cases: Disability components
This peer learning activity involves students working in small groups on the research and presentation of one of eight general medical topics. Topics are chosen to promote the integration of student learning and the emphasis is on synthesis of knowledge. The presentation is followed by questions and an exploration of a different aspect of the topic with the student presenters leading the discussion. Two of the eight topics include a disability component. Tutors and advisors facilitate and support student research and preparation, and then assess the final session.
Year 3
No current curriculum component
Year 4
Communicating with people with developmental disabilities
In this session students are presented with basic information about communication issues for people with developmental disabilities, and strategies for optimising understanding when working with people with communication impairments. Students then work with tutors with a disability from self advocacy organisations and implement some of these strategies. This provides opportunities to learn from the tutors about the communication issues they have faced.
Understanding developmental disabilities
In this session students review the definitions, language and terminology of Developmental Disability Medicine. Working through different cases, students explore the implications of having a disability for health and healthcare and discuss issues raised with clinicians from the CDDHV.
Mental health and illness in people with an intellectual disability
People with an intellectual disability have the same range of mental illness as, and are in fact more likely to develop a mental health disorder than, the general population. Resilience factors for mental health are discussed and the impact on the presentation, assessment and management of mental health disorders in people with an intellectual disability are explored.
The impact of disability and the family: The early years
Each member of the family is profoundly affected when a child is diagnosed as having a developmental disability. In this session students consider the ramifications for the child, the siblings, the parents and the community. The role of the medical practitioner and the service system are explored and sources of information and support are identified.
Year 5
Selective
Students in their final year have an opportunity to spend a six week selective placement at the Centre for Developmental Disability Health. The emphasis is on student participation in clinical activities and the development of skills that will be of practical use in their future medical practice.
University of Melbourne Medical School
Year 1
Health and Society: Disability and the family
Each member of the family is profoundly affected when a child is diagnosed as having a developmental disability. In this session students consider the ramifications for the child, the siblings, the parents and the community. The role of the medical practitioner and the service system are explored and sources of information and support are identified.
Years 3 / 4
Advanced Medical Science projects
All undergraduate students undertake an Advanced Medical Science project during Semesters 6 and 7. This allows the students to explore in greater depth than is possible in the body of the curriculum an area of relevance to medicine and to broaden their experience of health care and research. The CDDHV provides an opportunity for students to work on a project related to the health and/or healthcare of people with a developmental disability with the guidance and supervision of the Centre's research, educational and clinical staff. http://pbl1.medfac.unimelb.edu.au/ams/UnitDescriptions2006/01563.html
Years 5 / 6
RAPP
During semesters 10 and 11 students are offered sessions on Rehabilitation, Aged care, Psychiatry of Old Age and Palliative Care (RAPP). Within this framework the CDDHV runs a case-based seminar on the assessment and management of people with a developmental disability and RAPP related healthcare issues.
Paediatric symposium
In this session run by the CDDHV, two parents discuss their experiences of having a child with a developmental disability. Issues of presentation, diagnosis, genetic counselling, impact on the parents, the family and the need for community services are covered. Sources of information and support for parents are identified.
University of Melbourne students click here to link to link to TopClass
Paediatric PBL
In working through a PBL on the assessment and diagnosis of a child with developmental delay, students learn about the assessment of a child presenting with developmental delay, the disclosure of the diagnosis and the needs of the child and the family.
Year 6
General Practice: Disability and Care Plans
In semester 12 students in their General practice term learn about the place of Care Plans in the care of people with complex health needs. The CDDHV collaborated with staff from the Department of General Practice at the University of Melbourne to develop a video and workbook based around care planning for a young woman with cerebral palsy.
