This course will assess student compliance with the stated expectations of professionalism, which are described in the learning outcome statements and the Doctor of Medicine and Surgery Student Code of Conduct. ANU medical students are required to demonstrate professional and ethical behaviour consistent with the standards expected of the medical profession, students of the University and the expectations of the public. These outcomes detail the standard of professional behaviour expected of students undertaking courses at the ANU School of Medicine and Psychology.
MEDI8030, MEDI8035, MEDI8040 and MEDI8045 form part of Phase 2 of the MChD program.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Recognise the key elements of fitness to practice medicine through acquiring a commitment to professional behaviours including respect, teamwork, patient safety, ethics, quality and regulatory obligations and demonstrate the capacity to identify and manage their own professional practice and ability to uphold these professional behaviours.
- Uphold the principles of the Doctor of Medicine and Surgery Student Code of Conduct, ANU Student Code of Conduct, ANU Academic Integrity Rule and Policy
Research-Led Teaching
This course draws on relevant research about assessment of professional behaviour, and the link between student unprofessional behaviour and subsequent finds of professional misconduct. 1 It also draws on innovative educational work and research within the School of Medicine and Psychology re peer review 2
1
Acad Med. 2004 Mar; 79(3): 244-9. Unprofessional behavior in medical school is associated with subsequent disciplinary action by a state medical board. Papadakis MA , Hodgson CS Teherani A, Kohatsu ND
N Engl J Med. 2005 Dec 22; 353(25): 2673-82. Disciplinary action by medical boards and prior behavior in medical school. Papadakis MA(1), Teherani A, Banach MA, Knettler TR, Rattner SL, Stern DT, Veloski JJ, Hodgson CS.
Adv Health Sci Educ Theory Pract. 2015 May; 20(2): 421-30. doi:10.1007/s10459-014-9536-2. Epub 2014 Aug 19. The relationship between promotions committees' identification of problem medical students and subsequent state medical board actions.Santen SA(1), Petrusa E, Gruppen LD.
Teach Learn Med. 2011 Oct; 23(4): 337-41. doi: 10.1080/10401334.2011.611780. Are we treating professionalism professionally? Medical school behavior as predictors of future outcomes. Prasad V
Med J Aust. 2008 Dec 1-15; 189(11-12): 626-8. Dealing with "rogue" medical students: we need a nationally consistent approach based on "case law". Parker MH 1, Wilkinson D
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Med Educ. 2006 Feb; 40(2): 95-6. Is there a role for peer review in performance appraisal of medical students? Ramsey W, Owen C
Acad Med. 2010 Jan; 85(1): 140-7. doi: 10.1097/ACM.0b013e3181c47a5b. Impact of peer assessment on the professional development of medical students: a qualitative study. Nofziger AC 1, Naumburg EH , Davis BJ, Mooney CJ , Epstein RM.
Recommended Resources
See MEDI8030 for details of Recommended Resources.
Additional resources relevant to this course include:
- Medical Board of Australia; Good medical practice: a code of conduct for doctors in Australia https://www.medicalboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines-Policies/Code-of-conduct.aspx
- Social Media Guidance: https://www.medicalboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines-Policies/Social-media-guidance.aspx
- Students are registered through Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA), with the Medical Board https://www.medicalboard.gov.au/Registration/Types/Student-Registration.aspx
- Professional Behaviour Guideline
Staff Feedback
The cycle of support, advice and review is fundamental to the assessment of professional behaviour.
Refer to the Professional Behaviour Guideline
Student Feedback
ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.
Other Information
MChD students are also directed to the Assessment Rule 2016 and the Academic Progress Rule 2019 for information related to progression requirements.
Students who have met all the assessment requirements will be awarded a CRS Course Requirement Satisfied grade.
Students who are determined by the Professional Behaviour Committee to have breached the Professional Behaviour Guideline may be required to undertake remediation activities in which case the student would be awarded a RP Result Pending or may be awarded an NCN Fail.
A final summative result for MEDI8035 will not be awarded in cases where a student has not satisfied the requirements of MEDI8030. In such cases a grade of KU Continuing course will be awarded.
Below is an excerpt from clause 21 Academic progress required for medical programs of the Academic Progress Rule 2019:
(1) If a medical student fails 1 or more courses in the student’s medical program in any year of enrolment in the program, the student is considered to have failed to maintain a satisfactory standard of academic progress in the student’s medical program, and is regarded as on probation for the remainder of the program.
(4) If a medical student to whom subsection (1) applies fails, for a second or subsequent time, any course in the student’s medical program in any year of enrolment in the program, the Delegated Authority may exclude the student from medical programs for a specified period of no longer than 5 years.
(7) If a medical student fails any course in the final year of the student’s medical program, the student is considered to have failed to maintain a satisfactory standard of academic progress in the student’s medical program and the Delegated Authority may exclude the student from medical programs for a specified period of no longer than 5 years.
(8) If a medical student fails a second or later year ANU Medical School [since 2023 School of Medicine and Psychology] professional practice course, the student is considered to have failed to maintain a satisfactory standard of academic progress in the student’s medical program and the Delegated Authority may exclude the student from medical programs for a specified period of no longer than 5 years.
Student feedback (additional information)
In addition to SELT, the School of Medicine and Psychology conducts in house formative surveys of the student experience of teaching and learning in its courses for the MChD program.
Class Schedule
| Week/Session | Summary of Activities | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Approximately 70% of students undertake the Year 3 curriculum as a sequence of two curriculum blocks, namely Foundations of Internal Medicine and Surgery (FIMS) and Integrated Community and Child Health (ICCH). These are comprised of a series of clinical rotations and each student will have an individual timetable and unique placement sequence.A common teaching and learning series is delivered on Wednesdays to all students. This is supplemented by specific workshops and tutorials that are run as part of the Block curriculum or Rural Stream curriculum. Weekly schedules for teaching and learning activities are published on the student timetable (Office365 calendar). | |
| 2 | FOUNDATIONS OF INTERNAL MEDICINE AND SURGERY:The general expectation in Year 3 is a minimum of 6 clinical sessions (4 hour sessions) per week in addition to the structured teaching commitments e.g. all day Wednesday. Sometimes attendance of 7 to 8 sessions a week may be required, in addition to formal teaching. Individual student schedules for clinical placements are published on the student placement system (In Place). | See MEDI8030 for items expected to be completed in each block. |
| 3 | INTEGRATED COMMUNITY AND CHILD HEALTH:The general expectation in Year 3 is a minimum of 6 clinical sessions (4 hour sessions) per week in addition to the structured teaching commitments e.g. all day Wednesday. Sometimes attendance of 7 to 8 sessions a week may be required, in addition to formal teaching. Individual student schedules for clinical placements are published on the student placement system (In Place). “Short term” Rural GP placements (ICCH) – SE NSW and Northern TerritoryThese include 7 to 8 clinical sessions per week in addition to the Wednesday teaching. The rural placement is an immersion in rural practice and where the General Practitioners (GPs) have hospital and after hours commitments, students will be expected to participate after hours. Northern Territory Placements Some students are selected to undertake their 6 week rural ICCH term in the Northern Territory. Indigenous Health Stream students (IHS) are preferenced for Northern Territory placements, and those IHS students who are also in the Rural Stream can have placements. These are immersive clinical and cultural placements, and students are expected to be available to participate after hours. |
See MEDI8030 for items expected to be completed in each block. |
| 4 | RURAL STREAM: Approximately 30% of the student cohort are selected to undertake the Rural Stream. These students will have a total of 38 weeks of clinical attachment based in a single rural location. Throughout Year 3, rural stream students are required to attend a number of compulsory formal teaching blocks, and will not be expected to attend clinical activities during these periods. The Rural Stream program includes 7 to 8 clinical and or/teaching sessions per week in addition to the Wednesday structured teaching. The rural placement is immersive, and students will be expected to participate after hours. | See MEDI8030 for items expected to be completed in each block. |
| 5 | TEACHING BREAKS:This course is not a standard ANU semester-based course, therefore the breaks are slightly different. For 2025 these include:
Note that as an ACT based program, the curriculum follows the public holidays for the ACT regardless of state/territory students are completing placements in. |
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| 6 | STUVAC:Students are offered study time for assessments, in 2025 these dates are:
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Assessment Summary
| Assessment task | Value | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|
| MEDI8030 Professionalism and Engagement Hurdle | 0 % | 1 |
| No adverse findings from the SMP Professional Behaviour Committee (Hurdle) | 0 % | 2 |
* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details
Policies
ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:
- Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
- Extenuating Circumstances Application
- Student Surveys and Evaluations
- Deferred Examinations
- Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
- Code of practice for teaching and learning
Assessment Requirements
The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.
Moderation of Assessment
Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.
Participation
Additional information in relation to attendance
Please refer to MEDI8030
Absences
Refer to the MChD leave guidelines.
Assessment Task 1
Learning Outcomes: 1
MEDI8030 Professionalism and Engagement Hurdle
Please refer to MEDI8030 for the details of this assessment task.
Passing standard and hurdle requirements
Please refer to MEDI8030 for the details of how to meet the requirements of this hurdle and pass this course.
Timing and Due date:
Please refer to MEDI8030.
Assessment Task 2
Learning Outcomes: 2
No adverse findings from the SMP Professional Behaviour Committee (Hurdle)
A student may be referred to the Professional Behaviour Committee (PBC) if there has been a breach of the Professional Behaviour Guideline.
Passing standard and hurdle requirements
To meet the requirements of this hurdle and pass this course you must not have a current adverse finding by the PBC.
Timing and Due date:
Continuous throughout course.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.
The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.
The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.
The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.
Online Submission
Please refer to MEDI8030.
Hardcopy Submission
Please refer to MEDI8030.
Late Submission
Please refer to MEDI8030.
Referencing Requirements
The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material. Any use of artificial intelligence must be properly referenced. Failure to properly cite use of Generative AI will be considered a breach of academic integrity.
Extensions and Penalties
Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.
Privacy Notice
The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.
Distribution of grades policy
Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.
Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.
Support for students
The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).
- ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
- ANU Access and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
- ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
- ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
- ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
- ANUSA supports and represents all ANU students
Convener
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Christine Phillips
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Convener
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Dr Komal Jaiswal
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