Laboratory Medicine

Stage 2 Units – 25 Credit Points Each

Foundations of Biostatistics and Epidemiology

Students critically appraise public health and clinical epidemiological research literature and perform basic statistical analysis. You will encounter basic statistical and graphical description and analysis of epidemiological and biomedical data with appropriate graphs, tables, and summary measures; statistical inference and statistical hypothesis testing applied to problems in health and clinical medicine using parametric and non-parametric tests; calculation of common epidemiological measures of disease frequency and association such as incidence rate, prevalence, attributable risk, risk ratios and odds ratio; role and significance of inferential statistics such as confidence intervals and probability values.

Foundations for Professional Health Practice

Introduction to ethical decision making in the context of professional health practice. Application of academic standards and development of skills required for studying at university. Introduction to professional requirements which impact on the safety and quality of client centred service/care when working in a health setting. Examination of differences in Australian and international health systems. Students will learn the value of diversity in inter-professional practice through working in teams. Students will reflect on their learning and begin to develop lifelong learning skills.

Foundations of Biomedical Science (unit not available online)

This unit is an introduction to the theory and application of disciplines in the biomedical sciences: microbiology, immunology, histopathology, haematology, biochemistry and molecular genetics. Themes include the basic theory of the cellular and molecular components that form the foundations of biomedical science, the investigation of disease and infectious agents, occupational health considerations, the use of specialised equipment and testing of biological samples in a professional manner. The role and function of medical and research laboratories will also be explored.

Human Structure and Function

Anatomical organisation of the body and the relationships between body systems and cells. Human requirements for metabolism and life. The structure and function of the body. Basic control and interactions of the circulatory, respiratory, digestive and excretory systems. Primary defence against microorganisms. Mechanisms for growth, repair and reproduction.

Indigenous Cultures and Health Behaviours

In this unit students will examine culture and diversity within local, national and global, Indigenous populations; impacts of specific policies and historical events on Indigenous Australians and their effects on health and health care access. Students will analyse health outcomes of Indigenous Australians and explore underlying social determinants, and how health professionals can work collaboratively in consultation with Indigenous individuals, families, communities and organisations.

Integrated Systems Anatomy & Physiology

An integrated approach to the study of body systems correlating structure and function of the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, urinary and reproductive systems together with their endocrine and neural control. Students will investigate the interaction of these systems in normal body functioning and in selected altered body states.

Introduction to Biological Chemistry (unit not available online)

This unit is an introduction to biological chemistry for students who have passed CHEM1003 Introduction to Chemistry. This unit will build on Introduction to Chemistry by providing examples of chemistry with relevance to biological systems. It will relate properties of biological molecules to aspects of chemical bonding to allow identification of their physical and chemical properties. It will further build on your skills in chemical reactions and numeracy developed in Introduction to Chemistry and introduce some chemical measurement techniques of relevance to biological systems. It will illustrate the role of functional groups in controlling the function, behaviour and reactivity of organic molecules, focussing on application to biological molecules. The importance of solution pH in many biological systems will be introduced, along with the properties of acids and buffer solutions.

Introduction to Chemistry (unit not available online)

This unit is an introduction to the fundamental nature of matter for students who have not previously studied chemistry. A range of chemical processes that underpin a broad array of disciplines will illustrate the importance of and differences between chemical and mathematical representations of reactions and reactivity. The physical phenomena resulting from bond types and their resulting intermolecular forces will explain the properties of natural and man-made processes and materials. Using examples from nature and biology the role of the certain groups in ascribing reactivity and function of organic molecules will be highlighted.