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Course Outline

PAR201 Paramedic Primary Healthcare: Community Paramedicine

Course Coordinator:Nicole Beesley (nbeesley@usc.edu.au) School:School of Health - Paramedicine

2026Trimester 1

UniSC Sunshine Coast

 Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

This course challenges you to implement appropriate communication strategies while performing a comprehensive patient assessment. A clinical systems approach is used in assessing body systems and regions to find abnormalities in health status. The content links knowledge of clinical sciences, anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology and statistics to enable you to undertake and communicate a comprehensive health assessment.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – Online modules are provided each week for the student to work through prior to laboratory sessions 3hrs Week 1 12 times
Laboratory 1 – Schedules laboratory sessions in the paramedicine simulation space 2hrs Week 1 12 times

Course Topics

Introduction to community paramedicine clinical assessment for Registered Paramedics

  • Introduction to community paramedicne
  • Principles of patient approach & communication
  • Principle of systematic patient assessment, history taking & physical examination
  • Evidence based practice, clinical decision making and health statistics

Extended clinical assessment of:

  • Cardiovascular system
  • Respiratory system
  • The abdomen & gastrointestinal system
  • Neurological system
  • Musculoskeletal system

Mature Content

Nudity, Adult themes

What level is this course?

200 Level (Developing)

Building on and expanding the scope of introductory knowledge and skills, developing breadth or depth and applying knowledge and skills in a new context. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally, undertaken in the second or third full-time year of an undergraduate programs.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... Professional Standard Mapping * Paramedicine Board of Australia
1 Demonstrate a safe & systematic approach to examination and patient assessment Empowered 
1.1.e, 1.2.b, 1.2.d, 2.1.h, 3.1.a, 4.1.d, 5.2.a, 5.3.c
2 Interpret and communicate the key findings of patient assessment Empowered 
3.2.d, 3.2.f, 5.3.a, 5.3.d, 5.3.f, 5.4.c, 5.6.c
3 Synthesise clinical findings and knowledge of anatomy, health statistics and pathophysiology to formulate a clinical impression Knowledgeable 
3.1.a, 3.2.d, 3.2.f, 4.1.d, 5.2.a, 5.3.a, 5.3.b, 5.3.d, 5.3.f, 5.6.c

* Competencies by Professional Body

CODE COMPETENCY
Paramedicine Board of Australia
1.1.e Provide relevant information to a patient and demonstrate appropriate methods to obtain informed consent.
1.2.b Display appropriate professional behaviour in patient interactions.
1.2.d Identify and respect appropriate boundaries between patients and health professionals.
2.1.h Make provisions to engage third parties, including interpreters, to facilitate effective communication with patients whose first language is not English, whenever possible.
3.1.a Operate within a framework of making informed, evidence-based, reasonable and professional judgements about their practice, with acting in the best interests of their patients as their primary concern.
3.2.d Recognise that clinical judgements involve consideration of conflicting information and evidence.
3.2.f Identify the time criticality of treatment, referral, handover and where appropriate, transport.
4.1.d Ensure when patients are required to be moved it is in a considered and safe manner.
5.2.a Identify factors or conditions that may affect the patient behaviour and/or capacity to undergo the procedure.
5.3.c Understand the theoretical basis of and the variety of approaches to assessment and intervention.
5.3.a Understand the structure, function and pathophysiology of the human body, relevant to their practice, together with knowledge of health, human growth and development, disease, disorder and dysfunction.
5.3.d Demonstrate an applied knowledge of human anatomy and physiology sufficient to understand the nature and effects of injury or illness and to conduct assessment and observation in order to establish patient management strategies.
5.3.f Understand the clinical sciences underpinning paramedic practice, including physiological, pharmacological, behavioural and functional.
5.4.c Arrive at a reasonable working diagnosis.
5.6.c Utilise knowledge, reasoning and problem-solving skills to determine appropriate judgements and actions.
5.3.b Understand the principles and applications of scientific enquiry, including the evaluation of treatment efficacy and the research process.

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

HLT100 (or LFS112 and LFS122) and PAR103 and enrolled in Program SC395 or SC306

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

Formative feedback is provided to students during each tutorial regarding the attainment of the required clinical skills and knowledge. The first online quiz is due in week four and provides an early summative indication of knowledge acquisition.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Practical / Laboratory Skills Individual 30% 
15 min
 Week 7 In Class
All 2 Practical / Laboratory Skills Individual 30% 
15 min
 Week 12 In Class
All 3 Examination - Centrally Scheduled Individual 40% 
2 hours
 Exam Period Exam Venue
All - Assessment Task 1:Clinical Examination 1
Goal: 
In a simulated environment, you will demonstrate the clinical examination of a patient and application of technical skills.
Product: Practical / Laboratory Skills
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
The student is required to conduct a clinical examination of a peer simulating an adult patient.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Use of disciplinary theory and practice
 1 2
2 
Ability to perform the clinical assessment elements
 1 2
3 
Content knowledge of the prescribed clinical assessments
 1 2
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Applying technologies
All - Assessment Task 2:Clinical Examination 2
Goal: 
In a simulated environment, you will demonstrate the clinical examination of a patient and application of technical skills.
Product: Practical / Laboratory Skills
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
The student is required to conduct a clinical examination of a peer simulating an adult patient.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Use of disciplinary theory and practice
 1 2
2 
Content knowledge of the prescribed clinical assessments
 1 2
3 
Ability to perform the clinical assessment elements
 1
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Applying technologies
All - Assessment Task 3:Knowledge Review: Final Examination
Goal: 
To demonstrate disciplinary knowledge of clinical examination and health statistics.
Product: Examination - Centrally Scheduled
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Multiple choice questions and/or short answer
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Ability to describe the process of history taking, clinical examination and clinical decision making
 2 3
2 
Ability to relate the key findings to disease or injury
 2 3
3 
Ability to interpret the key findings of patient assessment to formulate a clinical impression
 2 3
Generic Skills: 
Problem solving

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

Schedule

Period and Topic Activities 
Module 1: Community Paramedicine
 
Online presentation , laboratory
 
Module 2: Cardiovascular system examination
 
Online presentation , laboratory
 
Module 3: Respiratory system examination
 
Online presentation, laboratory
 
Module 4: The abdomen & gastrointestinal system examination
 
Online presentation, laboratory
 
Module 5: Clinical decision making theory - Evidence based practice
 
Online presentation
 
Module 6: Clinical decision making theory - Health statistics
 
Online presentation
 
Module 7: Musculoskeletal system examination
 
Online presentation, laboratory
 
Module 8: Neurological system examination
 
Online presentation, laboratory

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

You need regular access to the resource(s) below. Many texts are available as ebooks through the Library at no additional cost.

Required? Author Year Title Edition Publisher
Required Nicholas Joseph Talley,Simon O'Connor 0 Talley & O'Connor's Clinical Examination 9th Ed. n/a

Specific requirements

Students are required to wear appropriate clothing to tutorials that allow tutorial partners to participate in clinical examinations of each other.

How are risks managed in this course?

Risk assessments have been performed for all studio and laboratory classes and a low level of health and safety risk exists. Some risk concerns may include equipment, instruments, and tools; as well as manual handling items within the laboratory. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.

The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

For course-specific questions, contact your teaching staff or Course Coordinator.  

For other enquiries or to access support, please contact Student Central: 

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