Course Outline

PAR311 Leadership in Clinical Practice

Course Coordinator:Natalie Dodd (ndodd1@usc.edu.au) School:School of Health - Paramedicine

2025Semester 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 usc.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

Leadership is integral to the provision of safe, quality clinical practice. All clinicians have some leadership role, be it formal or informal. To prepare you for your professional role you will develop knowledge in clinical leadership by analysing leadership principles and theories. You will critically appraise your leadership qualities and practices and develop capabilities and competencies to practice peer mentoring, clinical supervision and delegation. These will support professional development of yourself and others.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – Online interactive learning materials including podcasts, quizzes and case studies 1hr Week 1 13 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Face-to-face workshops will run for 11 of the 13 week semester. 2hrs Week 1 11 times
Laboratory 1 – Face-to-face on campus laboratories will run in week 7 and 9. 2hrs Week 7 2 times

Course Topics

Course Content:

Leadership culture, theories, approaches and styles 

Followership 

Crisis resource management 

Mentorship and feedback

Self-leadership 

Interprofessional collaborative practice

What level is this course?

300 Level (Graduate)

Demonstrating coherence and breadth or depth of knowledge and skills. Independent application of knowledge and skills in unfamiliar contexts. Meeting professional requirements and AQF descriptors for the degree. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory or developing knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally undertaken in the third or fourth full-time study year of an undergraduate program.

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 Appraise principles of leadership and apply these concepts paramedic primary healthcare provision. Creative and critical thinker
1.1.d, 1.4.a, 1.4, 2.2.b, 5.3.f, 5.4.a, 5.6.c, 5.3
2 Collaborate with colleagues to develop culturally safe leadership attributes. Engaged
Sustainability-focussed
2.2.b, 4.5.b, 4.7.i
3 Critically reflect on peer partnership and mentorship capabilities. Creative and critical thinker
Sustainability-focussed
1.1.d, 1.1.k, 4.5.b, 4.6.a
4 Evaluate and apply mentorship principles to clinical education and assessment. Empowered
Engaged
4.7.i, 5.3

* Competencies by Professional Body

CODE COMPETENCY
Paramedicine Board of Australia
1.1.d Apply the Paramedicine Board of Australia’s Code of conduct to their practice.
1.4.a Demonstrate understanding of the principles of patient advocacy and their application to paramedicine practice.
1.1.k Practise in accordance with the applicable legislation governing the safe use of scheduled medicines by paramedics in the jurisdiction of practice.
1.4 Advocate on behalf of the patient, when appropriate in the context of the practitioner’s practice as a paramedic
2.2.b Demonstrate an understanding of professional roles and responsibilities of healthcare team members and other service providers and how they interact with the role of a paramedic.
4.5.b Consider feedback from colleagues and critically reflect on their own paramedicine practice.
4.7.i Participate, where appropriate, in teaching others including paramedic students, those of other health and emergency services, disciplines and developing less experienced paramedics.
4.6.a Demonstrate the principles, application and need for quality control and quality assurance in paramedicine practice.
5.3.f Understand the clinical sciences underpinning paramedic practice, including physiological, pharmacological, behavioural and functional.
5.4.a Maintain the safety of self, patients and those involved in their care.
5.6.c Utilise knowledge, reasoning and problem-solving skills to determine appropriate judgements and actions.
5.3 Understand the key concepts of the bodies of knowledge which are specifically relevant to paramedicine practice

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

PAR102 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

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

Online formative quiz offered prior to first summative quiz

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 Quiz/zes Individual 20%
N/A
Throughout teaching period (refer to Format) In Class
All 2 Artefact - Creative Group 40%
15 mins/1500word equivalent
Week 8 In Class
All 3 Written Piece Individual 40%
2000 words
Week 12 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All - Assessment Task 1:Quizzes
Goal:
To demonstrate your understanding of key leadership principles and practices related to your future role as a Registered Paramedic.
Product: Quiz/zes
Format:
Multiple choice and/or short answer questions. 

The quiz will assess your knowledge of the content from the weekly readings, online lectures and workshops.

The quiz will be schedule between weeks 6-10. Due date will be posted to Canvas at the beginning of semester
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
You will be required to complete an in-class quiz that assess your knowledge of the content from the weekly readings, online lectures and workshop content from the previous weeks.
1
Generic Skills:
Problem solving
All - Assessment Task 2:Create artefact
Goal:
Improve your personal leadership qualities and practices by managing group work and the inherent challenges that arise while creating a presentation assessment.
Product: Artefact - Creative
Format:
You will work in a group to analyse and evaluate a specific leadership challenge and present to the group.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
You will work in a group to analyse and evaluate leadership styles and principles.
1 2 3
Generic Skills:
Communication, Collaboration, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 3:Written task
Goal:
Analyse a contemporary topic in leadership that will enhance your future clinical practice.
Product: Written Piece
Format:
You will prepare a written task which draws on your theoretical and practical learning from the course
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
You will prepare a 2000-word essay on a video in which mentoring is being demonstrated. You will draw on your theoretical and practical learning from the course to evaluate the qualities and attributes of the mentor.
4
Generic Skills:
Communication, Information literacy

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.

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

There are no required/recommended resources for this course.

Specific requirements

Not applicable

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety 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

SafeUniSC

UniSC is committed to a culture of respect and providing a safe and supportive environment for all members of our community. For immediate assistance on campus contact SafeUniSC by phone: 07 5430 1168 or using the SafeZone app. For general enquires contact the SafeUniSC team by phone 07 5456 3864 or email safe@usc.edu.au.

The SafeUniSC Specialist Service is a Student Wellbeing service that provides free and confidential support to students who may have experienced or observed behaviour that could cause fear, offence or trauma. To contact the service call 07 5430 1226 or email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au.

Study help

For help with course-specific advice, for example what information to include in your assessment, you should first contact your tutor, then your course coordinator, if needed.

If you require additional assistance, the Learning Advisers are trained professionals who are ready to help you develop a wide range of academic skills. Visit the Learning Advisers web page for more information, or contact Student Central for further assistance: +61 7 5430 2890 or studentcentral@usc.edu.au.

Wellbeing Services

Student Wellbeing provide free and confidential counselling on a wide range of personal, academic, social and psychological matters, to foster positive mental health and wellbeing for your academic success.

To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 1226.

AccessAbility Services

Ability Advisers ensure equal access to all aspects of university life. If your studies are affected by a disability, learning disorder mental health issue, injury or illness, or you are a primary carer for someone with a disability or who is considered frail and aged, AccessAbility Services can provide access to appropriate reasonable adjustments and practical advice about the support and facilities available to you throughout the University.

To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email AccessAbility@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 2890.

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

  • In person:
    • UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
    • UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
    • UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
    • UniSC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
    • UniSC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Student Central, Building A, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay
    • UniSC Caboolture - Student Central, Level 1 Building J, Cnr Manley and Tallon Street, Caboolture
  • Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
  • Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au