HME911 - Medicine 1A

Unit details

Year

2027 unit information

Enrolment modesSemester 1: Waurn Ponds (Geelong)
Credit point(s)4
EFTSL value0.500
Unit chairSemester 1: Heather Morrison
Cohort ruleThis unit is only available to students enrolled in H911
Prerequisite

Nil

CorequisiteNil
Incompatible withHME101
Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment

Students are expected to attend all learning activities including lectures and practical experiences, which will typically include the equivalent of 40 hours per week for the duration of semester incorporating clinical activities, formal teaching, personal reflection and self-directed learning.

Typical study commitment

Students will on average spend 600 hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit.

This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site.

Note

Student Resource requirement

Students to purchase a personal stethoscope - recommended minimum standard Littman Classic 3

Laptop Computer requirement

Students enrolled in the MD require a wireless-enabled, personal laptop computer to undertake scheduled learning activities. Wireless access to the Deakin network is available within the teaching spaces of the Deakin Medical School.

Information about minimum computer standards will be communicated to students upon acceptance into the MD.

Content

HME911 represents Semester 1 of Year 1 of the Doctor of Medicine (MD) course and consists of a single unit of four credit points. The unit is structured in two blocks, Human Biology and Infection, Defence and Repair, and within each block the themes of Medical Sciences and Clinical Practice, Public Health Medicine, and Ethics, Law and Professionalism are discussed. Students will also undergo a series of clinical placements in the clinical environment.

Mandatory student checks

Department of Human Services policy - Police Record Check and Working With Children Check

Department of Human Services policy - Police Record Check and Working With Children Check in accordance with Department of Human Services policy, all students are required to have a valid police check prior to clinical placements in each calendar year of their course.  Students are also required to hold a current Working with Children Check and will be required to declare their immunisation status to satisfy the requirements of health organisations where they will be undertaking their clinical learning experience. A health organisation may refuse to accept a student for placement if the student’s immunisation status is not satisfactory to the health organisation. Further information on the mandatory student checks will be provided by the School of Medicine Placements team.

Learning outcomes

ULO These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can:

Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs)

ULO1

Describe the basic structure and function of body systems using key concepts of cell biology, biochemistry, genetics, embryology, histology and anatomy.

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
GLO4: Critical thinking
GLO5: Problem solving

ULO2

Identify and explain the regulatory mechanisms at molecular, cell and organ levels which contribute to maintaining whole body homeostasis, and haematological function.

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
GLO4: Critical thinking
GLO5: Problem solving

ULO3

Describe the major pathophysiological mechanisms of tissue injury and adaptation, and discuss the processes of inflammation, wound healing, infection and neoplasia.

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
GLO4: Critical thinking
GLO5: Problem solving

ULO4

Explain the key principles of the innate and adaptive immune response in disease and disorders. Identify and differentiate microorganisms involved in health and disease.

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
GLO4: Critical thinking
GLO5: Problem solving

ULO5

Describe and demonstrate person-centred, culturally sensitive and structured approaches to gathering information from patients during a clinical consultation (including clinical interview and physical examination).

GLO2: Communication
GLO4: Critical thinking
GLO8: Global citizenship

ULO6

Demonstrate clear, concise and structured approach to verbal and written presentation of clinical information.

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
GLO2: Communication
GLO4: Critical thinking
GLO5: Problem solving

ULO7

Perform clinical and procedural skills safely in a simulated environment.

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
GLO2: Communication
GLO4: Critical thinking
GLO5: Problem solving
GLO7: Teamwork

ULO8

Demonstrate behaviours consistent with the ethical, legal and professional responsibilities of medical students, including the ability to learn in collaboration with peers.

GLO6: Self-management
GLO7: Teamwork

ULO9

Reflect on personal and professional experiences, actions and decision-making to determine strengths and weaknesses and strategies for development.

GLO6: Self-management

ULO10

Define and explain core principles and key concepts of health law and ethics including consent, confidentiality, privacy, autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence and dignity.

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
GLO8: Global citizenship

ULO11

Recognise and explain potential ethico-legal issues in healthcare practice or policy.

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
GLO8: Global citizenship

ULO12

Apply the principles of academic writing to communicate effectively regarding health and healthcare.

GLO2: Communication
GLO3: Digital literacy

ULO13

Identify concepts, principles, values and evidence relevant to analysis of specific issues in public health medicine, health ethics, law or professionalism.

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
GLO4: Critical thinking
GLO5: Problem solving
GLO8: Global citizenship

ULO14

Describe the burden of disease and disability and identify causal pathways.

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
GLO8: Global citizenship

ULO15

Identify and explain the epidemiologic concepts, bio statistical techniques, and evidence-based decision making tools that underpin the practice of public health medicine.

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
GLO4: Critical thinking
GLO5: Problem solving
GLO8: Global citizenship

ULO16

Explain the importance of practicing culturally safe health care and critically reflect on your own culture, recognising the knowledge and strategies they need to develop to become a culturally safe health professional.

GLO8: Global citizenship

ULO17

Outline the cultural, social, physiological, economic, and political determinants of health and wellbeing, as they relate to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
GLO4: Critical thinking
GLO8: Global citizenship

ULO18 Collaborate with peers, patients and others in Interprofessional teams in the planning and management of care and in the discussion and resolution of ethical, clinical, or social dilemmas. GLO7: Teamwork
GLO8: Global citizenship

Note – From 2026, Deakin commenced introducing Graduate Attributes (GAs), which define the distinctive characteristics of a Deakin graduate. You may notice some units still refer to Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) during this transition period.

Assessment

HB Block

Assessment description Student output Grading and weighting
(% total mark for unit)
Indicative due week

Assessment 1: Medical Science Intra-semester Test (HB) - online

Individual test (no resources)

45 minutes
SAQs/MCQs/EMQs

10% of HB block
(Pass/Fail)

  • Week 5

Assessment 2: Clinical Practice Reports

2000 words

17.5% of HB block
(Pass/Fail)

  • Week 7

Assessment 3: Ethics, Law and Professionalism Test

1000 words

10% of HB block
(Pass/Fail)

  • Week 8

Assessment 4: Indigenous Health and Cultural Safety Critical Reflection

1500 words

15% of HB block
(Pass/Fail)

  • Week 13

Assessment 5: Public Health Medicine Examination - online

Individual written examination (all resources)

45 minutes
SAQS/MCQs/EMQs

7.5% of HB block
(Pass/Fail)

  • End-of-unit assessment period

Assessment 6: Medical Science Practical Examination (HB) - on campus

Individual (no resources)

45 minutes
25 x 90 second
stations of SAQs

10% of HB block
(Pass/Fail)

  • End-of-unit assessment period

Assessment 7: Medical Science Examination (HB) - online

Individual (no resources)

2 hours

30% of HB block
(Pass/Fail)

  • End-of-unit assessment period

IDR Block

Assessment description Student output Grading and weighting
(% total mark for unit)
Indicative due week

Assessment 8: Clinical Practice Assessment - Interview patient, Video and Reflective piece

Equivalent to
2000 words

17.5% of IDR block
(Ungraded Pass / Ungraded Fail)

  • Week 9

Assessment 9: Medical Science Intra-semester Test (IDR) 

Individual written test (no resources)

45 minutes
SAQs/MCQs/EMQs

10% of IDR block
(Ungraded Pass / Ungraded Fail)

  • Week 15

Assessment 10: Ethics, Law and Professionalism Test

1250 words

12.5% of IDR block
(Ungraded Pass / Ungraded Fail)

  • Week 16

Assessment 11: Public Health Medicine Team-Based Learning (TBL)- online

3 x 1 hour sessions

12.5% of IDR block
(Ungraded Pass / Ungraded Fail)

  • Refer to unit guide

Assessment 12: Public Health Medicine Examination - online

Individual written examination (all resources)

45 minutes
SAQs/MCQs/EMQs

7.5% of IDR block
(Ungraded Pass / Ungraded Fail)

  • End-of-unit assessment period

Assessment 13: Medical Sciences Practical Examination (IDR) - on-campus

Individual (no resources)

45 minutes
25 x 90 second
stations of SAQs

10% of IDR block
(Ungraded Pass / Ungraded Fail)

  • End-of-unit assessment period

Assessment 14: Medical Sciences Examination (IDR) - online

Individual (no resources)

2 hours

30% of IDR block
(Ungraded Pass / Ungraded Fail)

  • End-of-unit assessment period

This unit is an ungraded pass/ungraded fail only.

The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.

Hurdle requirements

Students must pass each block of HME911 (Human Biology and Infection, Defence and Repair) in order to be eligible for an overall pass grade in HME911.

A pass is awarded for each block based on:

  • A cumulative outcome ≥50% of available marks.

Learning resource

There is no prescribed text. Unit materials are provided via the unit site. This includes unit topic readings and references to further information.

Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)

To fully engage with Deakin's learning experiences, students must be able to access and use internet-connected devices as outlined in computing requirements at Deakin.

To support student success at Deakin, we have a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) learning environment that acknowledges that students and educators bring with them the digital tools they regularly use to complete academic tasks. These tools stay with you beyond the classroom, helping you to keep learning, explore ideas more deeply, and connect with knowledge in ways that matter to you.

Students requiring a loan device should visit our Loan Laptop webpage or students requiring longer-term assistance should visit our Student Financial Assistance webpage.

Unit fee information

Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.

Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.

Estimate your fees

For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.