HMO703 - Community Optometry 1
Unit details
| Year | 2026 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes | Trimester 3: Waurn Ponds (Geelong)^ |
| Credit point(s) | 4 |
| EFTSL value | 0.500 |
| Unit chair | Trimester 3: Daniel Thomson & Heather Connor |
| Cohort rule | This unit is only available to students enrolled in D302, H710 |
| Prerequisite | HMO702 |
| Corequisite | Nil |
| Incompatible with | Nil |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment | The equivalent of four days per week (approximately 8 work hours per day) professional experience (placement), in community settings (approximately 11 weeks, some of which fall outside of trimester time). Approximately 8 hours per week (the equivalent of 1 day), across 10 within-trimester weeks, undertaking a structured, online-delivered program. This online program will involve engaging with specified resources, consisting of an online curriculum and twice-weekly webinar participation. Approximately 5 days (of 8 hours each, distributed across the two weeks constituting the final week of trimester and the study period) of structured consolidation of 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. |
Note^Students enrol at Waurn Ponds (Geelong) and undertake clinical placements in metropolitan, rural and regional Victoria. You will need to access substantial learning resources and experiences online. Compliance with the Standards in computing, connectivity and student capability are a condition on your enrolment. | |
Content
In this unit students will undertake clinical placements in community optometry settings in metropolitan, rural and regional Australia for the equivalent of four days per week. Their learning will be supported by access to online-accessible learning materials and an online logbook enabling them to map their clinical development progress. One further day per week will be devoted to completion of a online-delivered learning program, self-directed private study and webinar participation. Students will extend their previous learning of the competencies for optometry practice defined by the Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand (OCANZ) through application in the community optometry settings. There will be particular attention to assessment and prescribing of pharmacological interventions for common conditions in optometry. The experience gained will enable students to analyse and reflect upon legal and ethical issues; professional, management and business development; and the social, public and population health context of optometry practice.
Learning outcomes
Each unit in your course is a building block towards Deakin's Graduate Learning Outcomes - not all units develop and assess every Graduate Learning Outcome (GLO).
| 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 | Design and conduct an optometric examination in a supervised clinical practice environment, demonstrating high level competency in a comprehensive range of designated examination component sub-skills | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO2 | Assemble and evaluate clinical information, formulate a diagnosis from a series of viable differentials, create a management plan, brief a supervisor regarding a case presentation, and communicate outcomes and appropriate advice to patients presenting for optometric care | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO3 | Evaluate simulated case-based data and defend sound, evidence-based decisions regarding management of a wide-range of commonly encountered clinical situations and scenarios | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO4 | Select, interpret and illustrate interesting case presentations to supervisors and colleagues by means of concise, insightful, written case reports and verbal feedback to supervisors regarding ongoing patient interactions | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO5 | Develop an ability to conduct themselves in a work-ready, professional manner by consistent, reliable and timely practice attendance, respectful behaviour, and by regular use of a self-reflective e-journal to write and appraise what they have learned from each clinical interaction and experience whilst on clinical residential placement | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
These Unit Learning Outcomes are applicable for all teaching periods throughout the year
Assessment
| Assessment description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1: Supervisor's assessment of clinical performance | Students will be assessed on their holistic performance on placement - professional preparation, optometric practice and clinical communication | 15% |
|
| Assessment 2: Case report | 2000 words | 30% |
|
| Assessment 3: Online case presentation | 10 cases MCQ's and short and long answer questions | 40% |
|
| Assessment 4: Programmatic Assessment and Deakin staff assessment of professional identity | Students are required to develop a portfolio which illustrates their breadth of practice during their placement with a selection of cases/experiences that they feel best illustrates their performance over their placement in key domains. | 15% |
|
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
- Attendance on all scheduled clinical residential placement days.
- Verified completion of on-line log-book entries for each clinical interaction, every day on placement.
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.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.