Welcome

Welcome from the Dean

Dean of Health Science, Gwynnyth M Llewellyn

As Dean it is my pleasure to welcome you to the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Sydney.

Choosing to embark on study in the health sciences is an exciting step for any young professional, but even more so given the current climate in regards to health. Today€™s graduates will enter a health, disability and rehabilitation system that is changing rapidly, in a society with expectations for an increasingly global view of health care, education and research.

The shifting focus from acute and infectious conditions to chronic disease - both within Australia and worldwide - also presents new challenges for our current health and social cares systems, and the health practitioners and policy makers working in these systems.

As Australia€™s leading health sciences faculty we are committed to graduating health professionals who will be the forefront of this change and who will become the future leaders in health, health education, research, policy, management and health advocacy.

Your time with us will allow you to develop breadth and depth in your knowledge and contextual understanding, including an international perspective and an appreciation of Indigenous health. We will provide you with an environment to grow as professionally competent and socially aware individuals who are committed to providing compassionate, people-centred, integrated and evidence-based health care.

To achieve this you will be learning from leading researchers and clinicians in health sciences. Our staff bring to their learning and teaching activities knowledge of cutting-edge research in their field and an overarching enthusiasm to provide a challenging and stimulating study environment.

This goes hand-in-hand with our commitment to research of the highest quality. Whether it is investigating the use of information technology in our hospitals or developing pioneering online stuttering treatments that break down socioeconomic and geographical barriers, our research has real impact on the health outcomes of our communities.

I am immensely proud to be Dean of a faculty that brings together the best and brightest students and staff to work collaboratively in exploring the big issues in health.

Professor Gwynnyth M Llewellyn
Dean

Introduction

This Handbook is the official guide to the courses offered in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Sydney. The Handbook was prepared in advance of the 2011 academic year to maximise its usefulness as a reference to students, staff and the many associates of the faculty, particularly those who contribute to the clinical education of students.

The charter of the faculty is to provide competent practitioners in the health professions. The aims are for excellence in research, clinical and academic teaching.

The fields encompassed by the faculty at the undergraduate and/or postgraduate level are:

Behavioural Sciences
Developmental Disability
Diagnostic Radiography
Exercise and Sport Science
Health Informatics
Health Sciences
Hearing and Speech
Manipulative Physiotherapy
Medical Radiation Sciences
Molecular Imaging
Nuclear Medicine
Occupational Therapy
Orthoptics
Physiotherapy
Radiation Therapy
Rehabilitation Counselling
Sexual Health
Speech Pathology
Sports Physiotherapy.

Use of this Handbook

This Handbook consists of three sections: undergraduate course information, postgraduate course information and common information sections.

The undergraduate section comprises Chapters 1 to 7. Users will also be able to find a descriptor of each discipline in this section.
The postgraduate section comprises Chapters 9 to 20.
The common information section contains general information relevant to both undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Course outlines

The course outline tables in each academic chapter set out the required units of study to be undertaken by students in each year of their enrolled course. The Faculty of Health Sciences regularly reviews its courses to keep up with and reflect changing contemporary needs in allied health sciences. As a result, there may be one or more course outline tables presented concurrently under a course.

Commencing students should find the table with Year 1 as the first entry and use that table as a guide for their course where applicable. Continuing students should consult the table stating last offered in 2011 for the relevant stage of their course. See your course director, year adviser or Student Central if you require clarification on course outlines.

Units of study

The units of study section follows the academic chapters. It sets out, in alphabetical order by unit code (eg AHCD1234, BACH2345), details of units such as description of content, credit points, semester offered and assessment for the units offered in each course for the current academic year.

Further information

University of Sydney Handbooks - 2011 Archive

The University of Sydney - Faculty of Health Sciences Handbook