Introductory Professional Practice is a broad introduction to the discipline of pharmacy, the roles that pharmacists play in health care and ideas, issues, skills and knowledge base required of a professional pharmacist.
It introduces students to concepts that underpin disease states management, including those which are managed directly by the pharmacist as a primary care provider, together with foundational skills and knowledge which equip students for clinical decision-making and problem-solving. The place of pharmacy within the Australian health care system is explored, and basic principles of management are also included. In addition, students will be introduced to technical skills used in pharmacy such as dispensing and compounding. Lectures are supported by online material, tutorial and laboratory classes, which allow students to practice and apply skills and knowledge. Themes of evidence based practice, drug information, ethics, clinical reasoning and intervention and communication skills run throughout. Learning gained in this unit prepares students for clinical placements and later units of study, which will build on both the skills and clinical topics covered in this unit.

This unit of study aims to provide knowledge on the role of micro-organisms in pharmacy and the pharmaceutical sciences. It applies basic microbiological principles to the production of clean and sterile pharmaceutical products in both community and hospital pharmacy, and in industrial manufacture, and antimicrobial therapies. Topics include the structure, function and importance of the major groups of micro-organisms; host defence mechanisms; pathogenicity and epidemiology of infectious diseases; disinfectants; preservatives; antiseptics; antibiotics, antibiotic resistance, and antimicrobial stewardship; principles and methods of sterilisation, aseptic preparation and techniques; cleanroom technology and good manufacturing practice (GMP).

This unit will explore the early phases of the drug discovery process from identification of a biological target molecule (enzyme or receptor) to identification of lead molecules and how chemical synthesis and biological screening is applied to develop lead molecules into drugs with desired molecular properties. Topics include drug discovery, protein structure and function, protein structure determination, drug synthesis, spectroscopic analysis, functional groups, molecular properties, molecular modelling, structure based drug design, drug screening. Students will also gain experience in a variety of experimental techniques related to drug design. In addition, students will develop skills including critical thinking, the use of information technology and report writing.

In this unit of study students learn to evaluate the physicochemical principles, design, formulation, and manufacture of pharmaceutical dose forms. The formulation of liquid dose forms including parenteral, nasal, ophthalmic and aural products is discussed. Related topics such as diffusion and dissolution of drugs, drug solubilisation, surface and interfacial tension, surface active materials, micelle formation, pharmaceutical complexes and drug-packaging interactions are covered. Other topics covered in this unit include solid dose forms and particle science, rheology, dispersion dose forms including suspensions, colloidal dispersions, and emulsions; topical dose forms and semisolids; inhalation pharmaceutical aerosols; biopharmaceuticals including protein and peptide drugs, vaccines and their formulations; rectal products; novel drug delivery technologies. Aspects pertaining to the stability of dose forms are also presented in this unit.

This unit of study is intended to provide an understanding of drug metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and pharmacogenetics, and the clinical application of these concepts to support the safe and effective use of medicines. Lecture topics will include metabolic enzymes and pathways, identification of metabolites, pharmacokinetics, drug absorption and distribution, protein binding and bioavailability.
These fundamental areas of knowledge start with an understanding of the relationship between drugs interacting with target sites in the body and the effect produced (i.e. pharmacodynamic principles) and understanding the physiological and physicochemical factors that govern the effect of the body on drugs (metabolism), the movement of drugs around the body and the time course of exposure of body tissues and blood to drugs (i.e. pharmacokinetics). These principles involve developing concepts and models to explain drug activity in patients and to guide appropriate drug dosage selection. This unit will also explore reasons behind the factors affecting drug efficacy and variability in response to medicines among different individuals. The effects of disease, other drugs, demographics and the genetic basis for variable response will be introduced. Basic pharmacogenetic principles for explaining and predicting pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic variability in response will be explored.

This unit of study will cover the therapeutics of respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders, including the pharmaceutical sciences that underpin such drug therapies, with a particular focus on OTC medications. This unit will also include the epidemiology, pathophysiology and clinical features of respiratory and gastrointestinal. Through the use of case-based learning, students will participate in the interpretation, application and dissemination of pharmaceutical and pharmacotherapeutic concepts and knowledge. On completion of this unit of study students will be able to apply an understanding of the pharmaceutical sciences to optimising the drug and non-drug therapy of patients with respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders. This units will also explore interprofessional communication and the application of specialist knowledge to implementing pharmacist cognitive services such as clinical interventions and/or medication management review. Students will become familiar with drug information software and a multitude of computerised drug information databases. Role-plays will help students to develop the language and non-verbal skills pharmacists need to communicate effectively with patients, doctors, and other health care professionals.

This unit of study will focus on medicines available over the counter (OTC), or prescribed, for therapeutic use in a number of common disorders affecting the musculoskeletal, dermatological, special senses, cardiovascular, and endocrine systems. The pharmaceutical sciences that underpin such drug therapies will be covered. This unit will also include the epidemiology, pathophysiology and clinical features of these disorders. Through the use of case-based learning, students will participate in the interpretation, application and dissemination of pharmaceutical and pharmacotherapeutic concepts and knowledge. On completion of this unit of study students will be able to apply an understanding of the pharmaceutical sciences to optimising the drug and non-drug therapy of patients with these disorders. Interprofessional communication and the application of specialist knowledge to implementing pharmacist cognitive services such as clinical interventions and/or medication management review will also be explored. Students will become familiar with drug information software and a multitude of computerised drug information databases. Role-plays will help students to develop the language and non-verbal skills pharmacists need to communicate effectively with patients, doctors, and other health care professionals. This unit of study complements the practical experiences undertaken during experiential placements.

Experiential Placements 1A is the first of a series of three Units of Study where students are provided opportunities to observe and participate in real-life application of theory and skills learned during on-campus course work. Students will have the opportunity to gain experience in practice and knowledge of a variety of professional settings.
The overall objectives of the Experiential Placements Program are to familiarise students with their future professional roles and working environments, and to develop professional skills and behaviours.
Students will be required to maintain an e-portfolio across the Experiential Placements Program of their placement experiences, and attend on-campus debriefing sessions . Students will also be evaluated by their preceptors on their professional performance during placement.

Experiential Placements 1B is a continuation of Experiential Placement 1A where students are provided opportunities to observe and participate in real-life application of theory and skills learned during on-campus course work. Students will have the opportunity to gain experience in practice and knowledge of a variety of professional settings.
The overall objectives of the Experiential Placements Program are to familiarise students with their future professional roles and working environments, and to develop professional skills and behaviours.
Students will be required to maintain an e-portfolio across the Experiential Placements Program of their placement experiences, and attend on-campus briefing and debriefing sessions . Students will also be evaluated by their preceptors on their professional performance during placement.

This unit of study gives an introduction to dispensing practice, accuracy in dispensing, legal aspects of dispensing prescriptions, procedures for dispensing prescriptions, documentation of dispensing procedures, containers and labelling of dispensed medicines, dispensing of particular formulations, effect of changing formulation variables on the physical properties and efficacy of pharmaceutical products, dispensing and therapeutics and dosage. A series of workshops and practical classes assists students to develop the skills necessary to dispense and critically assess a variety of pharmaceutical products and a range of proprietary items, as well as facilitating the development of error-detection skills. During the second half of the semester, the process of dispensing is extended to include therapeutic aspects and recommendations. The lectures cover legal aspects of the prescribing and supply of scheduled medicines.

This unit of study is a continuation of Pharmacy Practice A and a preparatory course for PHAR5510 Pharmacy Practice C. A number of therapeutics topics will be covered in problem-based learning and workshop formats. Practice-based case-study tutorials will be supplemented with relevant therapeutics lectures and other learning resources. Students will explore the role of the pharmacist in advising on primary and self care, performing clinical interventions, conducting medication reviews, oral and written communication skills with consumers and other healthcare professionals; monitoring therapeutic outcomes and participating in therapeutic decision making within these therapeutic areas. This unit of study will facilitate students to gain in-depth knowledge about the pharmacotherapy of disease states and delivery of cognitive pharmacy services in practice through both educational lectures and self-directed learning techniques.
Themes such as evidence based practice, pharmacoepidemiology, drug information including the use of Consumer Medicine Information statements [CMI], medication safety, cognitive pharmacy services, ethics and communication skills will be incorporated throughout the unit of study. Pharmacy management, human resources and career building are also covered in this unit of study. Students will also be provided with training designed to foster development of professional communication skills with both consumers and other healthcare providers in role play methods aiming to develop students¿ competencies in communication, interviewing skills and clinical decision making.

This unit of study is intended to provide knowledge in a number of fundamental areas that guide and provide evidence to support the safe, effective and ethical use of medicines. These fundamental areas of knowledge start with an understanding of the relationship between drugs interacting with target sites in the body and the effect produced (i.e. pharmacodynamic principles) and understanding the physiological and physicochemical factors that govern the movement of drugs around the body and the time course of exposure of body tissues and blood to drugs (i.e. pharmacokinetics). These principles involve developing concepts and models to explain drug activity in patients and to guide appropriate drug dosage selection.
This unit will also explore reasons behind variability in response to medicines among different individuals. The effects of disease, other drugs, demographics and the genetic basis for variable response will be introduced. Basic pharmacogenetic principles for explaining and predicting pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic variability in response will be explored.
Students are also exposed to the notion that medicines may produce adverse effects (as well as beneficial ones). The mechanisms underlying adverse reactions to drugs and how these are classified are explored as are the principles for detecting and avoiding these effects.
Ultimately, many options often exist to manage illness. While the fundamental principles described above assist in understanding how individual drugs should be used, they do not alone provide knowledge to select among alternative options. This unit will introduce students to methods that are used to provide evidence of efficacy and safety of different therapeutic options and to define the place in therapy of these options. To do this, the principles that underpin evidence based medicine (including the clinical trial and pharmacoepidemiology) and the notion of levels of evidence are introduced. Exposure to these principles is intended to develop in students a basic understanding of how to critically evaluate therapeutic options.

The aim of this unit of study is to explore recent advances in drug technology and to illustrate how basic research underpins clinical practice and pharmaceutical care. Students will be exposed to the newly developed and "up-and-coming" biotechnologies such as gene therapy, immunotherapies and prodrugs in the context of neurological disorders, inflammatory diseases, cancer and AIDS. Students will also obtain molecular insights into the actions of natural products. On successful completion of this unit of study, students will: be aware of the latest advances in drug technology; understand how basic research underpins clinical practice and pharmaceutical care; have developed advanced literature searching skills and be able to comprehend the work in original research articles and extract the relevant information from those articles; have improved their writing and oral communication skills; and comprehend the role chemistry plays in determining the molecular basis of drug action. This unit of study will hone the student's critical thinking, literature searching and scientific presentation skills; thus equipping the students with the essential skills for life-long learning.

This unit of study aims to expose students to several themes associated with new drug development. As an integrated pharmaceutics course, this unit covers the topics of preclinical screening, ADME and animal testing, pre-formulation, formulation, bioinformatics in drug development and finally product marketing and post marketing responsibilities. Themes will be introduced in the form of lectures presented by the faculty as well as invited scientific professionals.

This unit of study is a continuation of Pharmacy Practice A and B. A number of therapeutics topics will be covered in a problem-based learning format. Practice-based tutorials will be supplemented with relevant therapeutics lectures and other learning resources. Students will explore the role of the pharmacist in advising on primary and self care, performing clinical interventions, conducting medication reviews, monitoring therapeutic outcomes, participating in therapeutic decision making and involvement in health promotion and public health within these therapeutic areas. Themes such as evidence based practice, pharmacoepidemiology, drug information, medication safety, ethics and communication skills will be incorporated throughout the unit of study.

This is an experiential unit of study. Off-campus placements will provide students with opportunities to enhance their knowledge and skill-base within clinical and professional settings. The sites may include primary and tertiary health care settings (community and hospital), general and specialist practice in rural and metropolitan areas, professional organisations and Quality Use of Medicines settings. The overall objectives of the Clinical Placements Program are to familiarise students with their future professional roles and working environments, and to develop professional skills and behaviours.
Students will be required to maintain an e-portfolio during their placement experiences. The portfolio materials for students at a clinical site/s will also include a Case Report prepared by the student. The Case Report may be submitted for formative feedback, and the Case Report will be submitted as part of the Portfolio for summative assessment. Students at a non-clinical placement site may submit a Project Report as part of their Portfolio. Students are prompted to be reflective in their learning through the experiential learning program and will write a reflective diary to be included in the Portfolio. Students will also be evaluated by their preceptors on their professional performance during placement. Students will attend on-campus debriefing sessions.