HLSC678 - Industry Internship 

Year

Credit points

Campus offering

Prerequisites

Completion of a minimum of 50cp in the Master of Digital Health 

Incompatible

HLSC677 Independent Project: Digital Health Solution

Unit rationale, description and aim

Professional practice is an integral aspect of the transition from learner to practitioner. It provides students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge, understanding and skills in a work and/or organisational context. Through a professional practice placement, students will learn both about a specific role, a company or subindustry within digital health & how the different areas of digital health operate together . This unit delivers a ‘capstone’ experience for students by providing a professional placement in a digital health environment. Students engage in a work environment to provide experiential contexts for the development and application of their learnings. The aim of the unit is to develop in students professional/workplace skills and networks to meet the goals of the professional or industry body. The experience also enhances the reciprocal flow of knowledge and its application between the University and the workplace or community setting in which the student is placed. The unit is designed to create a safe experience in peer review because of the importance of maintaining standards of professional and ethical practice in the workplace. 

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

Apply specialised knowledge and skills from academic study in professional practice and/or research in the digital health environment (GA5, GA9, GA10) 

Display appropriate standards of social responsibility and ethical conduct in the professional workplace setting (GA1, GA3) 

Critically reflect on practice and evaluate areas for professional development to improve one’s own professional practice skills (GA4, GA9) 

Collaborate effectively in the interprofessional environment of digital health (GA1, GA2, GA3, GA9, GA10) 

Graduate attributes

GA1 - demonstrate respect for the dignity of each individual and for human diversity

GA2 - recognise their responsibility to the common good, the environment and society 

GA3 - apply ethical perspectives in informed decision making

GA4 - think critically and reflectively 

GA5 - demonstrate values, knowledge, skills and attitudes appropriate to the discipline and/or profession 

GA9 - demonstrate effective communication in oral and written English language and visual media 

GA10 - utilise information and communication and other relevant technologies effectively.

Content

Topics will include:

Students will be required to:  

• engage in experiences of professional service or workplace practice 
• clearly articulate the responsibilities and mutual expectations of the student, academic supervisor, and workplace or placement supervisor 
• undertake structured activities and deliver specified outcomes, as developed and agreed upon by the student, academic supervisor, and workplace or placement supervisor 
• integrate, where applicable, the knowledge and skills gained through academic study to the practice setting 
• be informed about their personal responsibilities for occupational health and safety during placement in a professional/work setting 
• contribute in a socially responsible and ethical manner to the goals of the organization and its stakeholders in which they are placed 

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

The learning and teaching strategies that comprise this unit of work-integrated learning recognises and utilises contributions from both academic and practice settings. These include active learning, case-based learning, individual and group activities, web-based learning, and reflective/critical thinking activities. This range of strategies will provide students with appropriate access to required knowledge and understanding of unit content, and experiences to apply this as well as develop practical skills relevant to the discipline of digital health. These strategies will allow students to meet the aim, learning outcomes and graduate attributes of the unit, as well as professional practice standards. Learning and teaching strategies will reflect respect for the individual as an independent learner. Students will be expected to take responsibility for their learning and to participate actively within group and individual activities including regular online activities. 

Assessment strategy and rationale

Standards-based assessment is utilised, consistent with University assessment requirements to enable students to achieve unit learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes. The assessment strategy is scaffolded to allow for progressive development of knowledge and skills from applied digital health settings.  

The first assessment allows students to reflect on the application of evidence-based practices in their area of interest. This will also be used as evidence of completing the minimum required hours of 250 hours for the Industry Internship placement. The second assessment requires students to further demonstrate their knowledge and application in an area of interest that has been identified in their Industry Internship. The third assessment is a Case Conference presentation and Viva Voce that will allow the students to design a short presentation about their Industry Internship placement and verbally answer questions raised about aspects of the placement. 

Hurdle Tasks for this unit are designed to provide minimum standards are satisfied for the benefit of the student, host organisation and Australian Catholic University. The first Hurdle Task requires students to provide evidence of the following documents, but not limited to: 

• ACU online Working with Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults Module 
• First Aid certification 
• Police check 
• Working with Children Check 

The second Hurdle Task is a Supervisor’s Report that can be used to provide formative feedback to the student regarding the Industry Internship placement.  

Overview of assessments