This unit provides opportunities for students to extend their clinical knowledge and demonstrate understanding of clinical practice in a variety of hospital, private practice and community settings. Students will further develop professional behavior and gain a wider understanding of the role of the orthoptist as part of a team of health professionals managing eye care for a range of patients and clients. Learning will be directed by professional and skill-based activities and will be used for both summative and formative assessment. Students will be required to reflect upon their professional development and to set personal learning goals while demonstrating fundamental competencies and skills in a clinical setting. During this clinical unit of study or in a subsequent Professional Practice unit of study, students will attend at least one rural or regional clinical placement.

This unit of study provides a conceptual and practical framework for the organization and function of the cortical sensory and motor areas within the brain that control vision and ocular motility. Through the mode of case-based learning and inquiry, students will be introduced to medical record analysis, management strategies for patients with complex neuro-ophthalmic conditions, and apply knowledge of test principles and ocular function to develop and adapt test procedures for physical and communication defects associated with neurological defects. In a client-focused approach, the impact of disease processes on general and ocular function, recovery and management of people with neurological conditions will be discussed. Students will learn to apply relevant theoretical and scientifically based findings to their practice in the area of ocular and visual neurological disability. Topics include: neuro-ophthalmic investigation ; assessment of visual function in the presence of disability; stroke; head injury; headache; autonomic nervous system and pupil anomalies; visual field investigation and analysis; supra nuclear, nuclear, inter-nuclear & infra-nuclear defects; and therapeutic approaches for neurological conditions.

The aim of this unit of study is for students to acquire an understanding of the principles of research that can be used in the critical evaluation of scientific and medical literature and its application to clinical practice. It will provide foundation knowledge to enable students to develop an understanding of the design of feasible and sound research projects, as well as preparing them to present their research and its outcomes in appropriate professional forums. New developments and controversies in vision sciences and their impact on professional practice will be critically analysed and discussed with an emphasis on the soundness of research methodologies and conclusions drawn from findings. Students will use current technology and databases to find, read, evaluate and present information about research relevant to a variety of research topics in the vision sciences. They will participate in structured discussion of relevant scientific papers. Students will be introduced to reference database systems and scientific journal referencing styles. They will study the principles of evidence-based practice, and randomised controlled trials in the clinical setting. They will gain experience in consulting databases of summarised data, and search systems for scientific reviews of clinical trials. They will review principles used to evaluate published research.

Building on knowledge and skills acquired in Ocular Pathology 1, in this unit of study students will gain an understanding of how the investigation and management of ophthalmic conditions will vary across life stages with particular emphasis on the pediatric and geriatric populations. The role of the orthoptist in the ophthalmic workplace will be further explored with emphasis given to the development and demonstration of critical analysis of practice in the therapeutic, pharmacological and surgical management of complex ophthalmic conditions. The most recent evidence for modes of investigation and treatment will be evaluated. Advanced clinical skills required for the assessment of complex ophthalmic cases will be addressed. Using a client-focused approach, students will apply clinical reasoning to the design of plans of investigation and management for people with acute and chronic ophthalmic conditions. The role of the wider team of health professionals in the care of people with ophthalmic conditions and their role as future practitioners within the team will be discussed.

This unit of study consolidates and extends knowledge and clinical competencies already acquired in previous clinical units of study. Learning will focus on achieving graduate capabilities through evaluation of clinical practice, including their own practice, in a range of clinical settings. Clinical reasoning will be emphasised for both the application and integration of clinical data for appropriate patient assessment and management. Students will be supported to work independently and to report their findings and management plans to clinical supervisors and other stakeholders for feedback. Students will be required to reflect upon their professional development and demonstrate competencies in higher level clinical skills and clinical reasoning. Students may attend a rural or regional clinical placement as part of this unit of study.

This is the final of four professional practice units and is designed to synthesise the student`s learning and knowledge acquired in all units of study they have undertaken in this course. As such, it can be described as a `capstone` learning experience for the student. This is experienced through a range of orthoptic and ophthalmic clinical placements include those in rural and regional locations, enabling students to meet graduate competency standards and consolidate the required knowledge, skills and attitudes of an entry-level practitioner. Student learning will emphasis clinical reasoning for the assessment and management of patients with complex ocular conditions that may interact with other ocular and systemic conditions. Students should demonstrate a professional level of skills in the clinical setting and the capacity to apply clinical reasoning in the management of complex cases. Clinical competency will be assessed, commensurate with the registration standards set out by the Orthoptic Board of Australia. Students will be required to reflect upon their professional development, particularly their readiness for professional entry into orthoptic practice and their ability to work both independently and within the multidisciplinary team.

This is a capstone unit of study for the course, encompassing knowledge acquired from all units studied in this course. Emphasis will be given to clinical reasoning in cases of complex ophthalmic disease and ocular motility disorders. This unit of study is closely aligned with learning in Professional Practice 3 and 4. Information gained in clinical placements will be integrated into this unit. Cases will be selected to challenge the student to apply recent scientific and medical evidence-based findings relating to the genesis of conditions, their clinical investigation, immediate treatment and long-term management. Students will be encouraged to analyse clinical responses and develop relevant diagnostic and treatment guidelines based on sound clinical reasoning. Content will address issues of: systemic and ophthalmic disease; complex ocular motility conditions; occupational health and safety and employment; professional; medico-legal ramifications and their interaction.

This unit of study will provide an opportunity for students to use the research skills developed in Research Report 1 and apply them in the conduct of a supervised research project in an area related to orthoptic practice. Some students may carry out an individual project supervised by a member of academic staff, subject to the UoS coordinator's approval. Understanding of the principles of ethical research will be further explored through discussion of ethical issues, including the preparation of an application for ethical approval for their project. Students will identify the relevant background information for the project by performing a review of the scientific literature pertaining to the research question. They will identify the data necessary to answer the question and discuss relevant research methodology. Under supervision, they will participate in the collection of data and will use current technology to perform statistical analysis to interpret the information gained. Students will gain experience in writing in a concise academic style and learn how to present the results of their analysis by independently write a dissertation setting out the results of their project in the context of the original research question and their literature review. They will present this in the format of a systematic review or research publication.

Cultural practices, disease patterns and healthcare systems are vastly different in different countries around the globe. This unit provides students with the opportunity to work with non-government organisations in a developing country for up to six weeks. Countries where students can be placed include Vietnam, Cambodia, India and Nepal. As part of the unit students will be expected to participate in local development programs, live within the community that they are visiting, and document key health and development issues facing local populations. The unit will require that students illustrate project management skills; develop an awareness of cultural issues facing individuals and organisation in your host country; and, illustrate your capacity to document and report on local health issues.