2027 Unit information is now available. View 2027 unit information
Launceston
Professional Experience Placement (PEP)
Students will be allocated PEP within individual health care agencies. Students must be available 5 days a week (40 hours) during the allocated PEP, and must be prepared to undertake a range of shifts – morning, evening and nightshift, which may include weekends, as per roster provided by the healthcare agency. Students may be expected to relocate and are expected to travel to where PEP is available. To be eligible to undertake PEP, all students must be ‘Verified’ as meeting College of Health and Medicine PEP Safety in Practice Compliance as per the Course Entry Requirements.
Students who cannot or do not comply with these requirements will not be allocated PEP and therefore will not be able to complete this unit.
PEP dates MAY differ from University of Tasmania calendar semester dates.
Introduction
This is a professional experience placement (PEP) unit, undertaken while off campus in diagnostic pathology laboratories accredited by the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA), or equivalent. Students develop a holistic view of the role of the diagnostic pathology laboratory in the health-care industry in preparation for post-graduate employment, thorough observation and hands-on application of university learning. Assessment in this unit focusses on evaluating and reviewing work health and safety and laboratory accreditation, and practicing professional and academic research and communication. Students are subject to the rules and regulations of the host laboratory, supervised by laboratory staff.
Summary
| Unit name | Medical Laboratory Practice |
| Unit code | CXA731 |
| Credit points | 12.5 |
| College/School | Health School of Health Sciences |
| Discipline | Health Sciences |
| Coordinator | Ms Jane Pittaway |
| Delivered By | University of Tasmania |
| Level | Postgraduate |
Availability
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
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| Launceston | Semester 1 |
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| Launceston | Semester 2 |
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| Launceston | Trimester |
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- Key:
- On-campus
Off-Campus- International students
- Domestic students
Note
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Units are offered in attending mode unless otherwise indicated (that is attendance is required at the campus identified). A unit identified as offered by distance, that is there is no requirement for attendance, is identified with a nominal enrolment campus. A unit offered to both attending students and by distance from the same campus is identified as having both modes of study.
Key Dates
| Study Period | Start date | Census date | WW date | End date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | 22/2/2026 | 16/3/2026 | 19/4/2026 | 13/6/2026 |
| Trimester | 1/11/2026 | 23/11/2026 | 23/12/2026 | 13/2/2027 |
| Semester 2 | 5/7/2026 | 27/7/2026 | 30/8/2026 | 24/10/2026 |
* The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (refer to How do I withdraw from a unit? for more information).
Unit census dates currently displaying for 2026 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2026 will be available from the 1st October 2025. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).
Learning Outcomes
- Evaluate and review laboratory protocols and procedures, quality systems and practice.
- Communicate professional information about laboratory procedures and protocols to professional and academic audiences.
Fee Information
| Field of Education | Commencing Student Contribution 1,3 | Grandfathered Student Contribution 1,3 | Approved Pathway Course Student Contribution 2,3 | Domestic Full Fee 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 019901 | $1,192.00 | $1,192.00 | not applicable | $2,862.00 |
- Available as a Commonwealth Supported Place
- HECS-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility3
- FEE-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility4
1 Please refer to more information on student contribution amounts.
2 Please refer to more information on eligibility and Approved Pathway courses.
3 Please refer to more information on eligibility for HECS-HELP.
4 Please refer to more information on eligibility for FEE-HELP.
If you have any questions in relation to the fees, please contact UniConnect or more information is available on StudyAssist.
Please note: international students should refer to What is an indicative Fee? to get an indicative course cost.
Requisites
Prerequisites
All prior units within the Master of Laboratory Medicine degree – CXA622, CXA625, CXA631, CXA632, CXA633, CXA641, CXA642, CXA643, CXA651, CXA652, CXA6XX Human Molecular Biology, CXA601 Integrated Laboratory MedicineCo-requisites
CXA7XX Medical Laboratory Placement 1 and CXA7XX Medical Laboratory Placement 2Teaching
| Teaching Pattern | Seminar online (3hrs x 1 time); Workshop Online (15hrs over 3 days); Researching for & writing assignments (5hrs x weekly) |
|---|---|
| Assessment | Quality Control (20%)|Risk Assessment and Safe Work Practices (20%)|Oral presentation & referenced abstract (30%)|Take home examination (30%) |
| Timetable | View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable |
Textbooks
| Required |
Access to your host laboratory’s Work, Health, and Safety manual (Risk Assessment assignment). |
|---|---|
| Recommended | Lecture, tutorial and practical notes and texts previously used during the professional units of the course (particularly in preparation for the final exam). |
The University reserves the right to amend or remove courses and unit availabilities, as appropriate.