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 off campus in diagnostic pathology laboratories accredited by the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA), or equivalent. You are subject to the rules and regulations of your host laboratory, supervised by laboratory staff. Over a 4-week period, you will experience core and specialised areas within a modern diagnostic pathology laboratory. You will apply your university learning to real world laboratory practice and further develop practical laboratory skills and learning by observing and performing laboratory tasks. You will develop an holistic view of the role of the diagnostic pathology laboratory in the healthcare industry, with added focus on professional issues, codes of conduct and ethics, work health and safety and laboratory accreditation.
Summary
| Unit name | Medical Laboratory Placement 1 |
| Unit code | CXA732 |
| 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
Specific information on 2027 unit availability will be available in August
Key Dates
| Study Period | Start date | Census date | WW date | End date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 2 | 4/7/2027 | 26/7/2027 | 29/8/2027 | 23/10/2027 |
* 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 2027 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2027 will be available from the 1st October 2026. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate a ‘work ready’ level of technical aptitude, professional attitude, and communication skills
- Apply university acquired practical and theoretical knowledge (university learning) to interpret procedural and diagnostic components of laboratory practice
- Critically reflect on the effect of your work placement on your personal and professional learning with respect to ethical laboratory practice and patient care.
Fee Information
2027 fee information will be available in August.
Requisites
Prerequisites
CXA632, CXA633, CXA642, CXA643, CXA652, CXA600, CXA601, CXA622Co-requisites
CXA731 Medical Laboratory Practice AND CXA733 Medical Laboratory Placement 2Teaching
| Teaching Pattern | At host laboratory: Clinical or Professional Practice (35hrs x 4 times); Portfolio (2hrs x 4 times) |
|---|---|
| Assessment | Online discussion posts (5%)|Portfolio – Review of weekly critical reflections (15%)|Placement – laboratory supervisor assessment (40%)|Portfolio (40%) |
| Timetable | View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable |
Textbooks
| Required |
Your host laboratory will have required reading material that you will read before and during your placement. |
|---|---|
| Recommended | Lecture, tutorial and practical notes and texts previously used during the professional units of the course. |
The University reserves the right to amend or remove courses and unit availabilities, as appropriate.