Clinical Elective (MEDS90027)

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Overview

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The aim of this voluntary elective is to offer a student an opportunity to explore an unfamiliar area or setting of clinical medicine to broaden their understanding of health care. Students undertaking an elective will be encouraged to complete it in an area outside their previous experience, and in a location other than their home clinical school.

Note about Clinical Electives:

  • Students commencing the MD course from 2014 onwards will have the option of undertaking a clinical elective of least 1 weeks duration, during any non-teaching period, arranged by the student in consultation with the relevant Director Medical Student Education and participating institution.
  • Clinical Electives will not be approved where the proposed dates overlap with teaching dates for compulsory subjects with the Doctor of Medicine course. Students should check teaching dates for compulsory subjects prior to submitting an application for clinical elective
  • Approval of the elective is conditional. If students are required to attend supplementary examination, they must return to Melbourne during the designated supplementary period regardless of the dates of the approved of clinical elective placement.

For further information about the Elective Clinical Placement, please see the policies on the Melbourne Medical School website: https://medicine.unimelb.edu.au/study/current-student-resources/mms-students-resources/policies,-procedures-and-forms

Intended learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate empathy, compassion, honesty, integrity, altruism, resilience and lifelong curiosity in relevant clinical settings
  • Apply the principles of reflective practice in relevant clinical settings
  • Recognise when clinical problems exceed your knowledge in relevant clinical settings and to know when to ask for help
  • Identify and address your learning needs in all clinical settings
  • Respond constructively to assessment and appraisal in relevant clinical settings
  • Manage clinical uncertainty in relevant clinical settings
  • Apply effective time-management and organisational skills to relevant clinical settings
  • Recognise your own emotion and emotion in others in relevant clinical settings
  • Respect the rights of patients including patient choice, dignity and privacy in all clinical settings
  • Communicate effectively with patients from diverse backgrounds including listening to, responding to, and understanding the patient’s perspective in all clinical settings
  • Advocate appropriately on behalf of a patient
  • Respond to factors affecting human relationships and the psychological, cultural and spiritual well-being of patients in clinical care
  • Understand that it is not always in the interests of the patient to do everything that is technically possible to make a precise diagnosis or to attempt to modify the course of an illness
  • Demonstrate an ability to apply the principles of ethics in the provision of health care
  • Understand the roles, responsibilities and expertise of all health professionals, and how they work in teams to deliver health care
  • Respect the roles and expertise of other health care professionals and communicate effectively with them
  • Work effectively in a team, including as a leader
  • Apply the principles of quality and safety in health care systems
  • Work effectively as a doctor within a quality and safety framework including recognising, responding to and learning from adverse events and medical errors
  • Apply the principles of effective record keeping
  • Understand the structure of the Australian health care system and health care systems globally
  • Understand the burden of disease in differing populations and geographic locations
  • Understand the differing requirements of health care systems in a culturally diverse society
  • Contribute to the community

Generic skills

  • Self reliance
  • Diplomacy (as ambassadors of The University of Melbourne)
  • Interpersonal (interacting with patients from different backgrounds)

Last updated: 4 March 2025