This program is designed to provide medical practitioners, particularly those based in rural and remote communities, with a pathway for advancing their academic and clinical expertise.

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Online

Available to off-shore students only

Online: February, July

$34,480.00⁺

⁺estimated annual tuition fee
Plus Student Services and Amenities fee
Scholarships and financial aid available if eligible

1 year full-time

or part-time equivalent

AHPRA-registered health practitioners with experience as rural health practitioners; enrolled in or completed a program in rural medicine or general practice; or student of an Australian Medical Council program; or a practising international rural health practitioner

74507

What to expect

Advance your teaching, research and clinical expertise with the Graduate Diploma of Rural and Remote Medicine at JCU. This course is designed for medical and health professionals, with an interest in rural and remote health.

Study at JCU’s College of Medicine and Dentistry—a recognised leader in rural and remote health, tropical medicine, and health in Australia and the wider Asia-Pacific region. Benefit from research partnerships with Indigenous Australian communities and international organisations.

Develop the skills to contribute to rural and remote health research and academic work. Carry out your own research project in rural and remote practice.

You will study five core subjects in the Graduate Diploma of Rural and Remote medicine. The course can be designed to match your passion through choosing from a wide variety of elective subjects that are grouped according to your interest area.

Consult the handbook for more information.

Career Opportunities

JCU’s Graduate Diploma of Rural and Remote Medicine is designed for Australian rural clinicians.

Graduates are equipped to enter research or academic roles focussing on rural health.

Handbook

Graduate Diploma of Rural and Remote Medicine

Handbook year	2020
Course code	74507
Course type	Graduate Diploma (AQF Level 8)
Division	Tropical Health and Medicine

Award Requirements

Admission Requirements

Course pre-requisites

Applicants must be registered health practitioners with AHPRA: and

be experienced rural health practitioners; or
have completed, or be enrolled in, a training program in rural medicine or general practice as certified by the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine or by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners;

Applicants must be a current student of an Australian Medical Council (AMC) accredited medicine program and have their enrolment approved by the Course Coordinator and College Dean or
be a practising international rural health practitioner and have the enrolment approved by the Course Coordinator and College Dean

Minimum English language proficiency requirements

Applicants of non-English speaking backgrounds must meet the English language proficiency requirements of Band 3a – Schedule II of the JCU Admissions Policy.

Academic Requirements for Course Completion

Credit points

24 credit points

Course learning outcomes

The Graduate Diploma of Rural and Remote Medicine enables doctors working in rural and remote Australia to complete a postgraduate qualification to enhance their clinical, academic and research skills. They will develop knowledge, skills and attitudes to contribute to clinical, academic work and research relating to rural and remote medicine. Graduates will work to foster their practice through professional development and the application of evidence-based practice.

Graduates of the Graduate Diploma of Rural and Remote Medicine will be able to:

Demonstrate advanced and contemporary knowledge of medicine in the rural and remote context, particularly focusing on cultural, social and management concepts for rural and remote patients and communities
Demonstrate advanced and current strategies and skills in health profession education in the rural and remote context
Critically analyse and evaluate community, population, legislative and funding factors that influence health and health care delivery in rural and remote communities
Examine policies, professional and legal statutory requirements applicable to rural medical practitioners
Design, implement and communicate a minor research project in an area of relevance to rural and remote practice
Evaluate and apply new and existing evidence in the chosen specialty area of relevance to rural and remote medicine
Interpret principles, theories and methods of medical/health professional education for a variety of audiences through high-level written and spoken English
Demonstrate personal autonomy and accountability for own professional development.

Inherent Requirements

Inherent Requirements	Inherent requirements are the fundamental abilities, attributes, skills and behaviours needed to complete the learning outcomes of a course while preserving the academic integrity of the university’s learning, assessment and accreditation processes. Students and prospective students must be able to demonstrate that they have acquired or have the ability to acquire the inherent requirements for their degree. For more information refer to Inherent Requirements page.
Reasonable adjustments	Reasonable adjustments may be made to assist students manage additional circumstances impacting on their studies provided these do not change the academic integrity of a degree. Reasonable adjustments do not alter the need to be able to demonstrate the inherent requirements of the course.

Course Structure

CORE SUBJECTS

HS5405:03 Teaching for Learning in the Health Professions

HS7405:03 Research Methodologies for Health Professionals

MD8001:03 Foundations of Rural and Remote Medicine

MD8002:03 Rural and Remote Medicine Reflections on Practice

TM5510:03 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

OPTIONS

Select one 3 credit point postgraduate subject

PLUS

Select 6 credit points of level 5 TM; level 5, 6 or 7 HS; or level 8 MD subjects or other combination of postgraduate subjects as agreed by the Course Coordinator

Campus

COURSE AVAILABLE AT	NOTES
Townsville

Candidature

Expected time to complete	1 year full-time or equivalent part-time
Maximum time to complete	5 years
Maximum leave of absence	2 years

Progression

Course progression requisites	Nil
Course includes mandatory professional placement(s)	No
Special assessment requirements	Nil
Professional accreditation requirements	Nil
Maximum allowed Pass Conceded (PC) grade	Nil
Supplementary exam for final subject	Not applicable

Credit

Eligibility	Students may apply for a credit transfer for previous tertiary study or informal and non-formal learning in accordance with the Credit Transfer Procedure.
Maximum allowed	6 credit points
Currency	Credit will be granted only for studies completed in the 6 years prior to the commencement of this course.
Expiry	Credit gained for any subject shall be cancelled 11 years after the date of the examination upon which the credit is based if, by then, the student has not completed the course of study prescribed for the degree.
Other restrictions	Nil

Award Details

Award title	GRADUATE DIPLOMA OF RURAL AND REMOTE MEDICINE
Approved abbreviation	GDipRurRemM
Inclusion of majors on testamur	Not applicable – this course does not have majors
Exit with lesser award	Not applicable
Course articulation	Students who complete this course are eligible for entry to the Master of Rural and Remote Medicine and may be granted credit for relevant subjects completed under this course.

Fees and scholarships

Estimated annual tuition fee: $AUD34,480.00

Course fees are charged per year of full-time study. International course fees are reviewed annually and subject to change.

A Student Services and Amenities Fee is payable per subject up to a maximum amount per year.

Student Visa holders must have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of their Student Visa (except Norwegian, Swedish and Belgian citizens). Costs depend on the length of study and the number of dependents accompanying the student. For more information see Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).

Scholarships and financial aid are also available for international students.

Pathways to JCU

Consult the admission requirements section in the Handbook for prerequisites and pathways into this course.

How to apply

You will need to supply the following with your application:

Previous and current certificates and academic transcripts
Grading Scale used at the institution/s you have undertaken your studies
English proficiency test results (if required and available at time of application)
Passport to confirm your name and citizenship (if available at time of application)
Detailed curriculum vitae with your work and academic history
Personal statement outlining why you are interested in this degree (100-250 words)
2x academic or work related referees to provide a reference for you. Referees need to complete the Referee Report form and send by email (preferred), fax or post (see below for contact details).

Completion of a recognised, appropriate undergraduate degree, or equivalent prior learning including appropriate professional experience.

Gather the documents you need to apply and submit an application via JCU's online application portal.

Alumni

Dr Ewen McPhee

Master of Rural and Remote Medicine

As a very busy rural doctor wanting to better understand what I do, and where I fit, the Master of Rural and Remote Medicine provided context to my work and a foundation on which to build my research and health professional education skills. It has been transformative in rekindling my enthusiasm for rural medicine.
Lecturer

Associate Professor Ruth Stewart

Course Coordinator, Master of Rural and Remote Medicine

The Rural and Remote Medicine postgraduate courses are designed to wrap around the work of a rural generalist doctor, nurse or allied health practitioner to give them the skills to become an educator of the next generation of practitioners.