Outline

SMTP3007: Semester 2, 2026

Units SMTP3007 Semester 2 2026 [Normal day]

Unit outline_

SMTP3007: Observational Elective

Semester 2, 2026 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

All Double Degrees in Medicine students are required to: (i) complete a 5 day Observational Elective Placement during their undergraduate degree; and (ii) to meet with the course director in each of the three years to reflect upon their progress and to discuss areas of personal and professional development. During the 5 day observational placement, students are required to observe and reflect upon how health and well being are supported in society through a variety of means and in a variety of settings. Students elect their own area of study for this unit in consultation with the course director: placements may be conducted in a medical research institute, a charitable organization, a community health centre, or hospital. Each year a limited number of rural location placements are available. Before embarking on their observational placement, all students must have their project approved by the course director and they must be Clin-Connect compliant. Each student must submit a 'Pre-placement Report' (~500 words) highlighting their expectations of the placement. After completion of the placement, each student is required to submit a 'Post-placement Report' reflecting on the experience, and their pre-placement expectations. The 'Post-placement Report' should be approximately ~1000 to 1,500 words. A major aim is for the student to begin to understand the challenges , both personal and societal of supporting the health and wellbeing of the community.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Department of Medical Sciences
Credit points	0
Prerequisites ?	96 credit points
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Rosa Howard, rosa.howard@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 31 August 2026

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Written work	Observational placement - post placement report written reflection	0%	Formal exam period Due date: 13 Nov 2026 at 23:00 Closing date: 13 Nov 2026	1500 words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ?

Assessment summary

written reflection

Assessment criteria

Satisfied requirements (SR) / Failed requirements (FR)

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Refer to the assessment table above to see if AI is allowed, for assessments in this unit and check Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks and AI use.

If you use AI, you must always acknowledge it. Misusing AI may lead to a breach of the聽Academic Integrity Policy.

Visit the聽Current Students website聽for more information on AI in assessments, including聽details on how to acknowledge its use.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

N/A

Academic integrity

The University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Our website聽provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. This includes advice on how to avoid common breaches of academic integrity. Ensure that you have completed the聽Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM)聽which is mandatory for all commencing coursework students

Penalties for serious breaches can significantly impact your studies and your career after graduation. It is important that you speak with your unit coordinator if you need help with completing assessments.

Visit the聽Current Students website聽for more information on AI in assessments, including聽details on how to acknowledge its use.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a聽simple extension.鈥� The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can鈥檛 complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for聽special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students,聽聽includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity	Learning outcomes

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Describe how health and wellbeing are supported within society through a range of organisations, settings, and approaches.
LO2. Observe and explain the roles of individuals and organisations involved in promoting health and wellbeing.
LO3. Analyse personal, social, and structural factors that influence health and wellbeing at individual and community levels.
LO4. Reflect on expectations, experiences, and learning before and after an observational placement.
LO5. Identify and discuss challenges associated with supporting community health and wellbeing, including issues of access, equity, and context.
LO6. Demonstrate developing insight into personal values, interests, and emerging professional identity relevant to future medical study.
LO7. Apply reflective practice to evaluate personal growth and areas for further development.
LO8. Communicate effectively in writing and discussion, producing coherent reflective reports and engaging in structured reflective dialogue.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all 爆料王 graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one鈥檚 personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

students consistently provide above 4.0 satisafaction in USS feedback. Updates to clarity around placeemtn process has been applied

Disclaimer

Important: the 爆料王 regularly reviews units of study and reserves the right to change the units of study available annually. To stay up to date on available study options, including unit of study details and availability, refer to the relevant handbook.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an .

爆料王

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links