This program is available in three distinct specialisations:

• Alcohol and Other Drugs
• Stroke Management and
• Primary Health Care

The Alcohol and Other Drugs specialisation aims to produce graduates with a broad knowledge base related to alcohol and other drug use, including epidemiology, clinical consequences of use and dependence, explanatory models, history and social context, pharmacology, the ability to critically appraise research literature and apply evidence-based findings in the workplace and an appreciation of preventative approaches. The Stroke Management specialisation and Primary Health Care specialisation will promote the development of health professionals with knowledge, skills and attitudes to function as an expert clinician within specialist inter-professional stroke services and Primary Health Care specialist teams. The specialisations will enhance patient outcomes through the application of evidence-based practice in the clinical setting and applied using the skills of relevant expert inter-professional teams. Both specialisations will enhance the capacity for the development of research initiatives in advanced stroke management and primary health care, and will contribute towards a reduction in morbidity and mortality by promoting champions with broad ranging knowledge and skills in service planning, development and evaluation.

On completion of the Drug & Alcohol Studies program, graduates will have developed an extensive knowledge base related to alcohol and other drug use, including epidemiology, consequences of use and dependence, explanatory models, history and social context, and pharmacology.

The inter-professional focus of the Stroke Management program will ensure a movement towards educational models which encourage true interdisciplinary teaching and learning models and inter-professional collaboration in clinical practice.

Students undertaking the Primary Health Care Specialisation undertake 40 units of Compulsory Courses and 40 units of Directed Courses. Students undertaking the Stroke Management or Drug and Alcohol Specialisation complete 40 units of Compulsory Courses, 30 units of Directed Courses and 10 units of Electives.

Students undertaking the Drug and Alcohol Studies stream are required to do 100 hours of practical experience in MEDI6145 and MED6160 (50 hours in each course).

It is envisaged that Drug & Alcohol Studies graduates will work in assessment and counselling of alcohol and other drug problems. Graduates who are employed in non-Alcohol and other drug settings will be able to competently assess and counsel alcohol and other drug problems. Stroke Management graduates will be working or planning to work in a relevant clinical environment working with people diagnosed with stroke.