MFAC1601 is only available to students in the BMedSc program who have been offered a provisional place to enter the MBBS 3802 program at the completion of the BMedSc (Hons). The course will be taken in Semester 2 of the Honours year. The aim of the course is to develop basic skills in communication, medical interviewing and physical examination.

These skills will be taught in weekly 2 hour turorials in the Clinical Skills Centre on Campus. Clinical tutors and communication skills tutors will provide an integrated approach to teaching these skills. The teaching of basic communication skills will be addressed in simulated clinical consultations to ensure that the relevance of generic skills is understood within the context of medical practice. These simulated consultations will also be used to address concepts of the medical history and the patient-centred approach. Existing anatomical models and graphics will be used to introduce concepts of surface anatomy and functional anatomy underpinning the physical examination. Similarly, the relevance of normal physiology to the physical examination will be addressed.

Students will be required to attend all sessions and to have completed preparatory activities. The students will be expected to reach a satisfactory level of performance based on continuous assessment in simulated clinical consultations. Students will also be required to satisfactorily complete the communications assessment. Students who fail to attend this course will have failed to meet the requirements to enter the medicine program. If a student fails the communication assessment, they will be allowed to resubmit after remedial work to improve their communication skills. It is acknowledged that these students will have had little opportunity to develop these skills and, if necessary, further remediation will be provided after they enter the medicine program.