Outline

Overview

This unit will introduce students to clinical practice and develops the theme that providing medicines is not a single event but a process. Students will start to develop skills to dispense medicines (including prescription and compounded medicines), in collaboration with others.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Pharmacy
Credit points	3
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	3 credit points of Calculus, 6 credit points of Biochemistry, 12 credit points of Chemistry
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Andrew Bartlett, andrew.bartlett@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 1 September 2025

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
In-person practical, skills, or performance task or test	Dispensing practical exam Practical exam	0%	Multiple weeks	90 minutes	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
In-person practical, skills, or performance task or test	Dispensing skills assessment Dispense and label 5 prescriptions using available dispensing software.	0%	Multiple weeks	120 minutes	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
In-class quiz	Competency quizzes PBS pricing. Medication Safety, Pharmaceutical calculations	0%	Multiple weeks	30 minutes	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Practical skill	Interprofessional Communication Education Safety Module Clinical skills assessment	0%	Multiple weeks	-	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Contribution	Tutorial participation Prework, professionalism, participation and portfolio completion	0%	Multiple weeks	-	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ? = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Class participation: Students are expected to participate in all tutorials and lab sessions in a professional manner. This includes completing all the pre-work before attending class. Satisfactory participation means submitting prework on time, attending classes on time, uploading their dispensing records and photo of each product to CANVAS after each class and their completed self and peer assessment logs, skills mastery sheet and properties of pharmaceutical ingredients at the end of semester, Sunday 9/11/2025 23:59
Tutorial quiz - Pharmaceutical calculations: Quiz is completed during scheduled workshop time. Students will be required to accurately calculate a range of pharmaceutical calculations. Pass mark required to satisfy requirements is 80%.
Tutorial quiz- PBS calculations: Quiz is completed during scheduled workshop time. Students will be required to accurately assess the ingredients and PBS status of two PBS products and price them accordingly.Pass mark required to satisfy the requirements of the course is 2/2
Tutorial quiz- Medication Safety: Quiz completed during scheduled workshop time. Students will identify and apply a range of strategies for improving medication safety and preventing medication errors. Pass mark required to satisfy requirements is 80%.
An additional opportunity may be offered during semester to reattempt quizzes not passed.
Practical examinations: Students are required to identify type of product, write an appropriate method, prepare, dispense and submit one compounded product, and complete the associated examination dispensing record on each attempt. Students need 2 satisfactory compounded products and 2 satisfactory labelling and documentation for compounded products to pass the course. Students will have 4 attempts to achieve this.
Dispensing skills assessment 5 out of 5 labels marked as satisfactory are required according to the unit’s grading rubrics to pass.
Interprofessional Communication Education Safety Module: Students will collaborate in an interprofessional team to produce a transition of care plan. Students must complete all prework and inclass tasks, in order to pass the unit of study.

Repeating students: Exemption from practical classes for students repeating PHAR5910 will not be granted. Exemption may be considered for the Pharmaceutical calculation, PBS pricing and Medication safety quizzes if 80% pass mark was attained previously. Similary if the FRED competency assessment has previously been passed, exemption may be considered

Detailed information for each assessment can be found in Canvas.

AI allowed

You are permitted to use automated writing tools and generative artificial intelligence (AI) to facilitate your learning and completion of this assignment.  Please adhere to the following guidelines:

Do not enter confidential, personal, copyrighted or otherwise sensitive information into any AI tool.

Do not rely on the accuracy of outputs. You remain responsible for your work. This means you must independently verify and edit AI-generated content to ensure the integrity, accuracy, and suitability of the output.

If you use these tools, you must be aware of their limitations, biases, and propensity for fabrication.

 Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission, must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to reference and acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

 You are advised to keep copies of the prompts you provided and AI outputs as evidence of your research and writing process. This allows you to produce an accurate acknowledgement of AI use when you submit your work. This can be requested by the unit coordinator if there is any uncertainty about the originality of your work.

No use of AI (Dispensing skills assessment and Dispensing Practical Exam)

 The use of automated writing tools and generative artificial intelligence is prohibited in this assessment. You are not allowed to use AI or any other software to create information or answers, to alter your own original writing, or to generate or modify text from other sources. This includes translation software, editing/paraphrasing software and other generative artificial intelligence tools.

 Unapproved use is considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and may result in penalties, which can include a fail for the assessment.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

This unit of study is Grade only. No marks will be awarded.

Result Grade	Description
SR	Satisfied Requirements
FR	Failed Requirements

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 Academic Integrity Policy.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including 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.

Academic integrity

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

Our website 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 Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM) 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 Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including 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 simple extension.  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’t 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 special consideration or special arrangements.

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

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education 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.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Multiple weeks	Medication safety	Lecture (2 hr)
Multiple weeks	Interprofessional communication and collaboration.	Workshop (3 hr)
Ongoing	Dispense medicines (including compounded medicines)	Practical (18 hr)
	Case-based recorded presentations about the dispensed medicines (including compounded medicines)	Lecture (8 hr)
	learn Independently including pre-work and post work.	Independent study (75 hr)
Week 01	Introductory presentation for PHAR5910, Dispensing 1	Lecture (1 hr)
	Introductory workshop on compounding resources such as APF and dispensing manual and skills such as writing methods and labels	Workshop (2 hr)
	Compounding skills videos	Lecture (1 hr)
	Pharmaceutical calculations	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	PBS pricing calculations	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	Skills mastery session in week 2 to orient them to the lab and lab equipment	Practical (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

In accordance with the School Policy on Attendance, students must attend a minimum of 85% tutorial/lab/workshop to satisfy attendance requirements for this unit of study.

For more information see:

https://www.sydney.edu.au/handbooks/medicine_health_PG/coursework_pz/pharmacy.shtml

If a tutorial/lab/workshop is missed due to illness or misadventure, students are to submit a special consideration application along with supporting documentation.

Students arriving more than 10 minutes after the commencement of the tutorial/ lab/workshop will be marked as absent. Students swapping a class without prior approval from the UoS co-ordinator will be marked as absent.

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. For a 3 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 60-75 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Current School of Pharmacy Dispensing Manual, AMH, APF, TGs and other pharmacy relevant databases

The Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary and Handbook (APF), 26th edition available through SUPA or the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia

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.

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

LO1. apply numeracy skills to the solution of pharmacy problems, including pharmaceutical calculations
LO2. prepare extemporaneous products to appropriate standards of safety and quality
LO3. communicate effectively with patients, families, carers, and other health care professionals
LO4. collaborate and contribute to the interprofessional health care team
LO5. elicit relevant health and medicines information, evaluate medication management, and establish an effective treatment plan
LO6. demonstrate understanding of laws that govern the supply of medicines and the practice of pharmacy
LO7. demonstrate the ability to learn independently and take responsibility for personal learning

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney 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’s 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

Alignment with Competency standards

Outcomes	Competency standards
	Performance Outcomes Framework - Australian Pharmacy Council - On successful completion of an approved pharmacy degree program - 3.12. consistently making accurate arithmetic calculations relating to health care
	Performance Outcomes Framework - Australian Pharmacy Council - On successful completion of an approved pharmacy degree program - 3.15. preparing and supplying extemporaneously compounded medications safely and accurately in accordance with current legislation, scope of practice, PharmBA Guidelines and other relevant jurisdictional requirements
	Performance Outcomes Framework - Australian Pharmacy Council - On successful completion of an approved pharmacy degree program - 2.1. communicating appropriately and effectively with a socially and culturally diverse range of people in a manner which inspires confidence and trust by 2.1.a. demonstrating appropriately tailored verbal, written and non-verbal communication 2.1.b. engaging with all persons in a respectful, culturally appropriate, compassionate, responsive and empathetic manner 2.1.c. demonstrating awareness of and sensitivity to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and/or Māori history, communication styles and community protocols 2.1.d. demonstrating appropriate communication and interpersonal behaviours 2.2. documenting, communicating and recording relevant information, findings, decisions, recommendations and other information accurately and concisely, taking due account of privacy and confidentiality
	Performance Outcomes Framework - Australian Pharmacy Council - On successful completion of an approved pharmacy degree program - 2.3. contributing to the interprofessional collaborative health care team in order to optimise patient outcomes by 2.3.a. demonstrating an understanding and appreciation of the roles of pharmacists and other members of the interprofessional collaborative care team 2.3.b. creating and maintaining effective intra- and interprofessional relationships, and working in partnership to achieve negotiated, agreed-upon objectives 2.3.c. demonstrating appropriate teamwork behaviours 2.3.d. demonstrating appropriate communication at transition points in patient care to reduce risks to patients and ensure safe and effective continuity of patient care
	Performance Outcomes Framework - Australian Pharmacy Council - On successful completion of an approved pharmacy degree program - 3.6. obtaining relevant health, medical and medication information from patients, carers and other clients 3.7. assessing current health, medical and medication histories and profiles of patients 3.8. formulating health, medical and medication management plans in collaboration with patients, carers and other health team members 3.9. recommending appropriate monitoring of the outcomes of health, medical and medication management plans and recommending adjustments to them where appropriate in collaboration with patients, carers and other health team members
	Performance Outcomes Framework - Australian Pharmacy Council - On successful completion of an approved pharmacy degree program - 1.4. practising legally by 1.4.a. demonstrating contemporary knowledge and application of legal requirements relating to community and hospital pharmacy practice within their jurisdiction
	Performance Outcomes Framework - Australian Pharmacy Council - On successful completion of an approved pharmacy degree program - 1.6. demonstrating a proactive and reflective approach to developing their own professional competence and expertise 1.8. accepting personal responsibility and accountability for decisions and actions in simulated and/or work-integrated learning environments

Performance Outcomes Framework - Australian Pharmacy Council - On successful completion of an approved pharmacy degree program -

Competency code	Taught, Practiced or Assessed	Competency standard
2.3		contributing to the interprofessional collaborative health care team in order to optimise patient outcomes by
2.3.a		demonstrating an understanding and appreciation of the roles of pharmacists and other members of the interprofessional collaborative care team
3.12		consistently making accurate arithmetic calculations relating to health care
3.14		dispensing medicines safely and accurately in accordance with current legislation, scope of practice, PharmBA Guidelines and other relevant jurisdictional requirements to optimise patient outcomes
3.15		preparing and supplying extemporaneously compounded medications safely and accurately in accordance with current legislation, scope of practice, PharmBA Guidelines and other relevant jurisdictional requirements
4.3		demonstrating self-awareness and self-regulation of personal attributes, strengths and weaknesses which may affect professional performance and/or personal development

Responding to student feedback

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

The unit has been redesigned to focus on compounding of prescription medicines, calculation competency along with a dispensing software competency to prepare students for placement.

Additional information

Hard copy of the current APF is required along with a hard copy of the current Sydney University dispensing Manual

all students must:

wear a clean white laboratory coat
wear clothing that covers torso and legs (short shorts and short skirts are not permitted)
wear shoes which completely cover the feet (no sandals or thongs are permitted)
ensure that long hair is tied back
wear safety glasses when working with ingredients

Required materials: The following equipment is required in addition to the specified texts and references: two spatulas, one small and one large or medium, a marker pen.

Work, health and safety

Students must comply with the School of Pharmacy’s Laboratory Safety Guidelines.

When preparing products or working with ingredients, all students must wear rubber gloves (supplied in the laboratory) and safety glasses which meet the requirements as displayed in the notice boards in the dispensing laboratory.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

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

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

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Alignment with Competency standards

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

PHAR5910: Dispensing 1

Semester 2, 2025 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

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

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Alignment with Competency standards

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links