Medical School

Learning Community allocation guidelines

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The UQ MD Learning Communities are clusters of health care providers including hospital and community-based services, general practices, and other community providers. Importantly, these Learning Communities comprise the students and staff based in the facilities and provide a platform where they can flourish in a mutually supportive environment, where relationships and connections are forged, and students nurtured.

Learning Communities provide a small cohort experience within large cohort experience, which supports improved connection and engagement. The longitudinal relationships inherent in the Learning Communities model are integral to effective teaching and learning, support progress toward attainment of the graduate attributes and promote excellence in clinical practice and scholarly endeavours. 

  1. Definitions
  2. Scope and purpose of the guidelines
  3. Learning Community allocations
  4. Change of Learning Community
  1. Special consideration
  2. Late special consideration applications
  3. Application information and forms

5. Special consideration

5.1 This section is applicable to the Learning Community Allocations for GBCS (see section 3.1) and UQ-Ochsner students – Year 2 (see section 3.2) and the re-preferencing process (see section 4.6).

5.2 If you meet one or more of the categories outlined below, you may upon application and review, be afforded special consideration:

  • Have a physical or mental health condition which:
    • Requires specialised treatment that is only available at a specific location, and/or
    • Amounts to temporary disability, which cannot be supported at a specific Learning Community.
  • Have primary carer responsibilities.

5.3 The following are not considered grounds for special consideration:

  • Private accommodation and/or transportation arrangements
  • Financial considerations (including current employment and/or business arrangements)
  • Location of partner or family (excluding primary carer responsibilities)
  • Primary carer responsibilities for animals (including pets)
  • Recognised as an elite athlete in accordance with the Reasonable Adjustments – Students Policy and Procedure.

5.4 You must apply by the due date and provide supporting documentation.

5.5 Applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis and based on the information supplied.

5.6 Applications will be considered by a panel comprising:

  • Dean, Medical School (or nominee)
  • Director, Rural Clinical School, and
  • Director, Greater Brisbane Clinical School.

5.7 The panel will provide a recommendation for a final decision which is at the discretion of the Dean, Medical School.

5.8 While all reasonable attempts will be made to accommodate special consideration applications, this may not always be possible due to operational requirements.