Clinical Physiotherapy 8 (12255.1)

This unit involves clinical placement which will give students the opportunity to consolidate their previous clinical experience, and demonstrate established competency in the generic skills and attributes of physiotherapy professionals as well as the specific clinical skills across the core areas of physiotherapy in managing clients across the lifespan in a range of environments and settings. Students will apply the theory, understanding and skills of the past years study to the clinical practice of physiotherapy. Students will be placed in clinical environments, including but not limited to public, private, acute care, rehabilitation or community health care settings. Students will be moving towards independent clinical practice, and independent management of a caseload expected at a new graduate entry level, while still under supervision.

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate consistent professional behaviour, including culturally-sensitive and empathetic understanding of patients' rights, good teamwork and commitment to learning;
2. Communicate effectively (verbally, non-verbally and in writing), demonstrating proficient and sensitive communication skills in a variety of clinical contexts (including conflict resolution);
3. Independently perform a comprehensive clinical assessment using appropriate and valid tools, with appropriate critical appraisal of the strengths and weaknesses of these;
4. Independently analyse assessment findings to identify the patient's problems in context of current research, and to set treatment goals targeting both primary and secondary problems amenable to physiotherapy;
5. Independently select and apply effective and holistic treatment based on patient goals, including appropriate interventions for secondary problems; independently refer to other health professionals as required;
6. Demonstrate proficient skills in the ability to reflect 'in practice' and 'on practice' and reflect on the learning journey;
7. Identify and minimise risks in the healthcare context; and
8. Think critically and demonstrate in-depth insight into decisions in health care systems from an ethical, resource, and scientific perspective.

Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict

Prerequisites

Must have passed 72 credit points in the Bachelor of Physiotherapy course, including the following units:

11541 Applied Physiotherapy Skills
8983 Neurological Interventions 2
11539 Physiotherapy Across the Lifespan
8988 Evidence Based Practice OR 8987 Evidence Based Practice (Honours)

Corequisites

Enrolment in 202JA Bachelor of Physiotherapy.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

All physiotherapy skills and theory taught in 1-3rd year.