Research and Professional Practice Part B (9814.2)

Required texts

There are no required readings for this unit. 

Submission of assessment items

Special assessment requirements

Students must achieve a pass mark for assessment item 4 - 'Exercise Science Practicum' in order to pass Research and Professional Practice Part B (9814). As this assessment is a pass/fail grade, no late submissions will be accepted unless approved by the unit convener and practicum coordinator.

Upon completion of Research and Professional Practice Part B (9814) students will receive a grade and 9 credit points for the unit. Research and Professional Practice Part A (9813) will remain as CNT and 0 credit points. 

Academic integrity

Students have a responsibility to uphold University standards on ethical scholarship. Good scholarship involves building on the work of others and use of others' work must be acknowledged with proper attribution made. Cheating, plagiarism, and falsification of data are dishonest practices that contravene academic values. Refer to the University's Student Charter for more information.

To enhance understanding of academic integrity, all students are expected to complete the Academic Integrity Module (AIM) at least once during their course of study. You can access this module within UCLearn (Canvas) through the 'Academic Integrity and Avoiding Plagiarism' link in the Study Help site.

Use of Text-Matching Software

The University of Canberra uses text-matching software to help students and staff reduce plagiarism and improve understanding of academic integrity. The software matches submitted text in student assignments against material from various sources: the internet, published books and journals, and previously submitted student texts.

Placement Progression Meeting

Students will be required to attend at least one meeting per semester with the Placement Coordinator to discuss their progress through the Exercise Science Practicum across both Research and Professional Practice Part A (9813) and Research and Professional Practice Part B (9814), booking can be made via email directly with the Placement Coordinator (Caitlin Waser caitlin.waser@canberra.edu.au). Placement sites may also implement their own evaluation process or competency requirements outside of those required for this unit. If this is the case, students should be made aware of the organisations requirements prior to the placement commencing. If the student feels that the placement site's requirements are unreasonable, they are to speak with the Placement Coordinator.

Inclusion and engagement

Students are required to apply for a placement support letter and a resonable adjustment plan specifically for their placement requirements. This is in addition to their resonable adjustment plan for the unit. 

Participation requirements

All students must complete a minimum of 140 hours of Exercise Science Practicum across Research and Professional Practice Part A (Semester 1) and Research and Professional Practice Part B (Winter Term/Semester 2). More information on the placement requirements for this unit can be found in the 'ESSA Practicum Guide', available on Canvas.

The Exercise Science placement program includes completion of a part-time placement developing skills in the delivery of exercise programs for clinical clients. This aligns with the scope of practice for Accredited Exercise Scientists (AES) and is a core attribute in the ESSA Professional Standards for Accredited Exercise Scientists that underpin our course accreditation.

This is a mandatory placement requirement for students enrolled in 274JA Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science, to ensure they meet the Professional Standards for Accredited Exercise Scientists.

Students enrolled in 266JA Bachelor of Exercise Physiology and Rehabilitation may choose to complete this clinical placement as part of their Exercise Science placements, if they wish to have earlier exposure to the clinical environment. However, this will be done at the Exercise Science scope of practice level. Exercise physiology students in 266JA will all undertake clinical placement in the UC Exercise Physiology Clinic later in their degree, as part of their clinical placement program.

The placement is conducted through the University of Canberra's Exercise Physiology Clinic. Rosters will be made available during Semester 1, and then at limited timepoints later in the year. Students will complete their selected roster, which typically accounts for 20-30 hours over a 6-week period within the year. Activities at the clinics are structured around the student class timetable, so that there is no conflict or clash with class requirements.

Students who wish to sign up for the University of Canberra UCFit placement will be placed on a first in first served basis (due to a limited number of places during 2024). All students will receive a preference form, and where possible, a first preference will optimally be provided.

Engaging in course material by viewing online lectures and attending and participating in tutorials is expected. A lack of engagement is likely to diminish a student's ability to meet unit learning objectives, and will likely impair assessment performance.  Tutorial attendance records will be kept and can be used as evidence of individual student engagement with the unit.  

It is expected that students will complete both the placement requirements and the academic requirements of this unit concurrently throughout the semester.

Required IT skills

It is expected that students will possess UC IT entry skills. 

In-unit costs

Students will be responsible for any costs incurred during their placement (e.g. travel costs, pre-placement requirements, name tag, polo shirt).

Work placement, internships or practicums

This unit involves industry placement and therefore, additional student responsibilities are required in addition to those described in this section.

Work-place learning requires strict adherence to professional practice principles and ethics. Client or patient confidentiality must always be maintained, including for assessment items. The professional nature of this unit encourages participation at all learning activities (lectures, workshops etc. if scheduled – see section 3) for the best chance of successfully completing this unit. Contact with a relevant industry body may be necessary to gain experience in the industry. Therefore, it is important that each student attends all appointments and meetings with their chosen organisation so they fully understand and are in agreement with the organisation's supervisor as to the aim and scope of the research and/or placement responsibilities. This unit is also essential in assisting you with establishing a network in the industry and in identifying future employment opportunities.

Students may be required to seek and source their own internship for the unit. Prior to commencing the internship, students must complete all pre-placement requirements as required by the university and their placement site/s. As a minimum, the pre-placement requirements will include a Working with Vulnerable People Check (WWVP), a certified copy of a National Police Check, and a current First Aid and CPR certification, which are all to be held for the duration of your placement. Students will be required to cover the costs associated with completing these requirements. In addition, during the course of this unit students undertaking any form of clinical placements will be required to complete immunisations, tuberculosis (TB) screening, and provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccinations. More information on these requirements are available through the UC Placement Office. Students will be required to submit a placement learning agreement to Inplace, keep a detailed log of activities using the Smartabase platform, and demonstrate competency in exercise assessment, prescription and delivery in accordance with the Exercise Science Practicum requirements.

Additional information

Before you commence any placement, students MUST have completed the following pre-placement requirements, and documentation must be uploaded to Inplace:

• A certified copy of a National Police Check

• Working with Vulnerable People Check (WWVP)

• Current First Aid & CPR certification

• Completed Placement Learning Agreement

• Immunisations (in a clinical setting)

Once these documents have been uploaded to inplace, the placement coordinator will then approve the placement. Only after students have received an email confirming their placement has been approved should they commence. Any hours completed prior to approval will not count towards the requirements for this unit.

Each student will have access to the 'ESSA Practicum Guide' which outlines the placement requirements and acceptable activities to complete hours for the purpose of the Exercise Science Practicum. This document should be the first point of reference for students seeking information relating to the placement requirements of this unit. Additional documentation (i.e. Record of Student Engagement Form, Competency Checklist) will be available on Canvas. These documents must be completed and submitted to Smartabase within one (1) month of completing placement. Placement sites may also implement their own evaluation process or competency checklist outside of those required for this unit. If this is the case, students should be made aware of the organisations requirements prior to the placement commencing. If the student feels that the placement site's requirements are unreasonable, they are to speak with the placement coordinator.

Students are required to maintain attendance in line with the schedule set out in the placement learning agreement. Additional attendance may be requested by the placement site and must be agreed upon by both the site supervisor and the student before commencing. Any permanent changes to the hours outlined in the learning agreement must be reported to the placement coordinator. Full attendance, in line with the attendance schedule outlined in the placement learning agreement, is necessary to fulfil the placement. Any planned absence from the placement should be discussed with the placement site supervisor at least two (2) weeks prior to the planned absence.

If a student is absent from placement due to illness, they must inform their site supervisor as soon as possible. Any absence due to illness, in excess of two days, must be reported to the placement coordinator and placement site supervisor by the student, and supported by a medical certificate. Time lost during the placement must be made up to ensure total hours and competencies are satisfied. This will be at the discretion of the placement coordinator.

EMAIL AND MESSAGING PROTOCOLS:

Email and messaging protocols: Where possible, students with general questions about unit content and assessment should use the discussion forums within Canvas. Posts on the discussion forums should expect a reply or confirmation from the unit convener within two (2) business days. Please do not use Canvas discussion forums to ask for assignment extensions, post about your personal circumstances, or seek personal feedback on your performance in this unit. If students would like to discuss personal matters, please contact the unit convener via email. If students do need to send an email: The email must be sent from a student email account. Correspondence from personal email addresses will not be responded to and will be deleted.

• The subject line must include the unit code and the context of your message eg. 9814: Assessment 1 Submission

• Address the lecturer/unit convener appropriately by name. • State your question or request clearly and concisely.

• Sign off with your name. Emails not conforming with these conventions will not receive a reply.

If students choose to send an email, they can expect a reply within two (2) business days.

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