Unit Outline

This unit offers a professional experience placement that combines essential theoretical knowledge and practical skills in physiotherapy. The unit emphasizes experiential learning, encouraging you to observe, assist, and critically reflect on key theoretical knowledge and threshold concepts. You will also engage in supervised practice assisting clients. The unit focuses on developing foundational practical skills.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1	Demonstrate an understanding of the application of biopsychosocial, clinical reasoning models, evidence-informed practice, in physiotherapy examination, assessment and treatment.
2	Perform safe subjective and objective health screening, physical examinations of human movement to interpret functional abnormalities, and safely perform physiotherapy treatment and interventions for common mobility dysfunctions in diverse populations.
3	Demonstrate communication with other professionals, patients, and other stakeholders that is respectful, appropriate and professional.
4	Demonstrate professional conduct and consistent adherence to legal, professional, ethical standards, codes, and guidelines in physiotherapy.
5	Demonstrate the application of structured evidence-based clinical reasoning to critically evaluate and justify the safe, culturally sensitive, rights-based, patient-centered physiotherapy examination and treatment.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Co-requisite	CXA751 Fundamentals of Physiotherapy

Alterations as a result of student feedback

In response to student feedback from the previous cohort the ‘Clinical Reasoning and Reflective Evidence Portfolio’ assessment task has been revised. In addition, PEP specific preparation activities have been adapted to better assist with the transition into the clinical placement environment..

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Practical Examination	See the MyLO site for the due date	0 %	LO1, LO2, LO4, LO5
Assessment Task 2:	Two Quizzes	See the MyLO site for the due date	20 %	LO1, LO4, LO5
Assessment Task 3:	Clinical Reasoning & Reflective Evidence Portfolio	See the MyLO site for the due date	20 %	LO1, LO4, LO5
Assessment Task 4:	Oral Presentation	See the MyLO site for the due date	20 %	LO1, LO3, LO4, LO5
Assessment Task 5:	Assessment of Physiotherapy Practice	See the MyLO site for the due date	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Practical Examination

Task Description:

The Practical Examination assesses your foundational competence and safety in a simulated clinical environment. You are required to demonstrate technical skills, clinical reasoning, and professional communication at a level appropriate for a student commencing clinical placement. This task functions as a high-stakes safety check to ensure you are prepared to be entrusted with patient care under standard supervision.

This is a hurdle task that must be successfully completed to pass the unit.

Task Length:

30 minutes

Due Date:

See the MyLO site for the due date

Weight:

0 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Demonstrate the safe, effective, and fluent performance of prioritised physiotherapy examination and treatment techniques.	LO1, LO2
2	Justify the selection and adaptation of techniques in real-time based on patient presentation and best-practice guidelines.	LO2
3	Accurately interpret assessment findings to determine clinical significance and reason the safe progression of the intervention.	LO1, LO2, LO5
4	Facilitate safe and respectful care through structured communication, informed consent, and professional rapport with the patient.	LO4

Assessment Task 2: Two Quizzes

Task Description:

Two Quizzes – These online quizzes will assess the knowledge related to application of evidence-based practice, clinical reasoning and decision making, principles and application of the physiotherapy assessment and treatment.

Task Length:

30 minutes each quiz

Due Date:

See the MyLO site for the due date

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Identify the appropriate principal components and application of biopsychosocial model and framework, clinical reasoning, client-centred communication, and evidence-based practice within the ethical standards and code of conduct of physio practice.	LO1, LO4, LO5
2	Identify the appropriate principles of physiotherapy assessment and treatment, correct interpretation of physiotherapy assessment and therapeutic effects of physiotherapy treatment targeting common joint, muscle and mobility dysfunctions.	LO1, LO5

Assessment Task 3: Clinical Reasoning & Reflective Evidence Portfolio

Task Description:

This assessment tracks your clinical development in real-time throughout the placement. It focuses on clinical calibration: your ability to accurately judge your readiness for practice and integrate evidence and feedback into clinical work.

Each week, you must document one complete cycle (max 400 words) in your portfolio to guide your meeting with your Clinical Educator. This includes:
• A self-rating of your readiness, compared against your educator’s rating.
• Analysis of any agreement gaps between your self-assessment and educator feedback.
• A deconstructed clinical case.
• Documentation of specific feedback received, and the subsequent clinical actions taken to improve.

The portfolio concludes with a 500-word synthesis. You will analyse your agreement gaps, reflect on your values and assumptions using Driscoll’s Model, and map your progress to the Physiotherapy Practice Thresholds.

Task Length:

Up to 2100 words

Due Date:

See the MyLO site for the due date

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Demonstrate the ability to deconstruct clinical encounters, formulate hypotheses, and adapt management plans through the weekly Reasoning Artefacts.	LO1, LO5
2	Justify clinical decision-making by integrating high-quality evidence into the weekly management of specific patient cases.	LO1, LO5
3	Critically reflect on clinical performance, professional values, and the calibration of self-perception against external standards using structured reflective models.	LO5
4	Demonstrate person-centred communication and interprofessional collaboration through consistent feedback integration and rapport building within the clinical environment.	LO4, LO5

Assessment Task 4: Oral Presentation

Task Description:

In this oral presentation you will be required to present an evidence review of physiotherapy examination approaches.

Your unit coordinator will assign you a physical examination or outcome measure for the presentation. You are required to deliver this oral presentation and answer questions.

Task Length:

Up to 15 minutes presentation time, and up to 5 minutes QA time (20 min/presentation)

Due Date:

See the MyLO site for the due date

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Describe the clinical indications, contraindications, safety measures, and precautionary steps associated with the physiotherapy examination approach.	LO1, LO5
2	Present an evidence-informed description of the examination procedure, and relevant documentation methods.	LO1, LO5
3	Critically discuss the diagnostic utility of the examination with relevant clinimetric properties of examination technique for the specified impairments.	LO1, LO5
4	Demonstrate appropriate communication skills in presenting oral information and answering questions.	LO3, LO4

Assessment Task 5: Assessment of Physiotherapy Practice

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Academic progress review

The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.