Doctor of Physiotherapy

Course MC-DPHYSIO (2011)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2011.

Year and Campus: 2011 - Parkville
CRICOS Code: 071302J
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Level: Graduate/Postgraduate
Duration & Credit Points: 300 credit points taken over 36 months full time.

Coordinator

Dr Louisa Remedios

Contact

Dr Louisa Remedios
Course Overview: The Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPhysio) is a 3 year full time entry to practice graduate degree. An overview of the three year (300 point) program.

The curriculum is designed around three elements which provide both horizontal and vertical integration throughout the program. These elements are:
1) Physiotherapy Theory and Practice;
2) Evidence in Physiotherapy; and
3) Health in Context.
These elements are covered explicitly in stand-alone subjects throughout the program. Further, each subject description provides learning outcomes under these three curriculum elements.

The ‘constructive alignment’ model has been used in designing each subject within the program. This model requires the alignment of learning outcomes with both teaching activities and assessment tasks. Assessment tasks therefore emphasize a mix of individual and group work assessment, written and oral presentations in traditional and in e-assessment formats and skills based assessment. In addition, one subject per semester will include a ‘Critical perspectives in physiotherapy’ portfolio that will explicitly and cumulatively build on students’ ability to reflect on their learning experiences and their understanding of the Physiotherapy Graduate Attributes.

The program will be delivered outside the standard university semester. The semesters in first year are 16 weeks in duration. This allows us to incorporate the clinical component of the course within the subjects.

Attached are the eight subject descriptions for year 1 of the program. The 1st year of the Doctor of Physiotherapy program is due to commence in 2011.

Subject descriptions for the 2nd and 3rd year of the program will follow at a later date.
Objectives: Learning objectives are outlined in each subject.
Course Structure & Available Subjects: The D.Physiotherapy program is a fully fixed course.
In order to qualify for the Doctor of Physiotherapy students must successfully complete all subjects as outlined below (300 credit points).
Majors/
Minors/
Specialisations
N/A Fixed Course.
Subject Options: N/A Fixed Course

First Year

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:

Second Year

These subjects are to be confirmed

Please contact the Physiotherapy |Melbourne School of Health Sciences for further information.

Semester 1

  • Clinical Practice (Musculoskeletal Focus) (12.5)
  • Clinical Practice (Cardiorespiratory Focus) (12.5)
  • Clinical Practice (Neurological Focus) (12.5)
  • Research and Evidence 2 (6.25)
  • Healthcare in Context 2 (6.25)

Semester 2

  • Lifespan Health and Wellness (12.5)
  • Chronic Disease and Disability (12.5)
  • Research and Evidence 3 (6.25)
  • Healthcare in Context (6.25)
  • Clinical Practice 2 (Lifespan Health and Chronic Disease Management) (12.5) or Exercise, Sports and Manual Therapy 1 (12.5)

Third Year

These subjects are to be confirmed

Please contact the Physiotherapy |Melbourne School of Health Sciences for further information.

Semester 1

  • Advanced Practices - (Pharmacology for Prescribing, Emergency Triage) (12.5)
  • Research and Evidence 4 (12.5)
  • Healthcare in Context (12.5)
  • Clinical Practice 2 (Lifespan Health and Chronic Disease Management) (12.5) or Exercise, Sports and Manual Therapy 2 (12.5)

Semester 2

  • Work Readiness and Advanced Selective Physiotherapy (25)
  • Integrated Studies (12.5)
  • Leadership and Management (12.5)

Entry Requirements: 1 The Selection Committee will evaluate the applicant’s ability to pursue successfully the course using each of the following criteria:

* An undergraduate degree in any discipline, studies to have been completed within the last 10 years.
* Successful completion of pre-requisite University subjects in human anatomy and in human physiology or equivalent (one subject of each);
* Multi-Mini Interview.

Candidates whose applications meet the selection criteria will be offered a multi mini interview (MMI).

The interview component of the selection process will be a 10 station Multiple Mini Interview. Each station takes 5 minutes and has a single interviewer. The MMI aims to assess non-cognitive qualities including cultural sensitivity, maturity, collaboration, reliability and communication skills. The stations could include practical tasks, answering questions, commenting on short films, and explaining your thinking.

Candidates who apply to both Physiotherapy and Medicine at Melbourne will only be offered one MMI in any one academic year. The results of the MMI will be used for both applications

2 The Selection Committee may conduct interviews and tests and may call for referee reports or employer references to elucidate any of the matters referred to above.

Doctor of Physiotherapy

* The Selection Committee will shortlist applicants for interview on the basis of their performance in previous studies (GPA).
* The Grade Point Average (GPA) will be measured by considering the last three years of the applicant’s undergraduate coursework studies (including Honours
* Weightings will be applied according to the approved Melbourne Adjusted Grade Point Average (MAGPA) calculations in force in any given year, or in the absence of any defined MAGPA, by weighting the first of the final three full-time years by 1, the second year by 2 and the final year by 3.
Core Participation Requirements: For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage policy, academic requirements for this course are articulated in the Course Description, Course Objectives and Generic Skills of this entry.
The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/
Further Study: The School also offers a number of postgraduate certificates, postgraduate Master of Physiotherapy by Coursework in specialist clinical fields and Research Higher Degrees at PhD and Masters level.
Graduate Attributes: Self

In building their relationship with self, students will be expected to develop:

· an understanding of the principles of empathy, compassion, honesty, integrity, altruism, resilience and lifelong curiosity, the ability to demonstrate them and a recognition of their importance in health care
· an understanding of the principles of reflective practice, the ability to apply them, and a recognition of their importance in health care
· an understanding of the principles of self-awareness, the ability to recognise when clinical problems exceed their knowledge and skill, and a willingness to seek help
· the ability to identify and address their own learning needs
· the ability to respond constructively to appraisal, performance review or assessment
· the ability to manage uncertainty
· the ability to apply effective time management and organisational skills
· the ability to recognise and manage emotion in themselves and others
· the ability to maintain their own physical, emotional, social and spiritual health and a recognition of the importance of professional support in this process
· a recognition of their own personal, spiritual, cultural or religious beliefs and an awareness that these beliefs must not prevent the provision of adequate and appropriate care to the patient

Knowledge

In building their relationship with knowledge, students will be expected to develop:

· an understanding of the scientific method relevant to biological, behavioural and social science
· an understanding of research methods and their applications.
· an understanding of normal structure, function and development of the human body at all stages of life
· an understanding of normal life processes including conception, development, birth, ageing and death.
· an understanding of the factors that might disturb normal structure, function and development
· an understanding of the aetiology, pathology, symptoms and signs, natural history and prognosis of important physical illness in all stages of life
· an understanding of the management (pharmacological, physical, nutritional, behavioural and psychological) of important medical conditions
· the ability to access new knowledge from all sources, to analyse and interpret it in a critical manner, and to apply it appropriately to their provision of health care
· the ability to learn from patients, health professionals and the community in a broad range of settings
· an appreciation of the responsibility to contribute towards the generation of new knowledge

Patients

In building their relationship with patients, students will be expected to develop:


· an understanding of and respect for the rights of patients including patient choice, dignity and privacy
· the ability to communicate with patients from diverse backgrounds including the ability to listen to, respond to, inform and understand the patient’s perspective
· the ability to advocate appropriately on behalf of the patient
· an understanding of factors affecting human relationships and the psychological, cultural and spiritual well-being of patients
· an understanding of principles of rehabilitation in the amelioration of suffering from acute or chronic disability
· an understanding of chronic illness and disability and its impact on the patient, their carers and communities
· the ability to construct with the patient an accurate, thorough, organised, physiotherapy history and examination
· the ability to integrate and interpret clinical findings and apply rigorous reasoning to arrive at an appropriate plan of management
· the ability to formulate an evidence-based and cost effective management plan in collaboration with the patient
· the ability to recognise serious illness
· the ability to perform relevant physiotherapy procedures effectively and safely, with due regard for the patient’s comfort


Physiotherapy profession

In building their relationship with the physiotherapy profession, students will be expected to develop:

· an understanding of the continuum of physiotherapy training and the diverse roles and expertise of physiotherapists
· an understanding of the potential conflicts of interest that may confront physiotherapists and other health professionals
· an understanding of and ability to apply the principles of ethics in the provision of health care and research.
· an understanding of organisational governance, the ability to be an active participant in professional organisations, and an appreciation of the benefits of this participation
· an understanding of the principles of mentorship and the ability to apply them with colleagues
· the ability to give effective feedback to colleagues in order to help them improve their performance
· an understanding of educational theory and practice and the ability to teach
· an appreciation of the responsibility to maintain standards of physiotherapy practice at the highest level throughout a professional career


Systems of health care

In building their relationship with systems of health care, students will be expected to develop:

· an understanding of the roles, responsibilities and expertise of all health professionals, and how they work in teams to deliver health care
· a respect for the roles and expertise of other health care professionals and the ability to communicate effectively with them
· an understanding of the principles of team work and the ability to work effectively in a team, including as a leader
· an appreciation of the responsibility to contribute to the education of all health professionals
· an understanding of the principles of efficient and equitable allocation and use of finite resources in health care systems, locally and globally
· an understanding of the principles of quality and safety in health care systems
· the ability to work effectively as a physiotherapist within a quality and safety framework
· an understanding of the principles of effective record keeping and the ability to maintain high quality medical and physiotherapy records
· an understanding of the structure of the Australian health care system and health care systems globally
· an understanding of the role of political systems in shaping health care systems locally, nationally and internationally

Society

In building their relationship with society, students will be expected to develop:

· an understanding of the interactions between humans and their social and physical environment
· an understanding of the determinants of a well society and the economic, political, psychological, social and cultural factors that contribute to the development and persistence of health and illness
· an understanding of the principles of health promotion including primary and secondary prevention
· an understanding of the health of indigenous Australians including their history, cultural development and the impact of colonisation and the ongoing health disparities of indigenous people in this country and globally
· an understanding of the burden of disease in differing populations and geographic locations
· an understanding of the differing requirements of health care systems in a culturally diverse society
· the ability to consider local, regional, national and global ramifications of health care issues
· the ability to respect community values, including an appreciation of a diversity of backgrounds and cultural values
· an understanding of the principles of health literacy and a willingness and ability to contribute to the health education of the community
· the ability and a willingness to contribute to the community
· a commitment to contribute to the resolution of health inequities locally and globally
· an understanding of the relationship between environmental issues and the health of local communities and society
· a commitment to practise physiotherapy in an environmentally responsible way




Professional Accreditation:
All new physiotherapy programs are required to undergo a process of accreditation by the Australian Physiotherapy Council (APC). Once accreditation is granted, graduates are eligible for registration with the Australian Health Practioner Regulation Agency to work in Australia.
Notes: Organisations that host clinical placements require that you have obtained a police check regarding your suitability to undertake such placements. If you are an enrolled student, or a prospective student, you are advised that you are required to obtain, and pay for, police checks prior to commencing and during your course.
All students enrolled in the D.Physiotherapy program are also required to obtain a Working with Children check prior to undertaking clinical placements. Year 1 Physiotherapy students need to complete the check prior to enrolment or as soon as possible after enrolment (no later than Orientation Week).
Currently, working with Children checks remain valid for 5 years. If a student is undertaking a course of greater than 5 years duration, a new Working with Children check must be obtained prior to the end of the 5th year of study.

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