Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) course structure

Monash  Physiotherapy education is based on a fully integrated curriculum and includes  interdisciplinary studies. Commencing Semester 1, the curriculum is structured  around patient centred learning. Conditions for which people typically seek  physiotherapy provide the context for integrating learning about biomedical  sciences and physiotherapy skills. In the later years of the course, the focus  moves from campus based patient scenarios to learning in a clinical environment.  This provides opportunities for students to appreciate the relevance of on-going  learning in the context of supervised health care delivery.

Monash  Physiotherapy education facilitates development of skills through small group  learning. Other features of this degree are opportunities to experience rural  health care delivery and Inter-Professional Education (IPE).  In IPE, students  spend some time each semester learning and collaborating with students enrolled  in other health science courses including Occupational Therapy, Nursing,  Paramedic and Radiography.

The  Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) is a challenging and demanding course.  Students can expect to spend significant time in self-directed learning that  supports the course of study. Students will be expected to be fit to undertake  the course by accepting responsibility to maintain their health and take  adequate rest.

Clinical  attachments across all years of the course are compulsory. In the third and  fourth years of study, the majority of time is spent in clinical education. Some  flexibility may be required of students, both in terms of hours worked at  clinics, and scheduling of clinical attachments.

Students  can expect to have rural attachments during the course  Students should take these matters into  consideration when considering casual employment.

BPT  (Hons) students will complete 1 unit (24 credit points) in each Semester (1-4)  over the first 2 years, and multiple units for campus study and clinical  placements in years 3 and 4.

Physiotherapy Themes

Theme  1: Personal and professional development

This  theme focuses on the development of personal attributes and related skills that  assist the student in the transition from student to physiotherapist. It  includes verbal and written communication skills, ethics and legal  issues.

Theme  2: Population, society and health

Theme  2 provides the structure to develop abilities in dealing with broader society  and population issues and is underpinned by an internationally accepted  socio-ecological model of health.

Theme  3: Fundamental knowledge of health science

Theme  3 provides the knowledge and skills that underpin physiotherapy clinical  practice. It includes biomedical and behavioural sciences as well as  physiotherapy clinical skills.

Theme  4: Applied practice

This  theme develops clinical competencies integral to physiotherapy practice. It  focuses on the incorporation of the best available research evidence with the  clinical reasoning skills of assessment, management and evaluation of patients  within a range of environments and the delivery of appropriate health  care.

Theme  5: Research

Theme  5 focuses on the knowledge and skills that are required to locate, interpret and  critically evaluate research that investigates issues relevant to physiotherapy  practice.

Years  1 and 2

During  the early years of the course, education in the biomedical and behavioural  sciences (anatomy, biomechanics, kinesiology, pathology, pharmacology,  physiology, psychology, radiology, sociology), foundations of physiotherapy  practice and research is provided on campus in the context of a Patient Centred  approach to learning. Students will also participate in various  interdisciplinary projects and have a chance to observe clinical practice in  Year 2.

Years  3 and 4

On-campus  learning continues in the early weeks of Year 3. The focus will then change to  learning in the clinical setting. Clinical attachments aim to develop knowledge  and practical experience in the delivery of physiotherapy services under the  supervision of experienced physiotherapists. Clinical education will be  undertaken in a diversity of settings, with challenges increasing across Year 3  to Year 4. Year 4 will also include Paediatrics and the opportunity to undertake  Elective Units in areas of interest. Some students will undertake rural clinical  attachments. An Advanced Research Honours stream will be available for some  students.