Physiotherapy Clinical Practice C (PHTY90120)

This clinical placement subject enables students to apply, consolidate and extend their knowledge and physical skills in musculoskeletal and/or neurological and/or cardiorespiratory physiotherapy.  

The emphasis in this subject is on the application of clinical reasoning and evidence-based practice in the safe and effective assessment and management of individuals with musculoskeletal, neurological and/or cardiorespiratory conditions. Students will work as health professionals within the wider multidisciplinary team, with individuals and their carers, respecting their rights and choices.  

Students will undergo professional experiential learning across the core areas of physiotherapy in working with and managing clients across the lifespan in a range of environments and settings (e.g. acute, subacute and/or community and metropolitan or rural/regional contexts).  

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this subject, students should be able to:

• Integrate prior knowledge of common musculoskeletal, neurological and/or cardiorespiratory conditions and the framework for clinical reasoning to the assessment and management of clients
• Implement a theoretical framework for clinical reasoning in selecting appropriate assessments, problems, goals and approaches to treatment of individuals with musculoskeletal, neurological and/or cardiorespiratory conditions across their lifespan and different settings
• Safely and effectively execute and interpret assessment techniques, including history taking, observational movement analysis, objective measurement of impairment, activity limitations and participation restriction
• Select, justify and demonstrate safe and effective physiotherapy interventions to address impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions in collaboration with individuals with musculoskeletal, neurological and/or cardiorespiratory conditions
• Use findings of high-quality clinical research to inform clinical decision making in assessment and treatment of clients across their lifespan with musculoskeletal, neurological and/or cardiorespiratory conditions
• Demonstrate accurate and effective verbal, non-verbal and written communication skills when working with clients across the lifespan in different clinical settings. This includes the ability to develop rapport and accommodate the cognitive, linguistic, and cultural needs of the individual and their family / carer
• Critically reflect on the patient's rights, medicolegal requirements, and sociocultural preferences, and effectively engage in patient education and advocacy
• Identify the factors critical to effective time and resource management in the clinical setting and implement strategies addressing these factors within individual treatment sessions and case load management
• Develop short and long-term treatment goals with the patient (or carers as appropriate) with discharge planning designed to meet these goals
• Articulate the role of the physiotherapist within the multidisciplinary team and demonstrate the capacity to work effectively within the team in the clinical setting

Generic skills

• Responding constructively to feedback
• Recognising personal, spiritual, cultural or religious beliefs in others
• Accessing new knowledge from all sources, to analyse and interpret it in a critical manner, and to apply it appropriately
• Understanding and respecting the rights of others including choice, dignity and privacy
• Identifying and addressing personal learning needs
• Recognising the role of the team work and demonstrating the capacity to work effectively within the team
• Communicating empathy, compassion, honesty, integrity and altruism
• Self-awareness, recognising when problems exceed personal knowledge and skills, and a willingness to seek help
• Applying the principles of reflective practice
• Communicating with people from diverse backgrounds including the ability to listen to, respond to, inform and understand others' perspective