Overview

This clinical placement unit integrates, consolidates and provides opportunity for students to apply acute musculoskeletal and/or cardiorespiratory physiotherapy knowledge and skills. The focus is on professional experiential learning and its application within acute or community settings.

Requisites

Prerequisites

100 credit points in MA-PHYS1, or
125 credit points in MA-PHYS

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Term 4
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
29-September-2025
02-November-2025
Last self-enrolment date
29-September-2025
Census date
10-October-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
17-October-2025
Results released date
09-December-2025
HE Block 5
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
20-July-2026
23-August-2026
Last self-enrolment date
20-July-2026
Census date
28-July-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
11-August-2026
Results released date
22-September-2026
HE Block 6
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
24-August-2026
27-September-2026
Last self-enrolment date
24-August-2026
Census date
01-September-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
15-September-2026
Results released date
27-October-2026

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Critically evaluate and reflect on the research evidence that supports the assessment and management of common cardiorespiratory, neurological and orthopaedic/musculoskeletal disorders
  • Safely examine common orthopaedic/musculoskeletal, neurological and cardiorespiratory conditions and their clinical presentations
  • Implement sound clinical reasoning with regard to diagnosis and management of common cardiorespiratory, neurological and orthopaedic/musculoskeletal conditions
  • Effectively and safely perform physiotherapy intervention for common cardiorespiratory, neurological and orthopaedic/musculoskeletal conditions
  • Effectively communicate clinical information to patients/clients, carers, other healthcare practitioners and other stakeholders
  • Analyse clinical information to formulate short- and long-term physiotherapy management plans for patients/clients

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Activity Type Activity Total Hours Number of Weeks Hours Per Week
Placement Placement 160 5 weeks 32
Specified Activities Various 3 1 week 3
Total Hours: 163 Total Hours (per week): 35

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Evidence of CompletionIndividual 100% 1,2,3,4,5,6 

Content

  • Recognition of clinical presentations and physical manifestations in common cardiorespiratory, neurological and orthopaedic/musculoskeletal conditions
  • Professional written and verbal communication skills
  • Systematic and evidence-informed approaches to the subjective and physical assessment of cardiorespiratory, neurological and orthopaedic/musculoskeletal conditions
  • Short- and long-term goal setting
  • Evidence-based research for the differential diagnosis and management of common cardiorespiratory, neurological and orthopaedic/musculoskeletal conditions
  • Radiological features and findings of common cardiorespiratory, neurological and orthopaedic/musculoskeletal conditions
  • Therapeutic exercise prescription and their progression for cardiorespiratory, neurological and orthopaedic/musculoskeletal conditions

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.