Skip to main content
Start of main content.

Physiotherapy: Clinical Internship

General Information

This subject is designed to enable the graduate to be “work ready” at the completion of the Doctor of Physiotherapy Program. Students will be located in a clinical facility for the equivalent of 6 weeks full time (38-40 hours per week). Students will aim to achieve a greater level of autonomy in clinical decision making and holistic care of clients, with opportunities to communicate effectively with clients, their families and carers, and the broader healthcare team. Students must display high standards of professional, legal and ethical conduct. Students will have the opportunity to work with clients with more complex presentations across the lifespan as appropriate. This clinical practice experience marks a transitional stage for the physiotherapy student and ensures a high level of preparation and work readiness upon graduation as a physiotherapist.

Academic unit: Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine
Subject code: PHTY73-420
Subject title: Physiotherapy: Clinical Internship
Subject level: Postgraduate
Semester/Year: May 2024
Credit points: 10.000

Assurance of learning

Assurance of Learning means that universities take responsibility for creating, monitoring and updating curriculum, teaching and assessment so that students graduate with the knowledge, skills and attributes they need for employability and/or further study.

At Bond University, we carefully develop subject and program outcomes to ensure that student learning in each subject contributes to the whole student experience. Students are encouraged to carefully read and consider subject and program outcomes as combined elements.

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)

Program Learning Outcomes provide a broad and measurable set of standards that incorporate a range of knowledge and skills that will be achieved on completion of the program. If you are undertaking this subject as part of a degree program, you should refer to the relevant degree program outcomes and graduate attributes as they relate to this subject.

Find your program

Subject Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

On successful completion of this subject the learner will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate effective use of the learning environment, aiming for the highest level of proficiency for work-ready entry-level practitioners by the close of the internship period.
  2. Demonstrate professional and ethical practice in accordance with relevant legal and regulatory requirements including the composition of documentation.
  3. Demonstrate an ability to communicate effectively in a culturally appropriate manner and operate as an effective team member with clients, families and the healthcare team.
  4. Demonstrate an ability to collect appropriate information from the client, formulate a preliminary hypothesis and design and safely conduct an assessment.
  5. Analyse the information gathered upon assessment of the client, relevant diagnostic imaging or laboratory tests and formulate a sound clinical hypothesis based on underpinning physiological / pathophysiological mechanisms.
  6. Evaluate the results of the client examination, prioritise client needs and set relevant and achievable goals including an appropriate discharge plan in consultation with the client and other relevant stakeholders.
  7. Critically evaluate current management strategies using effective problem-solving and research strategies and apply this knowledge to provide an evidence based rationale for clinical decisions.
  8. Develop a physiotherapy management plan, implement and progress the interventions safely and effectively and evaluate the efficacy of the physiotherapy interventions delivered using standardised outcome measures.
  9. Demonstrate a strong understanding of the particular health challenges associated with clients in a specific life stage or practice setting and manage these holistically with empathy and sensitivity.
  10. Demonstrate leadership and advocacy skills in the management of clients and their family, care givers and support networks.
  11. Demonstrate an understanding of the role of the new graduate physiotherapist in the clinical setting, and the roles of other stakeholders involved in client care.
  12. Identify areas and situations outside their own skills and expertise, refer on to other health professions when applicable and seek the assistance of the clinical educator when appropriate.
  13. Evaluate own practice in the clinical setting and use self-reflection as a mechanism to improve performance and operate within individual and professional strengths and limitations.

Generative Artificial Intelligence in Assessment

The University acknowledges that Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen-AI) tools are an important facet of contemporary life. Their use in assessment is considered in line with students’ development of the skills and knowledge which demonstrate learning outcomes and underpin study and career success. Instructions on the use of Gen-AI are given for each assessment task; it is your responsibility to adhere to these instructions.

Type Task % Timing* Outcomes assessed
Presentation Individual infographic formatted to fit an A4 page on a topic related to a pathology relevant to the clinical field of the student internship subject. The infographic must demonstrate current evidence based knowledge about the allocated topic 20.00% Ongoing 1,3,7
Workplace Performance Report^ End-Unit Assessment of Physiotherapy Practice (APP) - Clinical Educators will assess student's performance using the APP instrument OR Interdisciplinary Capability Assessment Tool (ICAT)* *Students completing international or non-traditional clinical placements will be advised if they are to be assessed using the APP or ICAT 80.00% Ongoing 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13
  • ^ Students must pass this assessment to pass the subject
  • * Assessment timing is indicative of the week that the assessment is due or begins (where conducted over multiple weeks), and is based on the standard University academic calendar
  • C = Students must reach a level of competency to successfully complete this assessment.

Pass requirement

Students must complete all assessment items. In order to achieve a passing standard on the APP, they must meet the following criteria: A minimum score of 50% overall on the APP; A score of ‘adequate’ or higher on the Global Rating Scale; A minimum score of 50% across the combined APP domains of Professionalism and Communication; and A minimum score of 50% across all other APP domains combined. A student who does not meet the above criteria will be deemed to have failed the clinical placement subject and may be offered a Resit Examination (as per the DPHTY Rules of Assessment and Progression) or will be required to repeat the placement. Additionally, in order to achieve an overall pass grade for this subject, students are required to achieve 50% or more in the cumulative marks for the assessments: reflective exercise and workplace performance report (APP). If a student fails a mandatory assessment item/subject, a resit opportunity will be scheduled and conducted as soon as practicable after all of the summative assessments have been completed.

Study Information

Submission procedures

Students must check the iLearn@Bond subject site for detailed assessment information and submission procedures.

Policy on late submission and extensions

A late penalty will be applied to all overdue assessment tasks unless an extension is granted by the subject coordinator. The standard penalty will be 10% of marks awarded to that assessment per day late with no assessment to be accepted seven days after the due date. Where a student is granted an extension, the penalty of 10% per day late starts from the new due date.

Academic Integrity

University’s Academic Integrity Policy defines plagiarism as the act of misrepresenting as one’s own original work: another’s ideas, interpretations, words, or creative works; and/or one’s own previous ideas, interpretations, words, or creative work without acknowledging that it was used previously (i.e., self-plagiarism). The University considers the act of plagiarising to be a breach of the Student Conduct Code and, therefore, subject to the Discipline Regulations which provide for a range of penalties including the reduction of marks or grades, fines and suspension from the University.

Bond University utilises Originality Reporting software to inform academic integrity.

Feedback on assessment

Feedback on assessment will be provided to students within two weeks of the assessment submission due date, as per the Assessment Policy.

Accessibility and Inclusion Support

If you have a disability, illness, injury or health condition that impacts your capacity to complete studies, exams or assessment tasks, it is important you let us know your special requirements, early in the semester. Students will need to make an application for support and submit it with recent, comprehensive documentation at an appointment with a Disability Officer. Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Office at the earliest possible time, to meet staff and learn about the services available to meet your specific needs. Please note that late notification or failure to disclose your disability can be to your disadvantage as the University cannot guarantee support under such circumstances.

Additional subject information

This subject aims to address the Physiotherapy Practice Thresholds in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. (Please refer to the subject supplement guide for mapping of the subject Learning Outcomes to the Physiotherapy Roles and Key Competencies outlined in the Physiotherapy Practice Thresholds in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand).

Subject curriculum

A detailed curriculum has not been published for this subject.

Approved on: Apr 5, 2024. Edition: 2.5
Last updated: Jul 25, 2024