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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
  • Timetable: https://bond.edu.au/timetable
    Delivery mode: Situated
    Workload items:
    • Clinical: x6 (Total hours: 240) - Clinical Internship
    • Personal Study Hours: x1 (Total hours: 6) - Recommended study hours
    Attendance and learning activities: LEARNING ACTIVITIES Students will attend an allocated clinical facility for five weeks, full-time. Students will be required to attend that facility for the normal full-time equivalent hours of the clinical educators (38-40 hours per week). Allocated clinical facilities have formal agreements with Bond University and therefore there is no ability for students to source their own clinical placement. Attendance at all scheduled clinic hours is compulsory. Students must not plan leave without prior approval. STUDENT LEARNING RESPONSIBILITIES Students are expected to take a significant level of responsibility for their own learning. Students are required to: take the initiative to identify, apply and integrate material from other subjects and other sources to the present subject; be responsible for being pro-active learners in the clinical setting; practice and reflect on their performance. Bond University forwards student names to AHPRA in the first semester of enrolment in the Doctor of Physiotherapy program stating they are a current physiotherapy student. This means that students are being educated within the legal framework for practice as a physiotherapy student and must display the professional behaviours and attitudes required of all health professionals. It is essential that students conduct themselves in accordance with the Doctor of Physiotherapy Program Charter that was signed at the start of the Program. Professional behaviour and appropriate professional attitudes must be evident in all clinical and non-clinical learning activities and can be grounds for disciplinary action, including failure in this subject, if student’s behaviours do not align with the expectations of the physiotherapy profession. Should concerns be raised about students conduct, educators will consult with the subject convener and/or Head of Program. The Head of Program may: implement a mentoring program; give an informal warning; refer to the Associate Dean of Student Affairs and Service Quality (ADSASQ) for review and attention. The outcomes of these steps may result in an informal warning and monitoring of progress, a formal warning, grade penalties (marks which could impact on grades) or referral to the Dean or Faculty for disciplinary procedures.
  • Prescribed resources:

    No Prescribed resources.

    After enrolment, students can check the Books and Tools area in iLearn for the full Resource List.
    iLearn@Bond & Email: iLearn@Bond is the online learning environment at Bond University and is used to provide access to subject materials, lecture recordings and detailed subject information regarding the subject curriculum, assessment and timing. Both iLearn and the Student Email facility are used to provide important subject notifications. Additionally, official correspondence from the University will be forwarded to students’ Bond email account and must be monitored by the student.

    To access these services, log on to the Student Portal from the Bond University website as www.bond.edu.au

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.

  • Assessment criteria

    High Distinction 85-100 Outstanding or exemplary performance in the following areas: interpretative ability; intellectual initiative in response to questions; mastery of the skills required by the subject, general levels of knowledge and analytic ability or clear thinking.
    Distinction 75-84 Usually awarded to students whose performance goes well beyond the minimum requirements set for tasks required in assessment, and who perform well in most of the above areas.
    Credit 65-74 Usually awarded to students whose performance is considered to go beyond the minimum requirements for work set for assessment. Assessable work is typically characterised by a strong performance in some of the capacities listed above.
    Pass 50-64 Usually awarded to students whose performance meets the requirements set for work provided for assessment.
    Fail 0-49 Usually awarded to students whose performance is not considered to meet the minimum requirements set for particular tasks. The fail grade may be a result of insufficient preparation, of inattention to assignment guidelines or lack of academic ability. A frequent cause of failure is lack of attention to subject or assignment guidelines.

    Quality assurance

    For the purposes of quality assurance, Bond University conducts an evaluation process to measure and document student assessment as evidence of the extent to which program and subject learning outcomes are achieved. Some examples of student work will be retained for potential research and quality auditing purposes only. Any student work used will be treated confidentially and no student grades will be affected.

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

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