This unit will introduce students to the knowledge, skills and clinical decision making processes necessary for effective assessment and treatment of patients across the age spectrum with acute and chronic respiratory and cardiac dysfunction. In particular, students will evaluate pathophysiological and functional consequences of surgery (abdominal, thoracic and cardiac), infective, inflammatory, restrictive and obstructive pulmonary disorders and cardiac artery disease. Students will learn the practical skills and develop treatment strategies to effectively manage respiratory problems. Additionally this unit will develop the student's knowledge of exercise and aims to apply the principles of exercise testing, prescription and training to patients who have cardiac and pulmonary limitations and other co-morbidities to exercise. The unit will provide students with an opportunity to apply, integrate and extend knowledge at a postgraduate level based on their previous degree.

This unit introduces students to the sub-specialty stream of musculoskeletal physiotherapy. The unit examines observation and measurement of normal movement using methods that are suitable for clinical application, including biomechanical analyses. Students are taught and practice a number of introductory therapeutic techniques, including general and regional musculoskeletal screening, manual therapy, soft tissue massage and the use of electrophysical agents. The principles of therapeutic exercise for mobility, strength and coordination are explored and practiced. The unit also explores the physiology, psychology, measurement and management of musculoskeletal pain. Students are introduced to case-based clinical reasoning that includes planning a musculoskeletal physical examination and selecting appropriate treatment modalities with appropriate dosage. This unit lays the foundation for Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy II, III and IV.

This unit introduces students to the sub-specialty stream of musculoskeletal physiotherapy and to evidence-based practice and professional practice. The importance of measurement is emphasised and the validity and reliability of different procedures to evaluate joint range of motion and muscle weakness are studied and practiced. Common conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system are introduced. This unit lays the foundation for Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy II, III and IV. Evidence-based Practice introduces students to concepts, principles and some of the skills required to practice evidence-based physiotherapy. Professional Practice introduces the issues and practices in healthcare delivery affecting physiotherapists, including relevant professional, state and federal policies. Students also examine policies related to professional conduct promoted by the Physiotherapy Board of Australia (PBA) (and the pre-existing NSW Physiotherapy Registration Board), and the Professional Codes of Conduct of the PBA and learn to apply this code and guidelines in ethical and clinical decision-making. The importance of communication, documentation and respect for cultural differences in professional practice is addressed. (Remaining course content for evidence-based and professional practice is embedded in later UOS.)

Neurological physiotherapy aims to develop in students an ability to apply relevant theoretical and data-based scientific findings to clinical practice in the area of disease and trauma to the nervous system. This unit examines the pathology, impairments (weakness, loss of coordination, loss of sensation and spasticity as well as adaptations such as contracture), activity limitations (difficulty standing up, sitting and standing, walking, reaching and manipulating objects with the hand, rolling over and getting out of bed) and participation restrictions arising from conditions of acute onset (stroke, traumatic brain injury and Guillain-Barre Syndrome). Students will learn to assess, train and measure outcome of everyday activities integrated within the rehabilitation team.

This unit of study builds on and expands the knowledge, skills and attributes developed in Cardiopulmonary Physiotherapy and Neurological Physiotherapy. Three modules are included: cardiopulmonary physiotherapy in the acute care environment, physiotherapy for neurodegenerative conditions and acute neurological/neurosurgical care. The acute care module focuses on assessment and treatment of patients with acute pulmonary dysfunction. In addition students examine specific clinical and professional issues relating to the intensive care and acute care environment. The emphasis is on appropriate assessment, safe and effective management of intubated and non-intubated patients. The neurodegenerative conditions module examines the pathology, impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions arising from neurodegenerative conditions which require adaptation (such as Parkinsonism, multiple sclerosis, and motor neuron disease). Students learn to assess and train or prescribe appropriate aids to enable activities such as rolling over, sitting, walking, transferring, wheelchair mobility and reaching and manipulating objects to be carried out. The acute neurological and cardiopulmonary care module focuses on physiotherapy management of acute neurological and neurosurgical conditions.

The purpose of this unit is to provide students with the bases of assessment, treatment planning and application for uncomplicated musculoskeletal conditions affecting the lower limbs and lumbar region of the spine. Students will develop the ability to select and implement assessments and interventions based on clinical reasoning, principles of evidence-based practice and safety. Emphasis will be given to developing clinical reasoning skills, the systematic structuring and recording of the examinations and to the application of anatomy, physiology and pathology to these clinical problems. Students will also gain an understanding of key concept regarding clinical diagnostic validity.

The purpose of this unit is to provide students with the bases of assessment, and treatment planning and application for uncomplicated musculoskeletal conditions affecting the upper limb and cervical spine. Emphasis will be given to the interpretation of the medical history; the systematic planning and performance of the physical examination and integration of findings from the physical examination in order to diagnose conditions and identify impairments, activity limitation and participation restriction associated with common simple musculoskeletal conditions. Students will develop the ability to select and implement interventions based on clinical reasoning, principles of biomechanics and evidence-based practice and safety. At the completion of this unit student will have demonstrated theoretical knowledge, clinical reasoning and competency in assessment and treatment at a level sufficient to commence student practicum.

This unit of study comprises two modules consisting of the delivery of preventative and rehabilitative physiotherapy services across the lifespan in selected populations and settings. Specifically, the delivery of physiotherapy services will be addressed in: paediatrics and ageing and health. In the paediatrics module students will become aware of the changes which occur from infancy through to maturity in neuromotor, musculoskeletal and cardiopulmonary development and will address issues related to physiotherapy intervention in children with potential dysfunction in those systems. The emphasis of this module will be on problem solving relevant clinical scenarios via an approach of clinical reasoning. In considering the older population, students will explore strategies to maintain and improve the health of older people and to support them within their community if they do develop illness or disease. Specifically, they will look at topics such as falls screening and prevention and the coordination of health, social and other services to assist older people.

This unit of study involves clinical placements in one of the four following areas: rehabilitation, acute care, ambulatory care/outpatients and community/general. Students will be required to demonstrate competence in both the specific clinical skills for each area as well as the generic skills and attributes of physiotherapy professionals. During practicum placements there will be opportunities for interprofessional learning. In addition, students may be responsible for running individual or group classes to improve patient mobility, and conditioning. Physiotherapy Practicum 1, 2 and 3 are all five-week placements which require full-time attendance (37 hours per week) at clinical facilities. In addition, one of the placements may be in a rural or regional setting.

This unit of study involves clinical placements in one of the four following areas: rehabilitation, acute care, ambulatory care/outpatients and community/general. Students will be required to demonstrate competence in both the specific clinical skills for each area as well as the generic skills and attributes of physiotherapy professionals. During practicum placements there will be opportunities for interprofessional learning. In addition, students may be responsible for running individual or group classes to improve patient mobility, and conditioning. Physiotherapy Practicum 1, 2 and 3 are all five-week placements which require full-time attendance (37 hours per week) at clinical facilities. In addition, one of the placements may be in a rural or regional setting.

This unit will integrate knowledge from earlier units of study and develop the skills required for the management of musculoskeletal conditions with a more complex presentation. Students learn to distinguish patients with non-specific pain from those suspected of having underlying disease/pathology. The unit covers the differential diagnosis, clinical course and prognostic factors of common musculoskeletal conditions. Students will develop the ability to select and implement interventions based on clinical reasoning, principles of evidence-based practice and safety. Emphasis will be placed on differential diagnosis, musculoskeletal surgical procedures and post-surgical protocols, and the biomechanics of joint load reduction.

This unit of study comprises three integrated modules consisting of the delivery of preventative and rehabilitative physiotherapy services in selected populations and setting addressing complex patient-centred healthcare in society. Specifically, the delivery of physiotherapy services will be addressed in: sport and recreation; occupational health; and community health. In physiotherapy in sport and recreation, students will assess sports related injury and design programs to prevent and manage complex injuries sustained during sport and recreational activities. The occupational health module will apply a risk management approach to the role of physiotherapy in work injury prevention and occupational rehabilitation. The community health module will address the contribution of physiotherapy to the management of particular population groups who receive health care in community settings; e.g. indigenous populations and rural/remote populations.

This unit of study involves clinical placements in one of the four following areas: rehabilitation, acute care, ambulatory care/outpatients and community/general. Students will be required to demonstrate competence in both the specific clinical skills for each area as well as the generic skills and attributes of physiotherapy professionals. During practicum placements there will be opportunities for interprofessional learning. In addition, students may be responsible for running individual or group classes to improve patient mobility, and conditioning. Physiotherapy Practicum 1, 2 and 3 are all five-week placements which require full-time attendance (37 hours per week) at clinical facilities. In addition, one of the placements may be in a rural or regional setting.

This unit of study involves clinical placement in one of the four following areas: rehabilitation, acute care, ambulatory care/outpatients, community/general. Students will be required to demonstrate competence in both the specific clinical skills for each area as well as the generic skills and attributes of physiotherapy professionals. During practicum placements there will be opportunities for interprofessional learning. In addition, students may be responsible for running individual or group classes to improve patient mobility, and conditioning. Physiotherapy Practicum 4 is a five week placement which requires full-time attendance (37 hours per week) at clinical facilities. In addition, this placement may be in a rural or regional setting.

This unit of study will include three modules: advanced musculoskeletal, neurological and cardiopulmonary modules incorporating advanced clinical reasoning addressing complex patient-centred healthcare. The modules will enable students to develop their skills in analysing and planning management of patients with complex musculoskeletal, neurological and cardiopulmonary problems. The musculoskeletal module will include advanced manual therapy assessment and treatment including high velocity manipulative techniques. Students are required to source and integrate material from core areas of musculoskeletal, and cardiopulmonary, neurological physiotherapy as well as background sciences. Specific emphasis will be placed on fostering development of independent and eLearning skills as well as development of critical analysis skills to improve healthcare. Students will be expected to evaluate the scientific basis and ethical, legal and practical implications of physiotherapy interventions within the context of interprofessional team care and global health priorities.

The UOS program consists of a series of 4 areas: advanced evidence-based practice (prevalence, incidence, randomized trials, systematic reviews), advanced clinical reasoning, reflective practice and the skills (both written and oral) that underpin effective communication of scientific reasoning. There will be both lectures covering practical and theoretical aspects of research (research design and data analysis, database management, research ethics and scientific writing and the processes by which a research idea is translated into a project) and tutorials where students will present their clinical reasoning (orally and written) and receive feedback. In addition, students will complete modules of reflective practice to consolidate their experience of clinical practice and will also have an opportunity to hear about the work of scientists ¿ both senior researchers and those at the beginning of their career.