EXERSCI 751A/B : Physiotherapy Practicum 1

Science

2025 Semester One (1253) / Semester Two (1255) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Students will undertake supervised practice in clinical settings. This is the first of 5 clinical practicums across different physiotherapy settings. Students will complete supervised practice for 25 days, usually during a 5- or 6-week block, following a compulsory pre-clinical programme. Students will develop competencies in assessment of clients' problems, analysis of findings, goal setting and implementation and evaluation of interventions.

Course Overview

This course comprises clinical and professional practice activities based at the Newmarket Campus and a selection of external sites. Students are required to integrate foundation biomedical and behavioural knowledge, physical and technical skills, and the applied skills of evidence-based practice to allow the development of entry-level physiotherapy competencies.

Students will develop competencies across a range of key physiotherapy skills, including the assessment of clients' problems, analysis of findings, clinical reasoning, prioritisation, reflective practice, goal setting and the implementation and evaluation of interventions. The course promotes the understanding of appropriate professional ethical and social attitudes and skills within the interprofessional team and facilitates the development of effective and appropriate communication skills. 

Utilising a range of activities such as peer review, case studies, simulations, ethical scenarios and patient interaction, the course will help draw together the learnings across Year 1 courses and integrate these concepts within a person and whānau-centred care approach. 

Course Requirements

To complete this course students must enrol in EXERSCI 751 A and B, or EXERSCI 751

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate the ability to apply anatomy, physiology, and biopsychosocial concepts in a clinical context (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)
  2. Demonstrate effective and appropriate communication with clients, whānau, carers, family and health professional colleagues to at least the minimum standard expected for an entry level physiotherapist. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8)
  3. Demonstrate safe, systematic, efficient and accurate physical assessments (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)
  4. Demonstrate accurate analysis, critical interpretation and documentation of assessment findings to identify client's problems and set realistic short and long-term goals (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)
  5. Critically evaluate evidence to select, prioritise, perform, monitor and progress interventions safely in a specific area of practice and appropriately in collaboration with clients and the interdisciplinary team (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)
  6. Demonstrate effective education and health promotion with clients and caregivers (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)
  7. Demonstrate responsible practice, according to the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, equity and cultural safety (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8)
  8. Demonstrate responsible practice, applying professional behaviour appropriate to at least the minimum standard expected for an entry level physiotherapist (Capability 1, 4, 6 and 8)
  9. Demonstrate effective planning to address client and carer's needs for ongoing care (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)
  10. Demonstrate effective integration of person and whānau centred-care and wellbeing into the planning and equitable delivery of physiotherapy provision (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Professional Development 80% Individual Coursework
Assistantship 20% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Professional Development
Assistantship

Key Topics

The course will focus on the integration of skills across a variety of practice areas, including:
  • Acute care
  • Musculoskeletal
  • Neurology
  • Cardiorespiratory
  • Community
  • Paediatrics

Special Requirements

Compulsory participation. Will include field trips.
Must meet the health and safety requirements of the clinical workplace setting, including immunisation/vaccination requirements.

Workload Expectations

The course will be delivered across two semesters. In-person attendance is mandatory 

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is mandatory to complete the course.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Student Feedback

During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.

At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.

Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.

The MPhysioPrac programme seeks feedback from students regarding their clinical placement experiences. This information is essential for both the University and Clinical sites and educators.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.

You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 11/02/2025 11:24 a.m.