Bachelor of Physiotherapy Advanced - Research (Honours)

This course provides students with the opportunity to develop research skills beyond the extensive research component already existing within M3002 Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours). Students undertaking this course will be well placed with regard to applying for scholarships to pursue higher degrees by research, obtaining formal post graduate research opportunities and applying complex research skills in clinical practice.

Course themes

Personal and professional development

This theme focuses on the development of personal attributes and skills that assist the student in the transition from student to physiotherapist. It includes verbal and written communication skills and developing an understanding of the importance of relevant ethical and legal issues and the physiotherapy profession.

Population, society and health

This theme provides the structure to learn about and deal with broader society and population issues and is underpinned by an internationally accepted socio-ecological model of health.

Fundamental knowledge of health science

This theme provides the knowledge and skills required for physiotherapy clinical practice. It includes biomedical and behavioural sciences as well as the theory of physiotherapy practice.

Applied practice

This theme develops clinical competencies for physiotherapy practice. It focuses on the incorporation of the best available research evidence with the clinical reasoning skills of assessment, management, evaluation and health care across the lifespan and across a spectrum of patient environments and circumstances.

Research

This theme provides opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills to locate, interpret and critically evaluate research relevant to physiotherapy practice.

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 8, the Bologna Cycle 1 and Monash Graduate AttributesAustralian Qualifications Framework level 8, the Bologna Cycle 1 and Monash Graduate Attributes (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/alignmentofoutcomes.html).

Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that graduates will:

• have a standard of knowledge, skills and technical competency appropriate for an entry level practitioner in physiotherapy
• be prepared to maintain high standards in their professional life through a commitment to lifelong learning
• be aware of the latest advances in physiotherapy and related fields, and be positioned to engage in the expanding knowledge base
• appreciate the value of research and be skilled at accessing, critically appraising and applying the best available evidence to their everyday practice
• be effective users of relevant technology
• understand and show respect for the roles of other professionals and be able to work collaboratively within the discipline of physiotherapy and as part of a multidisciplinary team
• have the knowledge and skills to practise in a safe and ethical manner in relation to themselves, their clients and the community
• be client-centred in their approach, respecting the right of clients and their support networks to participate in decision-making
• demonstrate awareness that people's health encompasses their activities and participation as well as their body structures and functions, personal and environmental factors
• supervise, manage and take responsibility, as appropriate, when working in collaboration with other professionals, students, clients and their support networks
• achieve a breadth of education with a tolerance for ambiguity and differing views
• be reflective and compassionate, with a concern for issues of equity, equality, humanity and social justice
• have the ability to learn independently and be innovative in their approach to analysis, critical thinking, problem-solving and evaluation
• effectively and efficiently communicate with other professionals, clients and the public
• demonstrate appropriate oral, written and IT skills, including the ability to present coherent argument, negotiate effectively and manage conflict
• demonstrate awareness of the social, ethical, economic, political and environmental context of illness, health and wellbeing
• be committed to the health of populations as well as individuals and be proactive in prevention-oriented physiotherapy practice and health promotion
• understand the social and ethical dimensions of physiotherapy professional activities
• integrate knowledge of relevant public policy and health and social care systems into their practice
• work effectively with a diverse range of people and settings
• sustain collaboration with an academic supervisor
• develop a focused research question
• complete a sophisticated and comprehensive search for relevant information
• construct a systematic review using the principles argued by the Cochrane Collaboration
• extract relevant data from studies included in a review using systematic methods
• apply knowledge of appropriate research design in the development of a high quality research proposal
• demonstrate an understanding of the principles of ethical research through the development and submission of an ethics application to conduct research
• determine and apply data analysis methods appropriate for a research question
• implement a focused research project
• demonstrate the ability to collect, manage and analyse data collected during the conduct of research
• demonstrate the ability to accurately document research findings and develop defensible conclusions
• demonstrate the ability to present research findings and respond in an educated way to enquiries about the research findings
• utilise feedback appropriately
• write a scholarly account of a research project in a 10,000-12,000 word thesis
• demonstrate the ability to adhere to project timelines
• archive relevant documents arising from the conduct of research
• write a final report to the approving ethics committee describing project completion.

Special requirements

Students must refer to the information available on the special requirements outlined below. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure they have the correct documentation.

Police checks

Students must have a current Police check regarding their suitability to undertake placements. Refer to the faculty's police checkspolice checks (http://www.med.monash.edu.au/current/police-checks.html) webpage.

Working with Children checks

Students must have a current Working with Children check regarding their suitability to undertake placements. Refer to the faculty's Working with Children checksWorking with Children checks (http://www.med.monash.edu.au/current/wwc-check.html) webpage.

Immunisation and infection requirements

In accordance with the National Health and Medical Research Council recommendations, this course requires that students comply with the faculty's Immunisation and vaccination policy and proceduresImmunisation and vaccination policy and procedures (http://www.med.monash.edu.au/current/immunisation/). These are designed to provide maximum protection against the increased risk of some vaccine preventable diseases for students, patients and workers in a health care setting.

This policy, and the associated procedures require that students have certain specified vaccinations, and have their blood borne virus status determined, before they commence a clinical placement. Students who have not complied with this policy may not be able to undertake clinical placement, with the attendant academic consequences.

Prospective students are provided detailed information on the effect of blood borne virus infection on the scope of practice of health care workers. Students who test positive to a blood borne virus (including HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C) will be required to consult a specialist medical practitioner approved by the faculty to provide advice on any necessary restrictions on work practices to protect patients and others from infection.

First aid

In addition to the units outlined below, students will complete their 'Apply First Aid' certificate as part of their studies.

Clinical practice units

This course requires students to undertake off-campus rural and metropolitan clinical placements. In the clinical setting students will have an opportunity to apply theory to practice under supervision. Attendance is mandatory for the clinical component of each unit.

Where a student's skill or knowledge is found to be inadequate, access to the clinical component of the unit will be denied. A student may be withdrawn from a clinical practicum if required skills and knowledge are deemed inadequate, or on other grounds deemed appropriate by the head of school.

Clinical expenses

Students are responsible for all travel and accommodation expenses during clinical placement. Uniforms and accessories are required for clinical placements and students will be notified regarding purchase arrangements upon commencement.

Upon successful completion of this course, graduates are eligible to apply for registration with the Physiotherapy Board of Australia.

This course consists of 17 compulsory units.

First year

Semester one

• PTY1011 Physiotherapy 1

Semester two

• PTY1022 Physiotherapy 2

Second year

Semester one

• PTY2031 Physiotherapy 3

Semester two

• PTY2042 Physiotherapy 4

Full year unit

• PTY2000 Honours systematic review

Third year

Semester one

• PTY3051 Physiotherapy 5

Semester two

• PTY3162 Physiotherapy 6A: clinical
• PTY3262 Physiotherapy 6B: clinical
• PTY3362 Physiotherapy 6C: clinical
• PTY3462 Clinical placement

Full year unit

• PTY3000 Honours research proposal

Fourth year

Semester one

• PTY4171 Physiotherapy 7A: clinical
• PTY4172 Physiotherapy 7B: clinical

Semester two

• PTY4281 Physiotherapy 8A: clinical
• PTY4282 Physiotherapy 8B: clinical
• PTY4283 Physiotherapy 8C: campus

Full year unit

• PTY4000 Honours thesis

Students may exit this course with a Bachelor of Human Sciences after successfully completing at least 144 points of study.