Bachelor of Physiotherapy - University of South Australia

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Aim

The program is designed to provide the necessary education and training for graduates to enter professional practice in various fields of physiotherapy and to provide the basis for proceeding to further study.

Entry requirements

To be eligible for entry, students are required to have:

• qualified for the SACE;
• recorded achievement in five SACE subjects taken at Stage 2 level;
• included at least four Stage 2 subjects that are approved Higher Education Selection Subjects (HESS);
• obtained a competitive TER.

Alternatively, applicants may qualify for entry if they have:

• completed the equivalent secondary education qualifications as required for university entry under SACE;
• completed or partly completed a recognised higher education program at a recognised higher education institution;
• completed at least four Open Universities Australia subjects at the appropriate level;
• completed a recognised TAFE Advanced Diploma or Diploma;
• completed the International Baccalaureate Diploma;
• qualified for special entry;
• completed the Health Sciences stream of the UniSA Foundation Studies program.

Assumed knowledge: Stage 2 SACE Biology and Stage 2 SACE Physics.

English language entry requirements
In addition, International students who speak English as a foreign language must satisfy the following:

International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic): Overall score of 6.5 obtained within the last two years or corresponding results from an equivalent test such as TOEFL or the appropriate Academic English language level delivered at CELUSA;
OR
Successful completion of a secondary qualification in Australia within the last two years;
OR
Successful completion of at least one year of tertiary study in Australia within the last two years;
OR
Successful completion of one year of secondary or tertiary study conducted and completed in English within the last two years in a country in which English is an official language as determined by the University.

Content/structure

Courses in all years of the program fall within one of the following streams - biophysical science, professional studies and broadening education.
A major section of the early years of the program is the study of normal movement and the basic medical science courses. The remainder of the program deals with abnormal movement and the nature and application of physical modalities used in prevention and treatment of disease and disability. The student is trained not only as a member of the health care team concerned with the physical and psychosocial rehabilitation of sick and disabled people but also trained to be a practitioner of first contact concerned with prevention of disability in the workplace, in the community and in recreational pursuits.

Professional recognition

The program is recognised for registration by the Physiotherapists Board of South Australia and by appropriate Boards responsible for registration in other states/territories of Australia. The program also provides an acceptable academic training for membership of the Australian Physiotherapy Association.

Honours

Students who achieve grades of credit and above in the courses which make up the first and second years of the program will be considered for the honours program. Students who successfully complete the Honours program will be awarded a Bachelor of Physiotherapy with Honours.

Fee information

Fees for International students: $AU 21,325 per 1.0 EFTSL for students commencing in 2010.
Fees are calculated on a per Unit basis with 1.0 EFTSL = 36 Units.
Fees for International students are determined one year in advance and are subject to variation.

Program requirements

Rules

1. Police Check: All students in the Division of Health Sciences who undertake field or clinical placements, or participate in University clinics as part of their program, must have had a police clearance prior to the commencement of any placement or clinic activity.
2. Student registration with the State Registration Board is required prior to enrolment in this program and must be maintained throughout the program.
3. Students will be required to satisfy the standard of dress and behaviour prescribed by institutions in which the clinical placements are undertaken. Failure to satisfy such requirements may prevent them satisfying the requirements for the completion of the program.
4. Maximum credit allowed - normally up to two thirds of the total units of the program.

Notes

1. Students must successfully complete a recognised first aid course before they will be allowed to commence the clinical section of the program and must maintain a current CPR certificate and first aid certificate throughout the clinical section.
2. Students may be required to undergo a medical examination before commencing clinical placements as determined by the relevant hospital authorities. It is recommended that all students are vaccinated against Hepatitis B and Tuberculosis before commencing the program.
3. The program requires participation in laboratory classes where manual skills and topics such as surface anatomy are presented. Essential learning strategies demand that all students disrobe appropriately to act as subjects for their peer group in laboratory classes.
4. Normally students who achieve a credit level average in the courses which make up the first and second years of the program may be considered for the honours program. Normally a quota for places will apply. The invitation to students will be made at the commencement of the third year of the program. Students accepted into the honours program enrol in the course Health Science Honours Preparation. In fourth year, students accepted into the Honours program enrol in the course Health Science Honours Thesis.
5. Students are advised that they may be required to spend time in a placement outside Adelaide in a country or interstate location.
6. Students may be required to undertake fieldwork placement outside normal university teaching weeks.
7. Broadening Undergraduate Education Elective is to be selected from any discipline area approved as contrasting with the discipline category of the professional core.
8. Students are strongly encouraged to study full-time. Students seeking part-time study must discuss this with the Program Director prior to enrolment. Part-time students are normally expected to complete the program in eight years.
9. Attendance requirements apply to the clinical components of the program. Students enrolled in courses with a clinical component will need to attend on a full-time basis for the duration of the clinics.
10. Students will be required to undertake a Certificate of Mandatory Notification before commencing their clinical placement.