QTAC code (Australian and New Zealand applicants): Ipswich campus: 936232

CRICOS code (International applicants): 111903D

This program is offered from Semester 1, 2024.

Notes

In 2023 the programs follows the Semester calendar. The Academic Calendar and Important Dates webpage will allow you to view and download a copy of the important dates for the Semester calendar.

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Contact us

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Professional accreditation

UniSQ is seeking accreditation of the Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) program with the Australian Physiotherapy Council which accredits all physiotherapy programs in Australia by delegation from the Physiotherapy Board of Australia (PBA). This process will be finalised in September 2023 and once accredited, graduates of the UniSQ program will be eligible to register to practice nationally as a Physiotherapist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

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Program aims

The program aims to produce graduates eligible for registration as a physiotherapist in Australia. Physiotherapy is an AHPRA regulated health profession and a title protected by law. The course provides profession entry-level skills to enable graduates to work with individuals, families, and communities across the lifespan, for whom movement and participation in life may be impaired by injury, developmental difficulties, or illness. The course provides critical skills in delivering digital health services to maximise reach for regional and remote regions considering the cultural and environment context. During the four-year degree program, students will complete extensive clinical practice experiences essential for registration. The program has been designed with full awareness of the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards 2nd edition, 2021.

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Program objectives

On completion of this program, students should be able to:

1. Design and deliver efficient, effective, and client-centred physiotherapy assessment and interventions to diverse users and groups by synthesising and applying theory and practice;

2. Acknowledge the place of culture and context in determining effective ways of optimising function and quality of life for individuals, families, communities, and populations;

3. Apply high quality communication skills to build positive, productive, and authentic professional relationships with service users, in both face to face and virtual environments;

4. Work autonomously and as a member of an interprofessional team in professional settings;

5. Critically appraise empirical and practice evidence to inform safe and professional practice;

6. Embed high standards of professional ethics, responsibilities, behaviours, and communication in professional settings;

7. Use self-reflection to drive best-practice through continuing professional learning and development and to manage risk in practice.

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Australian Qualifications Framework

The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is a single national, comprehensive system of qualifications offered by higher education institutions (including universities), vocational education and training institutions and secondary schools. Each AQF qualification has a set of descriptors which define the type and complexity of knowledge, skills and application of knowledge and skills that a graduate who has been awarded that qualification has attained, and the typical volume of learning associated with that qualification type.

This program is at AQF Qualification Level 08. Graduates at this level will have advanced knowledge and skills for professional or highly skilled work and/or further learning.

The full set of levels criteria and qualification type descriptors can be found by visiting www.aqf.edu.au.

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Program Information Set

View UniSQ’s admission criteria, student profiles and a summary of all offers made under Course Admission Information Set via the QTAC website.

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Admission requirements

To be eligible for admission, applicants must satisfy the following requirements:

• Have achieved a minimum Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) of 90, or equivalent qualification.^

• Prerequisites: English (Units 3 & 4, C); One of Biology, Mathematical Methods, Physical Education, Chemistry, Physics, or Psychology (Units 3 & 4, C) or equivalent.

• English Language Proficiency requirements for Category 4.

Meeting entry requirements does not guarantee admission. Places within the Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) are limited by quota.

Quotas will be set for applicants in several categories: First nations (10%) and residents in MMI (10%) following the geographical Tiers as follows:

1. Darling Downs, Southwest and surrounding areas;

2. Other regional or remote areas (MM2 to MM7); and

3. Metropolitan areas (MM1).

All students are required to satisfy the applicable English language requirements.

If students do not meet the English language requirements they may apply to study a University-approved English language program. On successful completion of the English language program, students may be admitted to an award program.

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Inherent requirements

There are inherent requirements for this program that must be met in order to complete the program and graduate. Make sure you read and understand the requirements for this program online.

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Requirements for professional experience placements

Clinical experience is an integral component of the program and each student is required to undertake a series of clinical placements to acquire the knowledge, skills and professional attributes necessary to become registered practitioners.

Progression throughout the program is dependent upon a pass grade in theoretical and other practical courses which have been set as prerequisites.

Applicants must be willing to adhere to the requirements of the University of Southern Queensland and Queensland Health for clinical placement. Please refer to the applicable Clinical Placement Handbook for Physiotherapy Students. Students are expected to maintain currency of relevant mandatory documents, immunisation, and other requirements.

Mandatory Documents required prior to commencing clinical experiences and placement courses:

• Blue Card or Working with Children Check

• Yellow Card (if working with people with disabilities)

• Australian Police Certificate

All students must also provide the following immunisation evidence prior to commencing placements:

• Hepatitis B immunisation evidence

• Measles, Mumps and Rubella immunisation evidence

• Varicella immunisation evidence

• Pertussis immunisation evidence

• Influenza immunisation evidence

• Tuberculosis Risk Assessment

• COVID-19 vaccinations as directed by health services

• Mast FIT Testing

• Evidence of other relevant vaccinations for infectious diseases that may emerge

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Program fees

Commonwealth supported place

A Commonwealth supported place is where the Australian Government makes a contribution towards the cost of a students' higher education and students pay a student contribution amount, which varies depending on the courses undertaken. Students are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the Course Fee Schedules.

Commonwealth Supported students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called HECS-HELP.

Domestic full fee paying place

Domestic full fee paying places are funded entirely through the full fees paid by the student. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken. Students are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the Course Fee Schedule

Domestic full fee paying students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called FEE-HELP provided they meet the residency and citizenship requirements.

Australian citizens, Permanent Humanitarian Visa holders, Permanent Resident visa holders and New Zealand citizens who will be resident outside Australia for the duration of their program pay full tuition fees and are not eligible for FEE-Help.

International full fee paying place

International students pay full fees. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken and whether they are studied on-campus, external or online. Students are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the Course Fee Schedules.

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Program structure

The Program entails four years of full-time study, during which time the student will complete 32 units comprising 22 compulsory physiotherapy courses, a compulsory statistics course, a compulsory psychology course, 3 compulsory nursing courses, 1 compulsory interprofessional course and 1 biomedical course. Additionally, the program includes two embedded Honours pathways with the opportunity for high achieving students to complete an individual research project across their third and fourth years of study. Other students will complete a practice pathway program based on a small group quality assurance project in collaboration with local service providers.

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Required time limits

Students have a maximum of 9 years to complete this program.

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IT requirements

For information technology requirements please refer to the minimum computing standards.

Students will need internet access to retrieve course materials, undertake assessment and participate in course online activities.

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Credit

Exemptions/credit will be assessed based on the UniSQ Credit and Exemption Procedure.

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Enrolment

Progression

Students are advised to consult with student support usq.support@usq.edu.au in situations where their progression is affected either by failure in pre-requisite courses, or where they choose a part-time study pattern.

Clinical Placements

BPTH students will be required to undertake approximately five, five week full time clinical placements. Students will be expected to fund travel and living expenses associated with placements, some of which may be outside the Ipswich/Toowoomba area. A clinical uniform will also need to be purchased at the student’s expense. Students are eligible to apply for scholarships through Southern Queensland Rural Health and UniSQ Wellbeing team (maximum of $500) https://www.unisq.edu.au/scholarships/placement-bursary and the The Greenwood Tomkys Trust -Laptops & Labcoats fund.

Recommended enrolment patterns

In this section:

• Recommended Enrolment Pattern - Practice Pathway - Full-time commencing in Semester 1 2024
• Recommended Enrolment Pattern - Research Pathway - Full-time commencing in Semester 1 2024

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Recommended Enrolment Pattern - Practice Pathway - Full-time commencing in Semester 1 2024

Students commencing in Semester 1, 2024 will begin the program in semesters and transition to trimesters in 2025.

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Recommended Enrolment Pattern - Research Pathway - Full-time commencing in Semester 1 2024

Students commencing in Semester 1, 2024 will begin the program in semesters and transition to trimesters in 2025.