MX-PHYTH v.1 Doctor of Physiotherapy
DrPhys(Curtin)
Course CRICOS Code: 0100217
Registered full-time Duration:
3 Years
Course Overview
Master Degrees (Extended) prepare students to apply advanced knowledge for professional practice and further learning corresponding to AQF level 9 qualifications.
This Master Degree (Extended) provides a learning experience for talented students with a degree to gain the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours expected of an entry level physiotherapist. The course has a hybrid structure using curriculum to efficiently learn foundation knowledge, together with case studies and clinical practice to integrate knowledge into clinical decision making. It emphasises evidence based practice and encourages students in critical thinking. Course quality is under constant review with students participating in this review.
Professional Recognition
All practising physiotherapists must be registered with the Physiotherapy Board of Australia. Graduates are eligible for physiotherapy registration in any state or territory of Australia. Registration in New Zealand is available under the terms of the Trans-Tasman agreement. Graduates applying for licensure in the USA, UK or Canada will be required to provide details of their program of studies to the relevant bodies and may be required to sit a licensing examination.
Course Accreditation Status
This course has been accredited by the Australian Physiotherapy Council.
Career Opportunities
All practising physiotherapists must be registered with the Physiotherapy Board of Australia.
Additional Course Expenses
Students may be expected to purchase a number of textbooks and other essential study materials.
Course Overview Note
Essential learning strategies demand that all students have the ability to disrobe appropriately, have the ability to participate fully and are willing to act as patients/clients for their peer group and as mock patients for other students.
Course Entry and Completion Details
Applicants for a Master Degree (Extended) are required to meet University academic and English language entry standards; details are provided at http://futurestudents.curtin.edu.au. Applicants generally require a Bachelor Degree or Graduate Certificate. Any specific course entry and completion requirements must also be met.
Specifically, applicants require a relevant bachelor degree or equivalent and completion of units at a tertiary level in 1. musculoskeletal anatomy, 2. human biology or physiology and 3. health research methods or evidence-based practice. Desirable units include physics, psychology and statistics. Students are required to have a current Senior First Aid Certificate or equivalent and a swimming qualification (Bronze medal, Aquatic Rescue Award, as per Royal lifesaving awards or equivalent) and criminal record screening and clearance before entering the course. Prospective applicants are advised that the program requires full participation in laboratory classes where manual skills, including the ability to lift and support severely disabled patients, and topics such as surface anatomy are presented. Applicants for this course should refer to the Faculty website for more information on Communicable Diseases and Criminal Record Screening and Clearance.
Credit for Recognised Learning
Applications for credit towards a course are assessed on an individual basis. Credit reduces the amount of learning required to complete the course and may be granted for formal education qualifications, non-formal learning from non-award programs of study and informal learning through work experiences. Further information can be found at http://futurestudents.curtin.edu.au/non-school-leavers/rpl.cfm
Applications for credit towards a course are assessed on an individual basis. Credit reduces the amount of learning required to complete the course and may be granted for formal education qualifications, non-formal learning from non-award programs of study and informal learning through work experiences. Further information can be found athttp://futurestudents.curtin.edu.au/non-school-leavers/rpl.cfm
Pathway to Further Study
Graduates may qualify for entry to Doctoral degrees. For further details, see the University website http://curtin.edu.au
Course Organisation
Master Degrees (Extended) contain a series of units in a specialised practice area of study; they may include compulsory (core), optional or elective units to cater for student preferences.
Specifically, applicants require a relevant bachelor degree or equivalent and completion of units at a tertiary level in 1. musculoskeletal anatomy, 2. human biology or physiology and 3. health research methods or evidence-based practice. Desirable units include physics, psychology and statistics. Students are required to have a current Senior First Aid Certificate or equivalent and a swimming qualification (Bronze medal, Aquatic Rescue Award, as per Royal lifesaving awards or equivalent) and criminal record screening and clearance before entering the course. Prospective applicants are advised that the program requires full participation in laboratory classes where manual skills, including the ability to lift and support severely disabled patients, and topics such as surface anatomy are presented.
Course Learning Outcomes
A graduate of this course can:
1. utilise knowledge of biophysical, behavioural and clinical science into the safe and ethical delivery of physiotherapy services in diverse and dynamic settings
2. critically analyse information to plan, implement and evaluate physiotherapy practice
3. source, appraise, manage and use a wide range of information relevant to evidence-informed physiotherapy practice and effective decision-making
4. use effective and respectful strategies for communication with diverse stakeholders
5. use relevant technologies as part of contemporary physiotherapy practice
6. demonstrate ongoing commitment to professional development and contribution to the profession through building personal lifelong learning capacities
7. understand the local, national and global factors that inform the delivery of physiotherapy services within a global health care perspective
8. demonstrate effective cross-cultural capabilities as part of respectful interactions in physiotherapy practice
9. apply professional skills for working independent and collaboratively in physiotherapy practice and within interprofessional teams
Duration and Availability
This course is three calendar years and is offered only on a full-time basis.
Location and delivery Mode
| Year | Location | Period | All* | Internal | Partially Online Internal^ | External | Fully Online# |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Bentley Campus | Study Period 1 | Y | ||||
| 2021 | Bentley Campus | Intensive Study Period 1 | Y |
The information displayed above refers to study periods and locations where the course is available for first time entry. Students are normally only offered or admitted to a course once.
* The course itself may not be available either solely internally or externally but individual units may be offered in either or both of those modes. Prospective students should contact the Course Coordinator for further information.
^ Course and associated units are offered in this mode permitting International Onshore student enrolment.
# Course and associated units are offered in this online only mode and DO NOT permit International Onshore student enrolment.
Course Organisation Note
Essential learning strategies demand that all students have the ability to disrobe appropriately, have the ability to participate fully and are willing to act as subjects for their peer group and as mock patients for other students. Participation is obligatory in laboratory classes which require appropriate disrobing when acting as patients/clients in the peer group, and physically manipulating patients including lifting and supporting people with disabilities.
| Course Structure | Hrs/Wk | Credit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 Study Period 1 | |||||
| HUMB5000 | v.3 | Fundamentals of Clinical Anatomy and Physiotherapy Practice | 33.0 | 25.0 | |
| 25.0 | |||||
| Year 1 Semester 1 | |||||
| PATH2002 | v.1 | Anatomy and Pathology | 5.0 | 25.0 | |
| PATH5002 | v.1 | Clinically Orientated Pathophysiology | 1.0 | 12.5 | |
| PHTY2002 | v.1 | Movement Science | 4.0 | 12.5 | |
| GMED2004 | v.1 | Orthopaedic Musculoskeletal Science | 5.4 | 25.0 | |
| MEDI2008 | v.1 | Physiotherapy Applied Clinical Science | 5.0 | 25.0 | |
| 100.0 | |||||
| Year 1 Semester 2 | |||||
| HUMB2005 | v.1 | Applied Movement Science | 4.0 | 12.5 | |
| PHTY2001 | v.1 | Basic Physiotherapy Practice | 3.0 | 12.5 | |
| GMED2005 | v.1 | Cardiopulmonary Science | 5.0 | 25.0 | |
| PATH2003 | v.1 | Neuroanatomy and Pathology | 5.0 | 25.0 | |
| MEDI2007 | v.1 | Peripheral Musculoskeletal Science | 6.0 | 25.0 | |
| 100.0 | |||||
| Year 2 Study Period 1 | |||||
| PHTY5006 | v.1 | Orthopaedic Physiotherapy Clinics | 35.0 | 25.0 | |
| 25.0 | |||||
| Year 2 Semester 1 | |||||
| MEDI6004 | v.1 | Electrophysical Science | 3.0 | 12.5 | |
| GMED6009 | v.1 | Fundamental Management of Pain Disorders | 4.0 | 25.0 | |
| GMED6007 | v.1 | Medical Cardiopulmonary Science Fundamentals | 4.0 | 12.5 | |
| GMED6003 | v.1 | Neuroscience Physiotherapy Fundamentals | 5.0 | 25.0 | |
| GMED6002 | v.1 | Spinal Musculoskeletal Science Fundamentals | 6.0 | 25.0 | |
| 100.0 | |||||
| Year 2 Semester 2 | |||||
| GMED6004 | v.1 | Acute Care Fundamentals in Cardiopulmonary Science | 4.0 | 12.5 | |
| PATH6006 | v.1 | Clinical Science Fundamentals | 2.0 | 12.5 | |
| GMED6001 | v.1 | Fundamentals of Lifespan Health Science | 6.0 | 25.0 | |
| GMED6005 | v.1 | Neuroscience Physiotherapy Rehabilitation Fundamentals | 5.0 | 25.0 | |
| PHTY6020 | v.1 | Integrated Physiotherapy Leadership and Management | 4.0 | 25.0 | |
| 100.0 | |||||
| Year 3 Semester 1 | |||||
| PHTY6014 | v.1 | Foundations of Evidence Based Physiotherapy Research | 1.0 | 25.0 | |
| PHTY6015 | v.1 | Physiotherapy Core Clinical Practice 1 | 25.0 | ||
| PHTY6016 | v.1 | Physiotherapy Core Clinical Practice 2 | 25.0 | ||
| 75.0 | |||||
| Year 3 Semester 2 | |||||
| PHTY6019 | v.1 | Diversity and Global Practice | 25.0 | ||
| PHTY6018 | v.1 | Integration of Evidence Based Physiotherapy Research | 1.0 | 25.0 | |
| PHTY6017 | v.1 | Physiotherapy Core Clinical Practice 3 | 25.0 | ||
| 75.0 | |||||
Further Information
If you need more course information, you may contact the relevant areas: For Current Students: Student Services Office, please click here for further details: http://students.curtin.edu.au/contact_offices.cfm. For Domestic Future Students: Curtin Connect Future Students, enquiries: https://future.connect.curtin.edu.au/ , Tel: +61-1300 222 888. For International Future Students: Curtin International, email: international@curtin.edu.au, Tel: +61-8-9266 7331.
Course Structure Disclaimer
Curtin University reserves the right to alter the internal composition of any course to ensure learning outcomes retain maximum relevance. Any changes to the internal composition of a course will protect the right of students to complete the course within a normal timeframe and will not result in additional cost to students through a requirement to undertake additional units.
Disclaimer
Information in this publication is correct at the time of printing but may be subject to change.
In particular, the University reserves the right to change the content and/or method of assessment, to change or alter tuition fees of any unit of study, to withdraw any unit of study or program which it offers, to impose limitations on enrolment in any unit or program, and/ or to vary arrangements for any program.
This material does not purport to constitute legal or professional advice.
Curtin accepts no responsibility for and makes no representations, whether express or implied, as to the accuracy or reliability in any respect of any material in this publication.
Except to the extent mandated otherwise by legislation, Curtin University does not accept responsibility for the consequences of any reliance which may be placed on this material by any person.
Curtin will not be liable to you or to any other person for any loss or damage (including direct, consequential or economic loss or damage) however caused and whether by negligence or otherwise which may result directly or indirectly from the use of this publication.
International students
International students studying in Australia on a student visa can only study full-time and there are also specific entry requirements that must be met. As some information contained in this publication may not be applicable to international students, refer to international.curtin.edu.au for further information. Australian citizens, permanent residents and international students studying outside Australia may have the choice of full-time, part-time and external study, depending on course availability and in-country requirements.
