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Bachelor
of Health Sciences and Master of Physiotherapy Practice (replacing Bachelor of Physiotherapy)
Campus:
Bundoora and Bendigo Health Care Group (Years 1, 3 & 4)
Selection:
Bundoora: ENTER 95.00 (for former Bachelor of Physiotherapy)
Bendigo: ENTER 94.20 (for former Bachelor of Physiotherapy)
Duration:
4 years
Contact:
School
of Physiotherapy
(03) 9479 5815
physiotherapy@latrobe.edu.au
www.latrobe.edu.au/physiotherapy
Introduction
The Bachelor of Health Sciences and Master of Physiotherapy Practice is a four year course that consists of pre-clinical and clinical study integrating theory and practice through enquiry-based learning. The course is offered on a full-time basis. Most of the units undertaken are core with some specialist physiotherapy elective choice in the fourth year of the course. The first year of the double degree is an inter-disciplinary common year. During this year students will enrol in units with peers across the Faculty of Health Sciences. The focus is on basic human biosciences and behavioural health sciences and on developing an understanding of the roles of health professionals in the health and welfare sectors. Second year begins to develop physiotherapy skills and further explores the human biosciences of anatomy and physiology. In the third and fourth years students apply their knowledge and practical skills to the physiotherapy management of disorders across the life-span using enquiry-based learning techniques. There is a focus on small group learning to master the practical aspects of physiotherapy skills. These groups are co-educational with the expectation that students will practise
techniques on each other. In order to integrate the theory and gain a sound basis for clinical practice students treat patients in hospitals and other clinical settings under clinician supervision. The hospital sites are Clinical Schools of La Trobe University and the clinical experiences may be had anytime
over the third and fourth year (e.g. not necessarily during the traditional semester dates). Students selected into the Bendigo Physiotherapy course undertake Please note that students will undertake the Bendigo course in Bendigo for the first, third and fourth years whilst the second year will be conducted at the Bundoora campus. An Honours program commencing in third year is available to a limited number of students who have outstanding academic records.
Applicants should ensure they check the 2009 VTAC Guide for all requirements regarding applying.
Prerequisites
VCE Units 3 & 4: a study score of at least 30 in English (ESL) or 25 in any other English and
in two of biology, chemistry, a mathematics (any), physical education
or physics.
Middle band
Criteria associated with the La Trobe University Rural and Regional Student Access Scheme (Bendigo course) and VTAC's Special Entry Access Schemes considered.
Extra Requirements
NONY12:Form (some applicants only): Applicants with 6 months full time or equivalent paid experience as a health professional or health professional assistant must telephone (03) 9479 5815 to request a Physiotherapy Supplementary Information form which must be completed and submitted by 7 November 2008. Test (some applicants only): Some applicants will need to complete the STAT Multiple Choice. Please see the 2009 VTAC Guide for further information. Interview (applicants are eligible for an interview if STAT results are in the high 90s): Details will be provided by telephone or mail to the applicants required to attend interviews in January/February.
Successful Applicants must comply with the Clinical and Professional Placements policy. Please see the 2009 VTAC Guide for further information.
Clinical
placements
During the first two years of the program, students experience brief examples of clinical practice in physiotherapy. Students in first year will undertake a
one week clinical placement. Students in second year undertake two weeks of clinical placements or one week of clinical placement and one week of alternative experience such as working as a sports trainer or personal carer. From the middle of third year to the middle of fourth year, students undertake four 5-week core clinical placements at one of the clinical schools. The core clinical placements cover the areas of cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal and neurological physiotherapy practice. In the final semester of fourth-year, students undertake two 5-week clinical elective placements in specialist areas of practice such as women’s health, paediatrics, intensive care, sports physiotherapy, spinal cord lesions, oncology, rehabilitation and hydrotherapy. For further information please refer to the Physiotherapy website.
Additional
costs
Approximate total costs throughout the course $1,155. Practical books:
$100 per year; Recommended immunisation: $250-$470; First Aid course: $160;
Student Name Badge: $8.50; Clinical Shirt: $30 each; and annual Police Check $13.70 (2008 fee).
Optional: text books. Accommodation and travel costs for clinical placement
will vary according to the venue and not all students will incur the same
cost.
Professional
recognition
Graduates are eligible for registration with the State Physiotherapists
Registration Boards. Registration is an essential pre-requisite for practice
as a physiotherapist.
Further
information
If you would like to find out more about this course you can contact the
School
of Physiotherapy. It is strongly recommended that you attend the course
information sessions held on Open
Day.
Student Profile
Ingrid Fewings
Bachelor of Physiotherapy
Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus
Ingrid completed her VCE in Bendigo before moving to Melbourne to study physiotherapy. When Ingrid first started physiotherapy she was keen to become a sports physiotherapist. Over the last three years however have opened her eyes to all the other interesting fields and Ingrid is now undecided in which direction she will go.
Have you been on clinical placement? How did you find it?
So far I have completed 2 of 4 core clinical placements, a general block and a musculoskeletal block. Placement is a challenging but rewarding experience. It’s fantastic to finally be able to get out there and practice the skills you’ve been developing for two and a half years on patients who actually need your help (rather than your perfectly healthy prac class partner). There is an enormous amount of satisfaction in watching your patients improve and helping them to achieve their goals. I think that you learn more in a week of placement than you could with months of your nose in the books. There is no better way to test the evidence based practice learnt than to get out there and see which techniques actually work.
Have you found the La Trobe environment a supportive one in terms of helpful lecturers, good library resources, etc?
I think in most situations if you are proactive and keen to learn your lecturers are bound to be supportive and help you out as much as they can. I was certainly one of those students in my lecturer’s office before exams with 101 questions which they patiently plodded through with me (taking more time than I’m sure they had to spare). I have found the Physiotherapy teaching staff at La Trobe to be passionate about the work they do and eager to see their students do well.
Where do you see yourself after graduation?
The great thing about physiotherapy is that there are so many different fields. I am still to complete my neuro, cardiothoracic and elective placements, so I’m holding back on deciding what I’ll do after graduation until I experience these. I am eager to travel and I think that physio will provide me with plenty of opportunities in Australia and hopefully overseas.
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