Bachelor of Physiotherapy

Monash physiotherapy education is built around five themes delivered within a fully integrated curriculum.

Commencing first semester, the curriculum is structured around conditions for which people typically seek physiotherapy. In the later years of the course, the focus moves to learning in a clinical environment. This provides opportunities for students to apply knowledge and skills, and appreciate the relevance of ongoing learning in the context of supervised health service delivery.

Monash physiotherapy education facilitates development of skills through small group learning.

Other features of this degree are opportunities to experience interdisciplinary service delivery and inter-professional education (IPE). In IPE, students spend some time each semester learning and collaborating with students enrolled in other health science courses including occupational therapy, nursing, ambulance and paramedic studies, medical imaging, nutrition and dietetics, and social work. In the third and fourth years of study, the majority of time is spent in clinical education. Some flexibility may be required of students, both in terms of hours worked at clinics and scheduling of clinical education.

Clinical practicum across all years of the course is compulsory. All students will undertake rural clinical education during third or fourth year. Students should take these matters into consideration when considering casual employment. Transfer to the Honours degree of the Bachelor of Physiotherapy may be possible for high achieving students at the end of first year.

During the first and second years of the course, education in the biomedical and behavioural sciences (anatomy, biomechanics, kinesiology, pathology, pharmacology, physiology, psychology, radiology, sociology), foundations of physiotherapy practice and research, is provided on campus using a problem-based and patient-centred approach to learning.

All students will participate in interprofessional education in year one and two to gain knowledge and insight into multidisciplinary health services and issues. On-campus learning continues in the early weeks of year three. The focus then changes to learning in the clinical setting.

Clinical education aims to develop knowledge and practice in the delivery of physiotherapy services under the supervision of experienced physiotherapists. Clinical education will be undertaken in a diversity of settings, with challenges increasing across years three and four. Year four also includes paediatrics and the opportunity to undertake elective units in areas of interest. A mix of metropolitan and rural health services are utilised for clinical education.