| Effective Term: | 2025/05 |
| Institute / School : | Institute of Health and Wellbeing |
| Unit Title: | Introduction to Physiotherapy |
| Unit ID: | NHPPS1001 |
| Credit Points: | 15.00 |
| Prerequisite(s): | Nil |
| Co-requisite(s): | (NHPPS1111) |
| Exclusion(s): | Nil |
| ASCED: | 061701 |
| Other Change: | |
| Brief description of the Unit |
The unit will provide an introduction to the profession of physiotherapy. Students will acquire fundamental knowledge and skills in physiotherapy, focusing on assessing and treating lower limb issues. Additionally, the unit will introduce research and literature search skills. Students will develop proficiency in various physiotherapy management techniques, such as soft tissue mobilisation, heat and cryotherapy, and exercise prescription. |
| Grade Scheme: | Graded (HD, D, C, P, MF, F, XF) |
| Work Experience Indicator: |
| No work experience |
| Placement Component: | |
| Supplementary Assessment:Yes |
| Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment |
| Course Level: |
| Level of Unit in Course | AQF Level(s) of Course | | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | | Introductory | | |  | | | | | Intermediate | | | | | | | | Advanced | | | | | | |
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| Learning Outcomes: |
| Knowledge: |
| K1. | Understand the fundamental principles of soft tissue mobilisation, its significance in physiotherapy, and its practical application in patient care. |
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| K2. | Describe basic injury and healing mechanisms relevant to lower limb pathologies and their assessment. |
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| K3. | Identify and outline the key components of a comprehensive patient history and physical examination relevant to various lower limb pathologies. |
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| Skills: |
| S1. | Perform a basic patient history and physical examination covering different areas of the lower limb. |
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| S2. | Safely demonstrate competence in utilising basic treatment modalities such as soft tissue manipulation, heat, and cryotherapy, with a comprehensive understanding of their indications, precautions, and contraindications. |
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| S3. | Justify and implement an effective physiotherapy management plan, utilising diverse management techniques tailored to different lower limb conditions. |
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| Application of knowledge and skills: |
| A1. | Utilise information obtained from both patient history and physical examination to accurately diagnose lower limb presentations and develop suitable management plans. |
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| A2. | Assess and critique the evidence surrounding physiotherapy assessment and treatment techniques to inform clinical decision-making and practice. |
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| Unit Content: |
Topics may include:
1. Foundations and application soft tissue mobilisation, heat therapy and cryotherapy.
2. Pathophysiological understanding of tissue injury and stages of healing across a variety of lower limb presentations.
3. Application of biomechanics within the physiotherapy profession
4. Clinical reasoning and professional behaviours in the clinical environment.
5. Physiotherapy assessment and management relating to various areas of the lower limb |
| Graduate Attributes: |
| Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FEDTASKS (Transferable Attributes Skills and Knowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are be embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and Co-operative Learning opportunities. One or more FEDTASK, transferable Attributes, Skills or Knowledge must be evident in the specified learning outcomes and assessment for each FedUni Unit, and all must be directly assessed in each Course.
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| FED TASK and descriptor | Development and acquisition of FEDTASKS in the Unit | | Level | FEDTASK 1
Interpersonal | Students will demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate, inter-act and work with others both individually and in groups. Students will be required to display skills in-person and/or online in: • Using effective verbal and non-verbal communication • Listening for meaning and influencing via active listening • Showing empathy for others • Negotiating and demonstrating conflict resolution skills • Working respectfully in cross-cultural and diverse teams. | Level 1 - Students require directions and boundaries from mentor | FEDTASK 2
Leadership | Students will demonstrate the ability to apply professional skills and behaviours in leading others. Students will be required to display skills in: • Creating a collegial environment • Showing self -awareness and the ability to self-reflect • Inspiring and convincing others • Making informed decisions • Displaying initiative | N/A - Not Applicable | FEDTASK 3
Critical Thinking and Creativity | Students will demonstrate an ability to work in complexity and ambiguity using the imagination to create new ideas. Students will be required to display skills in: • Reflecting critically • Evaluating ideas, concepts and information • Considering alternative perspectives to refine ideas • Challenging conventional thinking to clarify concepts • Forming creative solutions in problem solving. | Level 1 - Students require directions and boundaries from mentor | FEDTASK 4
Digital Literacy | Students will demonstrate the ability to work fluently across a range of tools, platforms and applications to achieve a range of tasks. Students will be required to display skills in: • Finding, evaluating, managing, curating, organising and sharing digital information • Collating, managing, accessing and using digital data securely • Receiving and responding to messages in a range of digital media • Contributing actively to digital teams and working groups • Participating in and benefiting from digital learning opportunities. | N/A - Not Applicable | FEDTASK 5
Sustainable and Ethical Mindset | Students will demonstrate the ability to consider and assess the consequences and impact of ideas and actions in enacting ethical and sustainable decisions. Students will be required to display skills in: • Making informed judgments that consider the impact of devising solutions in global economic environmental and societal contexts • Committing to social responsibility as a professional and a citizen • Evaluating ethical, socially responsible and/or sustainable challenges and generating and articulating responses • Embracing lifelong, life-wide and life-deep learning to be open to diverse others • Implementing required actions to foster sustainability in their professional and personal life. | Level 1 - Students require directions and boundaries from mentor |
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| | Learning Outcomes Assessed | Assessment Tasks | Assessment Type | Weighting | | 1. | K1, S2, A2 | Recording of simulated patient interaction. | Video presentation | 10-20% | | 2. | K1, S3, A2 | Written submission of evidence based practice. | Written Assignment | 10-20% | | 3. | K3, S1, S2, A1 | Skills Mastery | Practical Assessment | S/U | | 4. | K3, S1, S2, S3, A1 | Objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) | Practical Exam | 25-40% | | 5. | K2, K3, S3, A1 | Theoretical examination from semester content | Written Final Examination | 35-55% |
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