Bachelor of Physiotherapy

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Physiotherapy at JCU equips students with the knowledge and skills to improve patients' quality of life through targeted treatments. The program emphasizes hands-on learning, clinical placements, and a focus on rural, regional, and remote healthcare delivery. Graduates are prepared for careers as physiotherapists in diverse settings, including hospitals, private practices, and community health centers.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

Overview:

The Bachelor of Physiotherapy program equips individuals with the knowledge and skills to improve the quality of life for patients through targeted treatments that restore function or minimize dysfunction caused by illness, aging, or injury. Students explore key elements of human anatomy, systems, and movement while developing proficiencies in physiotherapy practice and treatment. The program emphasizes hands-on learning experiences at the JCU Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Clinic and provides opportunities for clinical placements in rural, regional, and remote settings.

Objectives:

• Understand the principles of human body structure and function, encompassing tissue, cells, and different human systems and their relevance to illness and injury.
• Grasp the fundamentals of physiotherapy practice and treatment techniques, including massage, exercise prescription, and related biomechanical principles.
• Develop effective healthcare practice skills from the first year, including fundamental communication skills for health professionals and insights into the behind-the-scenes factors of allied health professional practice.
• Prepare for impactful healthcare delivery through extensive clinical placements in urban, rural, and remote locations, fostering the ability to provide effective healthcare in diverse settings.

Outline:

Course Schedule:

• Level 1: Focuses on foundational knowledge in anatomy and physiology, introduction to physiotherapy, communication skills, and foundations of allied health professional practice.
• Level 2: Delves into health professional research, health promotion, and health policy analysis, alongside neuroscience in physiotherapy.
• Level 3: Emphasizes physiotherapy theory and applications, complex cases in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities, and health law and ethics.
• Level 4: Covers contemporary issues for physiotherapists, advanced topics in physiotherapy, and health policy and planning.

Individual Modules with Descriptions:

• Anatomy and Physiology for Physiotherapy 1: Explores the structure and function of the human body at the tissue, cellular, and organ system levels.
• Introduction to Physiotherapy: Provides an overview of the profession, its history, values, and scope of practice.
• Communication Skills for Health Professionals: Develops effective communication skills essential for interacting with patients, families, and healthcare professionals.
• Health Professional Research 1: Introduces the principles and methods of research in healthcare, including critical appraisal and data analysis.
• Health Promotion for Health Professionals: Covers principles and strategies for promoting health and preventing disease in diverse populations.
• Neuroscience in Physiotherapy: Examines the structure and function of the nervous system, with an emphasis on its role in movement and rehabilitation.
• Physiotherapy 1: Introduces the assessment and management of common musculoskeletal conditions, including the application of manual therapy techniques.
• Clinical Medicine for Therapy: Provides an understanding of the underlying medical conditions that physiotherapists may encounter and their implications for treatment.
• Complex Cases in Rural, Remote, and Indigenous Communities: Explores the unique challenges and considerations of physiotherapy practice in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities.
• Physiotherapy Theory and Application (Part 1 of 2): Integrates theoretical knowledge with practical skills in the assessment and management of various patient populations.
• Contemporary Issues for Physiotherapists: Examines current trends and debates in physiotherapy practice, including the use of technology and evidence-based practice.
• Physiotherapy Health Law and Ethics: Provides an understanding of the legal and ethical frameworks that govern physiotherapy practice.
• Advanced Topics in Physiotherapy: Explores specialized areas of physiotherapy, such as sports physiotherapy, neurological rehabilitation, and occupational health.

Careers:

Potential Career Paths and Opportunities:

Graduates of the JCU Bachelor of Physiotherapy are equipped to pursue careers across Australia and beyond. They are particularly well-positioned to work in rural and remote settings and with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Potential career paths include:

• Physiotherapist in hospitals, private practices, community health centers, schools, or sports and rehabilitation clinics.
• Researcher or academic in the field of physiotherapy.
• Policymaker or advocate for health and rehabilitation services.
Graduates can register with the Physiotherapy Board of Australia and become members of the Australian Physiotherapy Association.