Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy)

Description

Physiotherapy is a health profession which deals with the prevention, assessment and treatment of human movement disorders. Physiotherapy services are used in a wide variety of areas such as health care organisations, private practices, schools and community, sports and workplace settings. The physiotherapy profession is committed to continued research into its fundamental concepts and activities and the evaluation of physiotherapy services to ensure the optimum quality of care for the community it serves. The profession is also committed to effective communication with members of the health team, the community at large and the continuing education of its graduates.

The Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy) course and the Master of Physiotherapy courses are regularly reviewed to ensure that each of the physiotherapy competencies formulated by the physiotherapy profession in Australia are addressed in the curriculum. Reference to specific competencies is made in statements of unit aims and objectives in student manuals and other materials.

The Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy) course and the graduate-entry program of Master of Physiotherapy are accredited with the Australian Physiotherapy Council.

In common with other disciplines at the University of Sydney, all the professional programs in physiotherapy are developed to promote students development of generic as well as discipline-specific knowledge and skills. Generic skills, such as communication and teamwork, are necessary attributes of all graduates of higher education in this age of change. Graduates of the physiotherapy courses possess high capability for working in many different settings to promote health and facilitate rehabilitation. Clinical practicum venues include generalist and specialist settings in city and rural regions, and in institutional, school, industrial and community contexts.

Requirements

The current undergraduate programs require four years of full-time study. The Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy) pass and honours degrees aim to equip students with the appropriate knowledge, skills and attitudes to work effectively as members of the physiotherapy profession.

Graduates of the full-time programs are eligible to apply for registration as physiotherapists with the Physiotherapy Board of Australia. All graduates must meet the requirements of the Physiotherapy Board of Australia, including the English language skills requirements. These requirements at time of writing are a minimum of 7.0 (in all four components) in the IELTS test to qualify if they did not complete their secondary studies in English in one of the approved countries. Please refer to:
www.physiotherapyboard.gov.au/Registration-Standards.aspx for up-to-date information concerning English proficiency requirements for registration eligibility.

Notes

There is a wide range of courses offered in the discipline of physiotherapy:

•Two physiotherapy professional undergraduate degrees: the Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy) pass and honours degrees. Both degrees are offered on a full-time basis over four years.
•A two-year Master of Physiotherapy course provides an alternative professional pathway for students who hold a bachelor€™s degree in a related discipline such as human movement to acquire the knowledge and skills to be registered as a beginning practitioner physiotherapist. See Chapter 16 for further information on the graduate entry program.
•The research programs at master's and doctoral levels provide an opportunity for research and scholarship in specific areas of physiotherapy. Current research projects include the investigation of musculoskeletal, neurological and cardiopulmonary physiotherapy and physiotherapy management after breast cancer surgery. Chapter 19 has information on the research degrees offered by the faculty.