The University of Melbourne

Program

The Melbourne DPT will prepare you for the current needs and changing roles of the physiotherapist in areas such as chronic disease management, health promotion and prevention, as well as acute care, rehabilitation, and sports and private practice. The program also features advanced theoretical knowledge in areas such as pharmacology, leadership, and management, and includes a student conference.

The curriculum is designed around three identities: Self, Practitioner, and Advocate. These three key identities are supported by nine elements:

• Professional Practitioner
• Health and Well-being
• Evidence Informed Practice
• Partnerships
• Education
• Communication
• Ethical Practice
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Engagement
• Sustainability

The constructive alignment model has been used in designing each subject within the program. This model aligns each learning outcome with both teaching activities and assessment tasks. Assessment tasks emphasize a mix of individual and group work assessment, written and oral presentations in traditional and in e-assessment formats, and skills-based assessment. In addition, you’ll build an e-portfolio to demonstrate your professional journey, acquisition of professional skills, and identity.

As a Melbourne physiotherapy student, you’ll experience the inner workings of the clinical schools and world-renowned facilities of the Melbourne medical precinct. Throughout your training, you will have access to opportunities across a range of specialist areas such as cardiorespiratory, pediatrics, and musculoskeletal and neurological physiotherapy practice.

Day-to-day Experience
Throughout your three years of study, you will spend time both on and off campus completing clinical rotations with university partners, learning directly from experienced practitioners and leading researchers in your field.

As you move between campus life to clinical rotations, you will regularly be exposed to a range of diverse practice areas. This will allow you to expand your knowledge of the skills required to excel in the field, both from an academic and industry standpoint.

Learning Mode
Research and evidence-based learning will direct you throughout the program. With a mix of individual and group assessments, written and oral presentations, and skills-based assessments, your learning will focus on developing both the breadth and depth of your knowledge in this field of study.

Clinical Placements
Throughout the program, you can partake in clinical and research opportunities that will enhance your overall learning experience and increase your professional skills. If you have hospital work in mind, cardiorespiratory components and other dedicated areas in physiotherapy are offered throughout clinical practice rotations. This assists graduates to enter the industry well-equipped to handle the rigors that medical professionals face.

The Doctor of Physiotherapy program at Melbourne comprises 1064 supervised clinical placement hours, not including simulations. This is above the hours required to meet CAPR regulations. This degree is focused on providing you with as much private practice experience as possible (37 weeks). With this significant exposure, you will have the opportunity to develop a better understanding of what future path may best suit you.

With developments in indigenous, mental and remedial health, the University of Melbourne is proactively devising more ways to get its medical and health students in front of increasingly complex patients. Students who take advantage of these opportunities are more prepared to deliver effective care in a smarter way.