Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours)

Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) graduates work with people of all ages to help them stay well and maintain their function, independence, and quality of life. You will study evidence-based-physiotherapy clinical skills and develop capabilities in critical thinking, problem solving, communication and life-long learning. Physiotherapy graduates work in various public and private settings including hospitals, rehabilitation and community centres, aged care, with sporting teams and in private practice. The Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) integrates academic theory with extensive practical experience to produce graduates who are ready to meet the challenges of the changing healthcare system. The program prepares graduates for professional physiotherapy employment and provides a pathway for ongoing research and further learning.

This degree requires students to participate in clinical placements in NSW Health facilities. During clinical placement, students will be subject to NSW Health policies and procedures. Students must therefore meet all NSW Health verification requirements prior to attending any clinical placement. Clinical placement essentials.

Students should be aware that they may be required to undertake classes and/or clinical placement outside usual semester dates.

Students enrolling in this degree are required to obtain a work-cover approved 'Provide First Aid Certificate' during semester one.

The award of this degree depends on the student satisfactorily completing and passing all academic and practical components within the maximum time allowed.

The university will provide student details to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency for the purpose of student registration.

Entry to this program is competitive, with a limited number of available places. Typically, offers for this program are made at the end of the year, coinciding with the release of ATARs.

Areas of study

Advanced anatomy, clinical physiotherapy, community health, exercise science, health promotion and public health, physiology and pathophysiology, statistics and research methodology.

Career opportunities

Physiotherapist working in public and private healthcare organisations, hospital inpatients and outpatients, rehabilitation and community centres, aged care, workplace rehabilitation, with schools, sporting teams and in private practice.

Professional recognition

This degree has full accreditation awarded by the Australian Physiotherapy Council. Graduates are eligible to apply for registration with the Physiotherapy Board of Australia under the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.

Practical experience

Students undertake a large amount of supervised clinical practice during the degree. Clinical placements start in early years and continue throughout the degree with at least 20 weeks of full-time clinical placement in the final year. Students are required to undertake clinical placements in a variety of settings (hospitals, rehabilitation and community health centres, aged care, and private practice). Placements are geographically widespread and all students are required to undertake placements in regional and rural locations. Students are responsible for all travel, accommodation and related expenses associated with clinical placement. As this degree requires students to participate in clinical placements in NSW Health facilities, there is a requirement to meet mandatory NSW Health placement verification requirements. Applicants should be aware of this requirement when applying for entry to the program.

Honours

All students will graduate with honours which will be awarded as graded or ungraded honours. Entry into the graded honours stream may be offered to students based on merit at the end of the third year of the program. The graded honours stream requires students to complete a supervised research project.

Fees and charges

Refer to University of Newcastle current fee information.