Doctor of Clinical Physiotherapy Overview

About the Course
Structure
Subjects
Entry Requirements
Course Objectives
Fees
Police Checks

About the Course

The Doctor of Clinical Physiotherapy (DClinPhysio) is designed to provide students with the opportunity to extend their knowledge, clinical skills and expertise in clinical research in a targeted area of physiotherapy and to undergo advanced training under skilled supervision. We have a downloadable form by which you can submit an application.

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Structure

The Doctor of Clinical Physiotherapy is taken over 3 years full-time or up to 6 years part-time. Approximately half the degree is research, with the remainder comprising coursework and advanced clinical education. The first year of the course is the Master of Physiotherapy by Coursework with eight 12.5 subjects in either a specialist stream or the general stream. The second year provides the opportunity to deepen and broaden clinical knowledge and research skills with selection of elective subjects (clinical and non-clinical).   Core subjects are Thesis Design and Thesis Proposal. In the third year of study, students work independently on an original research project and submit a written report (thesis) of no more than 30,000 words.

Subjects

See list of Subjects for Doctor of Clinical Physiotherapy

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Entry Requirements

The Selection Committee will evaluate the applicant's ability to pursue successfully the course using the following criteria -

• a Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) with a minimum grade average of at least H2B (70%) across the degree which allows the applicant to practice as a physiotherapist and at least 2 years of full time, documented post graduate clinical experience, including for specialist streams one year in the area of specialization, or equivalent; or
• a Master of Physiotherapy by coursework with at least a minimum grade average of H2B (70%), or equivalent, (students enrolling through this entry pathway will be granted advanced standing of 100 credit points); or
• a Master of Physiotherapy by research with at least a minimum grade average of H2B (70%), or equivalent.

To proceed to the second year of the degree candidates must achieve a grade average of 70%. Students who do not meet this performance requirement will receive a Masters of Physiotherapy degree.

The Selection Committee may conduct interviews and tests and call for referee reports and employer references to elucidate any of the matters referred to above. The Selection Committee may also consider documented evidence that applicants have continued to update knowledge and skills in the discipline.

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Course Objectives

On completion of this degree, students will have had the opportunity to develop:

• advanced understanding of the scope of physiotherapy practice in a   specialist area
• advanced knowledge of physical, biological, physiotherapy, medical and behavioural sciences
• advanced clinical knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for the expert assessment, prophylaxis, treatment and rehabilitation of patients with disorders that are appropriate for physiotherapy management
• highly developed problem solving abilities and flexibility of approach
• the knowledge and skills in research design, research methodology and critical analysis of relevant clinical literature necessary to initiate research and to formulate viable research questions
• a deeper appreciation of the role of research as a basis for evidence-based practice
• the ability to analyse critically within and across a changing disciplinary   environment
• the ability to further their academic developments and advanced clinical skills within the specialty disciplines of physiotherapy

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Fees

The Doctor of Clinical Physiotherapy is offered as a fee-paying program to Australian and International applicants.   In years 2 and 3, a limited number of Commonwealth-supported places are available to Australian students. FEE-HELP is available for local full fee paying students.

Police Checks

Organisations who host clinical students require a police check regarding their suitability to undertake a placement. Therefore enrolled and prospective students are advised that they will be required to obtain, and pay for, a police check (name check) prior to commencing and during the physiotherapy course. Further information refer to the Faculty Police Check Policy.

Local students should print a copy of the "Consent to Check and Release National Police Record - Application Form" available from the Victoria Police website .
International students should obtain their police check from the country in which they have been resident for the previous 12 months.

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