Clinical Experience
Introduction
Clinical Education is a cornerstone of physiotherapy education. As such, it requires students to integrate their theoretical knowledge with clinical experience in a variety of settings. Clinical education is centred around the patient. Learning and practice in the clinical environment should be collaborative and acknowledge the roles and responsibilities of the Health Care team.
Learning in the clinical environment requires active participation from students. Students must take responsibility for their own learning and are expected to have the appropriate level of theoretical knowledge required for each placement.
Students are allocated to one of three Clinical teaching schools at the beginning of Year 1. It is anticipated that the students will remain at these hospitals, for their core work, during the four years of the undergraduate program.
In the first year students are allocated to teaching hospitals of the University of Melbourne for clinical studies for one afternoon a fortnight and in the second year for a full week block.
In the third year, students have three six-week clinical blocks and in fourth year, students have seven four-week clinical blocks of which five are core clinical placements.
A Selection of Student Feedback
- 2nd year comments:
“I found the clinical placement a very good learning experience. It allowed me to see theoretical knowledge learnt in school put into practical use in the hospital.”
“In summary, my overall experience was a positive and motivating one. I am sure I will thoroughly enjoy this career, and I am looking forward to next year’s clinical placement.”
“Communication skills are a critical aspect of physiotherapy” - 3rd year comments:
“Overall, staff/supervisors were very encouraging and helpful, creating a comfortable and supportive environment in which we were able to learn and develop both our knowledge and skills.”
“Clinical experience has been good to begin to get a real feel for how to progress patients and treat each one as an individual.”
“I found this clinic very challenging but I also found it helped me immensely in understanding concepts at Uni which I struggled with that became clear with experience at clinic." - 4th year comments:
“A warm & very supportive learning environment-both from the whole physiotherapy department & from immediate supervisors especially. Mentoring program they had in place is also a very good idea.”
“I found that having different supervisors was a good way to learn because we got to experience different teaching approaches. The most helpful approaches were the supervisors who were encouraging & supportive and easy to approach.”
“I am very grateful of the feedback I received. Although it was sometimes negative-it gave me areas to be aware of & work on. I appreciate this type of contructive criticism as it helped me to learn.”
The Study Experience - Inside a PBL
The International Student Experience
Overseas Study / Exchange Opportunities
Commonly Asked Questions