The Master of Clinical Rehabilitation (Neurological Physiotherapy) is a 54-unit program offered by the Faculty of Health Sciences.
The Graduate Certificate in Clinical Rehabilitation has topics in common with the Masters program and students who hold the Graduate Certificate receive credit for related topics.
Admission requirements
Applicants who do not hold the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Rehabilitation must normally hold an approved Physiotherapy degree or equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution and have not less than two years' professional experience in a relevant clinical area. In addition, applicants must be currently registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority as a Physiotherapist, and maintain this registration for the duration of the course.
Course aims
The Master of Clinical Rehabilitation (Neurological Physiotherapy) has two pathways:
Pathway 1 - aims to enable Physiotherapists to deepen their knowledge base and skills in neurological physiotherapy practice. In addition, students will have the opportunity to develop research or practice expertise in an area of neurological physiotherapy and to apply this to a specific research or evidence-based practice project.
Pathway 2 - aims to enable Physiotherapists to deepen their knowledge base and improve skills in neurological physiotherary practice and then focus their study on a particular area of clinical practice by undertaking a significant research project.
Specifically, the course aims to:
- review the principles and practice of clinical rehabilitation and apply these to contemporary practice;
- model a team approach to problem solving, assessment and management within rehabilitation;
- enable practitioners to analyse and apply evidence-based practice in neurological rehabilitation;
- enable students to study rehabilitation approaches and/or interventions across a number of practice areas.
- review the principles and practice of neurological rehabilitation, with a focus on neurological physiotherapy, and apply these to contemporary practice;
- enable practitioners to analyse and apply evidence-based practice in neurological physiotherapy;
- enable students to research rehabilitation approaches and/or interventions with regard to neurological physiotherapy.
Learning outcomes
Students can expect to graduate with:
- the ability to describe and apply the principles, processes and practice of clinical rehabilitation;
- the ability to describe and apply teamwork principles and concepts in clinical rehabilitation;
- advanced skills to plan, implement and evaluate rehabilitation plans in a client-centred framework for people that present in the neurological rehabilitation setting;
- the ability to appraise a rehabilitation program or service
- advanced skills in the assessment and management of a variety of neurological conditions in the area of neurological physiotherapy;
- the ability to identify, critically analyse and apply evidence for neurological rehabilitation approaches and techniques; and
- the ability to plan and conduct a research or evidence-based project in the area of neurological physiotherapy.
Program of study
To qualify for the Master of Clinical Rehabilitation (Neurological Physiotherapy), a student must complete 54 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to one of the pathways of study.
Not all topics are necessarily available in a given year.
- the coursework component must be completed before the research component commences
- no topic may be taken more than twice
- the program must be completed full-time within four consecutive semesters or part-time within ten consecutive semesters; a lesser period may be set for students granted credit for previous studies.
The award of a grade of Fail (F) in 18 units or more may constitute prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress for the purposes of the University's Policy on Student Progress.
Core - Year 1 & 2 topics
REHB8019 Essential Tools for Rehabilitation Practice (4.5 units)
REHB8027 Rehabilitation of Degenerative Neurological Disorders (4.5 units)
REHB8033 Stroke Rehabilitation (4.5 units)
REHB8034 Rehabilitation Research Methods (4.5 units)
REHB8040 Clinical Neuroscience and Motor Control (4.5 units)
REHB8041 Advanced Practice in Neurological Physiotherapy (9 units)
plus either
REHBxxxx Neurological Physiotherapy Research Project Design (4.5 units) AND
REHBxxxx Neurological Physiotherapy Research Project Implementation and Evaluation (13.5 units)
or
REHBxxxx Neurological Physiotherapy Advanced Practice Project Design (4.5 units) AND
REHBxxxx Neurological Physiotherapy Advanced Practice Project Implementation and Evaluation (9 units)
Elective - Year 1 & 2 topics
Select 4.5 units or 9 units (to make a total of 54 units) from the following topics:
REHB8014 Using Virtual Reality and Robotics in Neuro-rehabilitation (4.5 units)
REHB8015 Applied Exercise Therapy in Rehabilitation (4.5 units)
REHB8020 Principles of Clinical Rehabilitation (4.5 units)
REHB8024 Counselling & Education in Clinical Rehabilitation (4.5 units)
REHB8025 Rehabilitation of Traumatic Brain Injury (4.5 units)
REHB8026 Early Rehabilitation Following Stroke (4.5 units)
REHB8031 Rehabilitation Following Spinal Cord Injury (4.5 units)
REHB8042 Neurological Gait and Balance Analysis and Wearable Sensor Technology in Rehabilitation (4.5 units)