BA of Physiotherapy BA of Exercise and Sport Science

Are you interested in becoming a sports physiotherapist? The University of Notre Dame Australia’s Bachelor of Physiotherapy/ Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science is the only double degree in Australia. The 5-year full-time program will prepare you to become an effective, culturally appropriate practitioner with a focus on the physiotherapist-client relationship. This double degree allows you to explore and develop advanced knowledge, skills and abilities in analysing physical activity, exercise prescription and sports health. Graduates will be eligible for registration as a physiotherapist with the Australian Health Practitioner Registration Agency (Ahpra).

Why study this degree?

• Designed by highly-respected industry practitioners, our Bachelor of Physiotherapy/Bachelor of Exercise & Sport Science program is the only degree in Australia. Accredited by the Australian Physiotherapy Council, this double degree provides a pathway that incorporates two complementary health and exercise sciences programs.
• Physiotherapy Exercise & Sport Science share a common bond in much of the human sciences while having specialised knowledge and application within each path. This allows you to develop profession-specific areas of knowledge and skills from both degrees.
• To ensure that you graduate with the practical skills and training necessary to excel, this combined degree contains 1150 hours of workplace experience. This practicum component comprises physiotherapy-specific clinical placements and Exercise & Sport Science practical experiences.
• Your formal physiotherapy clinical education program begins with a five-week placement in Year Three and continues in Year Four. It culminates in almost full-time clinical practice during Year Five of the course. Upon graduation, you will have developed your clinical assessment, treatment skills, reflective professional practice in laboratories, and exposure to patients in physiotherapy practices, hospitals or community health settings in urban and rural locations.
• The program also strongly focuses on evidence-based and reflective practice ensuring graduates will be well prepared to meet the challenge of current and future health provision across the many clinical and non-clinical areas in which Physiotherapists are employed.

Learning outcomes

• Upon successful completion of the Bachelor of Physiotherapy, graduates will be able to:
• Demonstrate effective verbal and written communication skills with clients, families, carers and service providers across a range of clinical contexts
• Practice professional and ethical behaviour, demonstrating respect and sensitivity to clients with diverse social, cultural, and spiritual beliefs
• Recognise limitations to current knowledge, skills and abilities through reflective practice and demonstrate commitment to ongoing professional development and lifelong learning
• Apply an evidence based approach to physiotherapy-based healthcare management developed through the use of contemporary information communication technology and management skills by accessing and critically appraising best available evidence
• Upon successful completion of the Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science, graduates will be able to:
• Interpret and apply knowledge across the sub disciplines of exercise and sport science
• Assess health behaviours and conditions, human movement and skills to evaluate and prescribe exercise programs in healthy populations across a range of exercise settings
• Apply research skills for evidence-based practice that enhances professional knowledge, including the ability to compile, critically evaluate and communicate the scientific rationale for professional decision making and service delivery
• Exemplify professional and ethical standards in practical, interpersonal and theoretical contexts and conduct that is sensitive to client diversity and equity
• Practice within the scope of exercise science training and recognise any need to refer a client to other related health professionals