Master of Physiotherapy (Entry Level)
Overview
The School of Physiotherapy offers a Graduate Entry Master of Physiotherapy course to suitable applicants who have completed a Bachelors degree (in an area other than physiotherapy) from a recognised institution. Please note, already qualified physiotherapists should refer to the Abbreviated Course or Postgraduate Courses at the School.
The Master of Physiotherapy course provides a fast track learning experience for talented students who already hold a degree, to gain the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours expected of an entry level physiotherapist. The course has a hybrid stucture using curriculum (to efficiently learn foundation knowledge) together with case studies and clinical practice (to integrate knowledge into clinical decision making). The course emphasises evidence based practice and encourages students in critical thinking. Course quality is under constant review with students participating in this review.
The School of Physiotherapy accepts one intake of students each year, and course commencement is in early January. The course duration is two and one third calendar years, consisting of seven study periods, and is offered only on a full-time basis. Applications should be lodged prior to August 31st of the year prior to commencement. Applications received after this date will be considered only if vacancies exist in the course.
Offers to successful applicants will be made in September. Applicants wishing to accept their offer need to do so by mid-October, thereby enabling enrolment in the course on the first working day in November. An online preparatory learning package in Musculoskeletal Anatomy will then be provided for students to work through. This package must be completed by the commencement of the Clinical Anatomy and Physiotherapy Practice 550 (CAPP 550) unit in early January. In 2009 the CAPP 550 unit in Study Period 1 will commence on the 7th January.
Entrance Requirements
Applicants should hold a relevant Bachelors degree or equivalent and have a history of above average grades. Essential pre-requisite units include completion of at least one tertiary unit in each of the following areas: Anatomy, Human Biology or Physiology, and Psychology. Desirable units include Physics, Research Methods or Evidence Based Practice and Statistics.
Applicants are required to complete two forms and may also be required to attend an interview. Applicants for the Master of Physiotherapy are not required to apply through TISC (Tertiary Institution Service Centre in WA).
Course Structure
Specific details regarding course structure, organisation, units, requirements, duration and availability, are available at the Curtin Online Handbook
How to Apply
Application forms and guidelines can be downloaded from the http://futurestudents.curtin.edu.au/postgraduate/courseworkforms.cfm . From this link, you will need to download and complete two forms: Application for Admission to a Postgraduate Coursework Degree form (either the application for Australian Citizens or International Students found at the top of the webpage) and the Master of Physiotherapy (Graduate Entry) form (you will need to scroll down to Physiotherapy, near the bottom of the webpage).
Course Requirements
It is a requirement of the physiotherapy course that all enrolled students participate fully in all laboratories and clinical activities to develop the professional skills essential to the competent practitioner. Students as part of their enrolled course requirements practise techniques on one another before being permitted to move into patient care. This requires that all students be suitably disrobed, for example in appropriate swimwear or undergarments, in a mixed class group to practise physiotherapy techniques on students of both genders throughout many of the laboratory sessions for the duration of the course.
Prior to commencement in the program, students are required to have:
- proof of the Criminal History Check
- Department of Education Police Clearance Consent Form
- a current Senior First Aid Certificate or equivalent
- an aquatic rescue qualification to the Royal Life Saving Society of Australia's Accompanied Rescue Award (Lifesaving Three) or equivalent - Bronze Medallion and Aquatic Rescue are acceptable
Professional Recognition
The Physiotherapists Act of the State of Western Australia requires that all practising physiotherapists must be registered with the Physiotherapists Registration Board of Western Australia. The Master of Physiotherapy is fully accredited by the Australian Physiotherapy Council and is recognised by the Physiotherapists Registration Board of Western Australia and the Australian Physiotherapy Association. Under the terms of mutual recognition, registration in all Australian States is available and in New Zealand under the terms of Trans Tasman Recognition. Graduates applying for licensure in the USA, UK or Canada will be required to provide details of their program of studies to the relevant bodies and may be required to sit a licensing examination.
Tuition Fees
Please refer to the Fees website for details of tuition fees.
Interest-free loans are available for Australian students enrolled in fee-paying post-graduate courses. For more information please click on the links below:
- About Higher Education Loan Programme for Postgraduate Students (Going to Uni government web site)
- Curtin Postgraduate Study and FEE-HELP
Frequently Asked Questions
Master of Physiotherapy (Graduate Entry)
- Must successful Master of Physiotherapy applicants be immunised for Hep B, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella, Diptheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Influenza, and Tuberculosis?
- Must students be cleared for MRSA?
- When are the Senior First Aid certificate, CPR and Aquatic Proficiency certification required?
- Will a general criminal record check from Canada or other overseas country suffice for their criminal history record check?
- What course-related items need to be purchased by Master of Physiotherapy students (e.g. polo shirt, lab coat, etc.)?
- Should students book plane tickets home (international or Australian interstate) for next Christmas now?
- Many International students need to secure bank loans for tuition fees. Is there official Curtin University documentation which outlines a payment schedule?
Answers
Must successful Master of Physiotherapy applicants be immunised for Hep B, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella, Diptheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Influenza, and Tuberculosis?
Information about the health screening and the forms that must be submitted is available at http://healthsciences.curtin.edu.au/students/Immunisation/.
Is providing a record of these immunizations sufficient, or does it need to be recorded via an official doctor's note?
These forms must be completed by a registered medical practitioner, this can be completed outside Australia, or here at the Curtin Health Service soon after arrival. If a record of immunisation is sighted by the medical practitioner (as opposed to the student having a blood test to determine immune status) then a copy of the immunisation record must be attached to the relevant form.
topMust students be cleared for MRSA?
The MRSA form must be completed however students do not need to undergo MRSA screening unless they have answered yes to either of the questions on the form.
When are the Senior First Aid certificate, CPR and Aquatic Proficiency certification required?
The Senior First Aid certificate is required prior to commencing the course. The first aid must be equivalent to the Royal Life Saving Australia Senior First Aid. Visit http://www.rise.com.au/training/courses/training_course.asp?id=11&t=lifesavingwa
To meet the aquatic proficiency requirements, the RLSA Bronze Medallion is actually more than what is required. The Royal Life Saving Australia offers a combination Senior First Aid/Bronze Medallion course, or individual Bronze Medallion course. Students could complete this in WA however it must be completed during Study Period 1 (prior to the commencement of Semester 1). As the Clinical Anatomy and Physiotherapy Practice 550 unit is intensive during the week, students will only be able to attend a course on their free weekends. See http://www.rise.com.au/training/courses/training_course.asp?id=22&t=lifesavingwa.
The minimum requirements are covered by the Hydrotherapy Rescue Award, a course specifically designed for physiotherapy students who have already completed Senior First Aid certification. Details are not yet available but a course is usually arranged for one of the weekends during January/February each year.
Will a general criminal record check from Canada or other overseas country suffice for their criminal history record check?
The criminal history record check must be from an Australian agency, specifically the Department of Education and Training (DET). It is suggested that the students apply for this as soon as they arrive in Perth and have a Perth address. The form is available at the DET website
What course-related items need to be purchased by Master of Physiotherapy students (e.g. polo shirt, lab coat, etc.)?
The laboratory coat is a white "Anatomy Lab" coat that students may have and be able to bring with them. However, the goniometer, polo shirt, guides, textbooks, stethoscope, clinical uniform are reasonably priced and obtainable here at Curtin.
Should students book plane tickets home (international or Australian interstate) for next Christmas now?
Students are required to complete at least two clinical placements over the period between end of Semester 2 exams and commencement of Semester 1 the following year. For the course commencing in 2008, the first of these placements will commence on Monday 24 November 2008 and some students will be allocated this placement time. In addition they must be available for the supplementary and deferred examination period which is in mid December. The only guaranteed time that they will not have a placement is from Saturday 20th December to Sunday 28th December 2008. It is best that students do not book any flights for this period until they are in Perth and have discussed this with the Master of Physiotherapy course coordinator.
If students decide to book return fares from their home town, they should make sure that the trip from Perth back home is able to have its dates changed at no or low cost. The cheapest fare will not be the best fare if students are not able to change their return flight date! This comment applies to all booking for flights leaving and returning to Perth!
Many International students need to secure bank loans for tuition fees. Is there official Curtin University documentation which outlines a payment schedule?
The information on tuition fees for International students is available in a downloadable pdf from the
Curtin Fees and Charges website
My reading of this document is that the total course cost is $A 67,900 for a student commencing in 2008 and progressing on schedule through the course. In Year 1, the 212.5 credits are costed at $A 10,900 per 100 credits, therefore the total is ~ $A 23,200. The cost per credit increases each year in line with expected increases in the CPI (Consumer Price Index), therefore the $A cost per credit increases for 2009 and 2010. Information available on the Curtin Fees and Charges website states when these payments need to be made.
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