Bachelor of Physiotherapy

School of Health Sciences

Do you wish to practice as a physiotherapist? The University of Notre Dame Australia’s Bachelor of Physiotherapy degree is a 4-year full-time program that prepares you to become an effective, culturally-appropriate practitioner focusing on the physiotherapist-client relationship. This program includes foundational courses aligned with specialised physiotherapy-specific courses and clinical placement experiences. There is a strong focus on ethical and professional communication and behaviours as well as on developing high-level communication skills with clients and as part of collaborative multi-disciplinary practice. Graduates from this program will be eligible for registration as a physiotherapist with the Australian Health Practitioner Registration Agency (AHPRA).

• Why study this degree?

  Are you the person who wants to make a career helping others be the best they can be? Do you dream of joining a profession that bases its decisions on scientific evidence and makes exciting therapeutic advancements daily?

  At Notre Dame, we explore every avenue of physiotherapy practice in your on-campus studies and approximately 1000 hours of clinical practice (practicum).

  You will develop clinical assessment and intervention skills in laboratories, simulated learning environments, 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.

• Program summary

  Year One

  • Functional Anatomy for Physiotherapy A
  • Aboriginal People
  • Developmental Psychology and Mental Health in Physiotherapy
  • Functional Anatomy for Physiotherapy B
  • Medical Sciences
  • Therapeutic Exercise After Injury: Physiological and Practical Foundations
  • Movement Sciences for Physiotherapy

  Year Two

  • Research and Evidence in Physiotherapy
  • Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy (Lower Limb)
  • Principles of Clinical Rehabilitation
  • Applied Neuroscience
  • Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy Sciences I
  • Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy (Upper Limb)
  • Physiotherapy in Gerontology
  • Clinical Education I
  • Physiotherapy in Gender Health

  Year Three

  • Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy (Spinal I)
  • Rehabilitation for the Neurosciences
  • Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy Sciences II
  • Physiotherapy in Paediatrics
  • Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy (Spinal II)
  • Clinical Education II and Practitioner Development

  Year Four

  • Clinical Education III
  • Clinical Education IV
  • Clinical Education V
  • Clinical Education VI
  • Professional Issues in Physiotherapy Practice
  • Complex Cases

  Core Curriculum

  • CORE I: Foundations of Wisdom
  • CORE II: Elective
    • Electives in philosophy and\or theology
    • Professional embedded electives that integrate studies in a profession with philosophy and\or theology
    • An option to undertake a pilgrimage embedded in the study of the philosophy and theology of pilgrimage, e.g., World Youth Day
    • An option to undertake a course that integrates philosophy & theology with community service and charity work
    • An option to undertake an elective in philosophy, theology, and the liberal arts contained within an international experience

  Full details of the program requirements are contained in the Program Requirements.

  More information regarding courses can be found at the course descriptions page.

  Please note: the availability of these courses is indicative only and may be subject to change.

• Entry requirements

  Entry requirements WA

  Academic requirements for this program are outlined below. In addition, to be eligible for admission, all applicants need to satisfy the Minimum University Admission Requirements outlined. These include those relating to minimum age and English Language Proficiency. We also consider your application more broadly – your non-academic achievements (such as any previous leadership roles, volunteering, work, church and/or community involvement) as well as personal qualities - your aspirations and interests and your capacity to complete your chosen program. See Individual Factors for further details regarding this.

  Applicants with recent Secondary Education

  Indicative ATAR/Selection Rank* of 90

  OR

  International Baccalaureate (IB) score of 34

  *Selection Ranks include ATAR plus Adjustment Factors.

  Note: In order to be a competitive applicant, it is strongly preferred that school leavers have studied an ATAR course or equivalent in English and Mathematics and at least one ATAR course in the sciences that include:

  • Physics;
  • Chemistry;
  • Human Biology, and/or
  • Physical Education studies

  Applicants with Higher Education

  • Successful completion of at least 8 subjects at an undergraduate level or higher*, with an average grade of 65% or higher.

  Applicants who have successfully completed subjects at another University, which are relevant to the selected program of study, may be eligible for credit (Advanced Standing).

  Note: In order to be a competitive applicant, it is strongly preferred that previous studies undertaken be in a health or science related area, at either an undergraduate or postgraduate level.

  Note: Tertiary Preparation Programs are not accepted for entry.

  Applicants with Vocational Education and Training (VET) study

  • VET qualifications are not accepted for entry.

  Applicants with Work and Life Experience

  • Work and Life Experience is not accepted for entry.
  • STAT is not accepted for entry.

• Learning outcomes

  Upon successful completion of the Bachelor of Physiotherapy graduates will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate effective verbal and written communication skills with clients, families, carers and service providers across a range of clinical contexts
  2. Practice professional and ethical behaviour, demonstrating respect and sensitivity to clients with diverse social, cultural, and spiritual beliefs
  3. Recognise limitations to current knowledge, skills and abilities through reflective practice and demonstrate commitment to ongoing professional development and lifelong learning
  4. 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
  5. Demonstrate a broad range of theoretical knowledge and clinical skills to practice safe, effective entry-level physiotherapy-based healthcare management across a range of clinical settings
  6. Conduct effective assessment and critically analyse findings to formulate and prioritise healthcare management within the scope of practice for physiotherapy
  7. Develop physiotherapy-based health promotion and management strategies based on collaborative client-centred goals and empower clients to participate in healthcare decision making
  8. Contribute to healthcare delivery through effective inter-professional communication and practice; and
  9. Articulate objective and universal truth, appreciate the intrinsic dignity of the human person, and exhibit good intellectual, moral and theological habits.

• Practical component

  You will complete a variety of formal practicum experiences within the clinical setting as a part of these Awards commencing in Year 2 of the Awards. Clinical Placements operate in accordance with the Health and Universities Agreement for Allied Health Student Clinical Placements (2005) and Schedules to that agreement or its substitute in place at the time.

• Career opportunities

  Graduates of this program can follow diverse career paths in the private and public health sectors; career opportunities range from working in physiotherapy practices, hospitals or community health settings in both urban and rural locations in the fields of cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal, neurology, paediatrics, research, clinical, academic teaching.

• Real-world experience

  You will learn from academics who are industry leaders and, through our practicum placements and internship programs, you will gain real professional experience and make valuable contacts with potential employers.

• Professional accreditation

  The Bachelor of Physiotherapy and Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) is accredited by the Australian Physiotherapy Council.

  The fully accredited Physiotherapy course offers a formal curriculum that contains all of the elements required for professional registration. Graduates are eligible to register as physiotherapists with the Australian Health Practitioner Registration Agency (AHPRA) allowing them to work throughout Australia and New Zealand.

  Registration allows graduates to work across all states and territories in Australia, with mutual recognition also permitting registration in New Zealand. Although each country has its own registration processes the standard of Australian physiotherapy qualification is highly regarded internationally.

• Honours

  An Honours award is available for this program. Further information can be found in the Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) regulations or by contacting the School of Health Sciences.

• Opportunities and experiences

  At the University of Notre Dame, we believe that gaining a global perspective is an important part of your university education. We offer various opportunities for students to study abroad and become active global citizens. These opportunities include exchange programs, professional placements, study tours, and volunteer opportunities. Visit Opportunities and experiences to find out more.

• Scholarships

  Scholarships provide financial support to students while they are completing their studies. There are various scholarships available to prospective and current students, across all study levels and campuses.

  These can be funded by Notre Dame, industry, individuals and non-profit organisations, to provide financial assistance to students to support costs associated with study. This could include buying food, paying rent, transport, and household bills, raising children as single parents, being a single-income household, becoming unemployed or caring for a sick loved one.

  Please visit the Scholarships Finder to see which scholarships are available to Undergraduate students.

• Fees and costs

  This Program has the following loan scheme(s) available for eligible students:

  Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
  A Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) is a place at a university where the Australian Government pays part of your fees. This part is a subsidy, not a loan, and you don’t have to pay it back. However, this subsidy does not cover the entire cost of your study. Students must pay the rest, which is called the ‘student contribution amount’.

  In a Commonwealth Supported Place, your fees are subsidised by the Australian Government. Your fees will be split into two portions:

  The Commonwealth contribution, which is the portion paid by the Australian Government.

  The student contribution, which is the portion you pay. You may choose to pay upfront or defer your student contribution with a HECS-HELP Loan. The HECS-HELP loan scheme assists eligible students with the payment of all, or part, of their tuition fees, not including additional study costs such as accommodation or textbooks. Your HECS-HELP debt will be indexed each year in line with the Consumer Price Index.

  Eligible students will be offered a CSP – you do not need to apply.

  International Full-Fee Paying
  Tuition costs depend on an international student’s study load and discipline. Fees are payable each semester at least four weeks prior to the commencement of your program.

  For indicative fees and information on how to pay, including Government loan schemes and our online calculator, visit our Fees, costs and scholarships page.

• Student profile data

  Tables 1 and 2 below give an indication of the likely peer cohort for new students in this Program. It provides data on all students who commenced in this Program in the most relevant recent intake period, including those admitted through all offer rounds and international students studying in Australia.

  Fremantle Student Profile Data

  TABLE 1a – Bachelor of Physiotherapy BASIS OF ADMISSION IN SEMESTER 1, 2022 INTAKE

  Applicant background	Semester 1 2022
  	Number of students	Percentage of all students
  (A) Higher education study (includes a bridging or enabling course)	28	28%
  (B) Vocational education and training (VET) study	N/A	N/A
  (C) Work and life experience (Admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories)	<5	N/P
  (D) Recent secondary education: Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR (regardless of whether this includes the consideration of adjustment factors such as equity or subject bonus points)	<5	N/P
  Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were considered (e.g. portfolio, audition, interview, extra test, early offer conditional on minimum ATAR)	28	28%
  Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was not a factor (e.g. special consideration, audition alone, interview, school marks &   recommendation with no minimum ATAR requirement)	39	39%
  International students	<5	N/P
  All students	101	100.0%

  TABLE 1b – Bachelor of Physiotherapy ATAR PROFILE DATA FOR APPLICANTS ENTERING ON THE BASIS OF RECENT SECONDARY EDUCATION IN SEMESTER 1, 2022 INTAKE

  RECENT SECONDARY EDUCATION - ATAR-based offers	ATAR (Excluding adjustment factors) *	Selection Rank (ATAR plus any adjustment factors) *[only if relevant]
  Highest rank to receive an offer	98.70	99.95
  Median rank to receive an offer	95.03	99.68
  Lowest rank to receive an offer	86.55	95.55

  TABLE 2a – Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) BASIS OF ADMISSION IN SEMESTER 1, 2022 INTAKE

  Applicant background	Semester 1 2022
  	Number of students	Percentage of all students
  (A) Higher education study (includes a bridging or enabling course)	<5	100%
  All students	N/P	100.0%

  Notes:  

  “<5” – the number of students is less than 5
  N/A – Students not accepted in this category
  N/P – Not published: the number is hidden to prevent the calculation of numbers in cells with less than 5 students

  In 2022, due to COVID, additional adjustment factor points were granted to applicants from NSW, ACT and VIC.

• More information

  Considering your uni options?
  Our advisors provide support while choosing a program of study and completing our application process.

  If you need advice about studying at Notre Dame, the Prospective Students Office can help. Talk to one of our career advisors for a personalised advice session.

  Phone: 1800 878 916
  Email: future@nd.edu.au
  Address: 23 High St, Fremantle, WA 6160

  International students
  If you need advice about studying at Notre Dame you can book a session with an International Student Advisor at international@nd.edu.au.

  Fremantle and Broome

  Phone: +61 8 9433 0873
  Address: 19 Mouat St, Fremantle, WA 6160
  Postal address: PO Box 1225, Fremantle WA 6959

  Sydney and Melbourne

  Phone: +61 2 8204 4229
  Address: 140 Broadway, Chippendale, NSW 2008
  Postal address: PO Box 944, Broadway NSW 2007