Course coordinator
Dr Zhiqi Liang
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - )
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- External
- Attendance mode
- Online
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Health & Rehab Sci School
Students will develop an ability to integrate the knowledge, physical skills, principles of evidence based practice & clinical reasoning, ethical & professional behaviours that are necessary to function competently as a physiotherapist. Students will undergo a range of learning tasks; such as: evidence based practice & clinical reasoning in complex cases & chronic disease management, defining the role of physiotherapists & other health care practitioners in the multiprofessional health-care team, as well as other physiotherapy practice related activities. Professional skills & reflective practice will be facilitated in order to prepare the student for challenges in health care service & delivery. Emphasis will be placed on developing student's knowledge & skills to function autonomously as primary contact health care practitioners in a range of contexts (e.g. hospital, community, ambulatory, & primary health care settings).
The course will continue to develop entry-level physiotherapy competencies andﾠUQ graduate attributes by providing students with the opportunity to integrate the knowledge (foundation theoretical concepts, principles of biomedical, cognitive and behavioural sciences relevant to physiotherapy) and principles of evidence based practice, clinical reasoning, ethical and professional behaviours that are necessary to perform as a competent physiotherapist.
Working within a team, students mustﾠtake initiative and responsibility to complete a writtenﾠproject on a complex patient case and to develop an educational resource, and present these works to their peers in a conference-style oral presentation. Students must demonstrate a broad understanding of physiotherapy practice, including elements such as leadership in task delegation/role negotiation, implementation of evidence base practice, and knowledge of interprofessional practice. Students will be responsible and accountable for their own learning, whilst working collaboratively with their team members.
Course requirements
Assumed background
Students are assumed to have a knowledge base derived from previous clinically-based learning activities e.g. the UQ Physiotherapy Standardised Patients Program; and Year 1 to 3 course curriculum including biomedical and behavioural sciences, pathology and specialist physiotherapy areas. Students are assumed to have competent physiotherapy skills in the areas of assessment, clinical reasoning, and management, across a range of conditions in core areas and through the lifespan.
Students are expected to have knowledge of how to work in a team setting / envrionment and the place of interprofessional practice in the care of patients.
Adherence to SHRS requirements for clinical practice is a pre-requisite for each clinical course.ﾠ
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
HRSS3102, PHTY3250, PHTY3260, PHTY3280
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
PHTY4303
Restrictions
BPhty(Hons) students only
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Zhiqi Liang
Timetable
Additional timetable information
Timetables for complex case immersion will be provided to students by the Clinical Education Liaison Managers. Students are responsible for organising their own timetable, in collaborationﾠwithﾠtheir team members.ﾠﾠ
Aims and outcomes
This course aims to:
1) Develop graduate physiotherapy competencies which reflect entry level standards to the physiotherapy profession.
2) Integrate knowledge (foundation theoretical concepts, principles of biomedical, cognitive/behavioural sciences relevant to physiotherapy) and principles of evidence based practice and clinical reasoning within the management of complex cases.
3) Develop an appreciation of the physiotherapist's involvement in developing effective, comprehensive, management plans for the delivery of competent services to clients in a variety of settings, within a framework of holistic care and optimisation of health and interprofessional practice.
4) Enhance understanding of the role of the physiotherapist in primary health care, including health promotion and workplace injury prevention, and within multi-professional teams to optimise interprofessional practice.
5) Apply students’ physiotherapy knowledge and skills, and evidence based practice through the translation of literature, in order to complete a complex case team project.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Demonstrate ethical and professional decision making and behaviour appropriate to physiotherapy while applying knowledge and understanding of standards of physiotherapy practice, relevant codes of conduct, and client rights.
LO2.
Demonstrate a competent level of effective verbal, non-verbal and written communication skills applied to all aspects of practice including interactions with clients, professionals and the community.
LO3.
Demonstrate a competent understanding of the presentation and management of a wide range of clinical problems across the lifespan while being respectful and sensitive to individual client needs.
LO4.
Demonstrate a competent ability to appropriately, safely, accurately, systematically and efficiently assess a client to determine and prioritise problems via gathering, integrating and interpreting appropriate data related to the patient.
LO5.
Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of goal-setting with clients and self-management for return of function, work and leisure activities.
LO6.
Demonstrate an appropriate process of clinical reasoning in making decisions related to the client such as developing a hypothesis, referrals to other clinicians, and determining patient outcomes.
LO7.
Demonstrate the ability to interpret, analyse and integrate assessment findings in the development of a hypothesis and/or intervention.
LO8.
Develop and implement safe, appropriate and effective physiotherapy (and other intervention) plans using problem solving skills such as critical thinking and judgement while aiming to achieve client treatment goals.
LO9.
Develop and integrative, holistic physiotherapy interventions for clients, acknowledging individual differences.
LO10.
Evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of interventions using appropriate, valid and reliable outcome measures.
LO11.
Demonstrate the ability to provide advice and education relevant to the formulated hypotheses and interventions.
LO12.
Demonstrate accurate and appropriate documentation that meets ethical and legal requirements depending on the context.
LO13.
Demonstrate the integration of evidence based practice into the clinical setting.
LO14.
Demonstrate an appreciation of the diverse roles and scope of physiotherapy practice across a range of settings (e.g. community, industry, regional/rural, public, private).
LO15.
Demonstrate an appreciation of the roles of other disciplines and participate as a member of an interdisciplinary team, including delegation to staff under physiotherapy supervision.
LO16.
Demonstrate a commitment to wellness, health promotion and injury prevention with clients.
LO17.
Demonstrate (independently and within a team), the ability to review, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge from prior undergraduate courses and research literature to guide physiotherapy practice of complex cases.
LO18.
Demonstrate critical thinking and judgement to develop an understanding of all factors (e.g. psychosocial, physical, cultural, religious etc.) contributing to clinical complexity and address these in the management of complex cases.
LO19.
Demonstrate an ability to work collaboratively within a team, and manage team dynamics, in order to plan and execute a project.
LO20.
Demonstrate effective communication skills to deliver an oral presentation, supported by complementary visual aids, which engages the audience.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Project |
Complex Case Written Project
|
50% MUST PASS |
13/06/2025 5:00 pm |
| Project |
Health Promotion / Community Education Resource
|
30% |
20/10/2025 5:00 pm |
| Reflection |
Group Peer Assessment
|
5% |
End of Semester Examination (Semester Two) Period. |
| Presentation | Oral Presentation | 15% |
End of Semester Examination (Semester Two) Period. |
A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.
Assessment details
Complex Case Written Project
- Hurdle
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Project
- Weight
- 50% MUST PASS
- Due date
13/06/2025 5:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09, L10, L11, L12, L13, L14, L15, L16, L17, L18, L19
Task description
Students will be assigned to a team (comprising 3 team members) to develop a Complex Case Written Project, where each member of the team will be responsible for one section of the overall project. Students will be expected to manage their own time to complete this project. Students will receive an individual mark for their section of the written project.
This is a must pass component of the course.
Extensions can be requested for this assessment item. Please apply for an extension request via my.UQ > my.UQ Dashboard > my. Requests and provide evidence of circumstance, as soon as it becomes evident that an extension is needed, but no later than the assessment item submission date. Further information regarding what constitutes an acceptable reason for an extension is listed on the my.UQ website: Applying for an extension - my.UQ - University of Queensland. Please also email the Course Coordinator to advise of the extension request.
Use of AI technology: This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance. A failure to reference AI use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI tools.
Hurdle requirements
Must passSubmission guidelines
The Complex Case Written Project must be submitted via Turnitin through Blackboard. Students should retain receipt (e.g. Turnitin email confirmation or a screenshot) as evidence of timely submission to avoid late penalties.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Extensions can be requested for this assessment item. Please apply for an extension request via my.UQ > my.UQ Dashboard > my. Requests and provide evidence of circumstance, as soon as it becomes evident that an extension is needed, but no later than the assessment item submission date. Further information regarding what constitutes an acceptable reason for an extension is listed on the my.UQ website: Applying for an extension - my.UQ - University of Queensland. Please also email the Course Coordinator to advise of the extension request.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Health Promotion / Community Education Resource
- Team or group-based
- Mode
- Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia
- Category
- Project
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
20/10/2025 5:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L06, L08, L09, L10, L11, L13, L14, L15, L16, L17, L18, L19
Task description
In the same group of 3 students, the team will develop a Health Promotion and/or Community Education Resource (e.g. leaflet, podcast, poster) suitable for their respective complex case. Students will receive a group mark for the resource produced.
Extensions can be requested for this assessment item. Please apply for an extension request via my.UQ > my.UQ Dashboard > my. Requests and provide evidence of circumstance, as soon as it becomes evident that an extension is needed, but no later than the assessment item submission date. Further information regarding what constitutes an acceptable reason for an extension is listed on the my.UQ website: Applying for an extension - my.UQ - University of Queensland. Please also email the Course Coordinator to advise of the extension request.
Use of AI technology: This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance. A failure to reference AI use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI tools.
Submission guidelines
The Health Promotion and/or Community Education Resource must be submitted via Turnitin through Blackboard. Students should retain receipt (e.g. Turnitin email confirmation or a screenshot) as evidence of timely submission to avoid late penalties.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Extensions can be requested for this assessment item. Please apply for an extension request via my.UQ > my.UQ Dashboard > my. Requests and provide evidence of circumstance, as soon as it becomes evident that an extension is needed, but no later than the assessment item submission date. Further information regarding what constitutes an acceptable reason for an extension is listed on the my.UQ website: Applying for an extension - my.UQ - University of Queensland. Please also email the Course Coordinator to advise of the extension request.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Group Peer Assessment
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Reflection
- Weight
- 5%
- Due date
End of Semester Examination (Semester Two) Period.
- Other conditions
- Peer assessed.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02
Task description
Each team member will be required to evaluate the other team members on their contribution to the projects and overall performance across the course. Students will be required to submit their group peer assessments before the end of the PHTY4407 'Conference Day' (Semester 2 Examination Period)
Deferred exams can be requested for this assessment item. Please apply for a deferred exam if there are exceptional or unavoidable circumstances, or as a one-off discretionary request. Deferred exam requests should be submitted as soon as possible, and no later than five calendar days after the date of the original exam. Further details, including how to apply, can be found at - Deferring an exam. Please also email the Course Coordinator to advise of the deferred exam request.
Use of AI technology: This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Electronically
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Deferred exams can be requested for this assessment item. Please apply for a deferred exam if there are exceptional or unavoidable circumstances, or as a one-off discretionary request. Deferred exam requests should be submitted as soon as possible, and no later than five calendar days after the date of the original exam. Further details, including how to apply, can be found at - Deferring an exam. Please also email the Course Coordinator to advise of the deferred exam request.
Oral Presentation
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Presentation
- Weight
- 15%
- Due date
End of Semester Examination (Semester Two) Period.
- Learning outcomes
- L02, L13, L16, L19, L20
Task description
In the same group of 3 students, the team will develop and deliver a conference-style presentation outlining their Complex Case Written Project and Health Promotion and/or Community Education Resource. The oral presentation is limited to 10 minutes (approximately 7.5 minutes for the presentation and 2.5 minutes for questions). Students will each receive an individual mark for their (mandatory) 2.5 minute contribution to the overall team presentation.
The 'Conference Day' will take place in person, on campus. Students will be notified (via Blackboard) of the date/time/venue of the Conference Day during Semester 2.
Deferred exams can be requested for this assessment item. Please apply for a deferred exam if there are exceptional or unavoidable circumstances, or as a one-off discretionary request. Deferred exam requests should be submitted as soon as possible, and no later than five calendar days after the date of the original exam. Further details, including how to apply, can be found at - Deferring an exam. Please also email the Course Coordinator to advise of the deferred exam request.
Use of AI technology: This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Deferred exams can be requested for this assessment item. Please apply for a deferred exam if there are exceptional or unavoidable circumstances, or as a one-off discretionary request. Deferred exam requests should be submitted as soon as possible, and no later than five calendar days after the date of the original exam. Further details, including how to apply, can be found at - Deferring an exam. Please also email the Course Coordinator to advise of the deferred exam request.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 34 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative percentage from all assessment of 0 - 34%. |
| 2 (Fail) | 35 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative percentage from all assessment of 35 - 44%. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 54 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: A cumulative percentage from all assessment of 45ﾠ- 54%. A grade of 3 will be awarded to a student who achieves a final mark of 55% or higher but who does not pass the "must pass" assessment items noted below. |
| 4 (Pass) | 55 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative percentage from all assessment of 55 - 64%ﾠandﾠhas passed the 'must pass' assessment items as noted below. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative percentage from all assessment of 65ﾠ- 74%ﾠandﾠhas passed the 'must pass' assessment items as noted below. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative percentage from all assessment of 75ﾠ- 84%ﾠandﾠhas passed the 'must pass' assessment items as noted below. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative percentage from all assessment of 85ﾠ- 100%ﾠandﾠhas passed the 'must pass' assessment items as noted below. |
Additional course grading information
Final marks falling between whole percentages will be rounded to the nearest whole percentage. Tie-breaking will be conducted using the round half up method whereby half-way values are always rounded up, meaning, for example, that 89.5% and above will be rounded to 90% and 89.49% and below will be rounded down to 89%.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This course contains ‘must pass’ assessment items, as follows: Complex Case Written Project. You must pass this ﾠitem ﾠto pass this course overall, i.e. even if your final percentage mark is 55% or higher the individual ‘must pass’ assessment item ﾠmust have been passed.ﾠ
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
Due Times for Assessment
All assessment/exam times are scheduled in Australian Eastern Standard time. If you are not in Queensland, please ensure you take any time differences into account.
Resubmission/Resit of assessment items
The School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences supports the concept of resubmission or resitting of failed assessment items in specific and defined circumstances. In this course, the Complex Case Written Project is eligible for consideration of the resubmission option if the assessment item was submitted on time, and approval is granted by the Course Coordinator.
After resubmission, the maximum result is a pass mark for that assessment component. Students who are granted a resubmission for an assessment item and do not submit by the scheduled date will not be granted an extension.
Deferred exams
Students may be eligible for a deferred exam if there are exceptional or unavoidable circumstances, or as a one-off discretionary request. Deferred exam requests should be submitted as soon as possible, and no later than five calendar days after the date of the original exam.
Further details, including how to apply, can be found at - https://my.uq.edu.au/node/189/0#0. Please also email the Course Coordinator to advise of the deferred exam request.
The presentation assessment item is considered an exam for the purpose of extensions/deferrals.
Submitting assessment in Blackboard and Turnitin
When assessment is submitted through Blackboard you will receive a confirmation page as a digital receipt. This information will also be sent to your student e-mail account.ﾠPlease ensure you keep this email.
When assessment is submitted through Turnitin you will receive a confirmation page displaying “Submission Complete!” and can then proceed to download your digital receiptﾠfrom your Assignment inbox. It is suggested that you save a copy of the receipt for your personal records.
Instructions on how to submit assignments through Blackboard and Turnitin are available at: https://web.library.uq.edu.au/library-services/it/learnuq-blackboard-help/learnuq-assessment. Please review this information so you understand how to successfully submit your assessment items.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.
Other course materials
Recommended
| Item | Description | Further Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Kuipers P, Kendall E, Ehrlich C, McIntyre M, Barber L, Amsters D, Kendall M, Kuipers K, Muenchberger H & Brownie S (2011). Complexity and health care: Health practitioner workforce, services, roles, skills and training to respond to patients with complex needs. Brisbane: Clinical Education and Training Queensland | https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0027/150768/complexcarefull1.pdf Also available on PHTY4407 Blackboard site. |
Additional learning resources information
Students are strongly recommended to refer to the Physiotherapy Clinical Practice Blackboard site, which offers a variety of resources such as Independent Learning Packages, Clinical Reasoning tools etc.
Students should refer to learning resources (e.g. lecture/practical class notes) from previous physiotherapy courses, and other coursework (e.g. HRSS learning materials) undertaken during their undergraduate degree. In particular, students should review content relevant to their allocated complex case.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks |
Not Timetabled |
Complex Case Written Project Students will be assigned to a team to develop a written project, where each team member will be responsible for one section of the overall written project. Students will be expected to manage their own time to complete this project. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09, L10, L11, L12, L13, L14, L15, L16, L17, L18, L19 |
Not Timetabled |
Health Promotion / Community Education Resource In the same team, students will develop a health promotion and/or community education resource suitable for their complex case. Students will present their complex case and health resource to their peers in an oral presentation. Students will be expected to manage their own time to complete this project. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L06, L10, L13, L16, L17, L18, L19, L20 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
School guidelines
Your school has additional guidelines you'll need to follow for this course: