Course Outline
SPX402 Clinical Exercise Physiology Professional Practicum I
Course Coordinator:Ali Valdor (avaldor@usc.edu.au) School:School of Health - Sport and Exercise Science
2026Trimester 1
UniSC Sunshine Coast |
Blended learning | Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online. |
Please go to usc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.
What is this course about?
Description
This course provides you with an advanced level of supervised professional clinical experience. Together with SPX403, you will undertake a minimum of 360 hours of clinical work across different health and exercise settings and focus on exposure to a variety of physiology domains. You will be required to demonstrate your competency as a developing entry-level practitioner while completing approximately 180 clinical placement hours for this course. This course satisfies ESSA accreditation requirements, standards, and clinical expectations and competencies.
How will this course be delivered?
| Activity | Hours | Beginning Week | Frequency |
| Blended learning | |||
| Information session – Student information session in preparation for placement enrolment. | 2hrs | Orientation week | Once Only |
| Tutorial/Workshop 1 – A combination of face-to-face and online workshop sessions in preparation for placement and associated assessment tasks (4 x 2 hours) | 8hrs | Orientation week | Once Only |
| Tutorial/Workshop 2 – Industry presentation and/or guest speaker | 1hr | Orientation week | Once Only |
| Placement – Completion of a full-time equivalent allocated placement block/s. Approximately 180-240 hours of supervised professional experience placement in a clinical setting. | 180hrs | Not applicable | Once Only |
| Learning materials – Professional development modules to inform clinical practice while on placement. | 1hr | Week 1 | 3 times |
| Information session – Online session – refer to Canvas for details | 2hrs | Week 12 | Once Only |
Course Topics
Clinical placement and associated assessment tasks:
- completing practicum hours and working towards demonstrating competency as an entry-level practitioner, as per ESSA accreditation requirements.
What level is this course?
400 Level (Graduate)
What is the unit value of this course?
24 units
How does this course contribute to my learning?
| Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... | Graduate Qualities Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... | Professional Standard Mapping * Exercise and Sports Science Australia | |
| 1 | Integrate exercise physiology knowledge and skills to practice effectively in a professional, ethical, inclusive, and collaborative manner across the broad health care system. |
Knowledgeable Ethical |
1.2.1, 1.2.5, 1.2.6 |
| 2 | Critically evaluate the evidence base and implement relevant knowledge and skills to Accredited Exercise Physiology practice to effectively optimise health status, function, recovery, independence, and participation for all individuals and population groups, whilst practising cultural safety across the full health spectrum. |
Knowledgeable Creative and critical thinker |
1.2.5, 2.2.5 |
| 3 | Safely screen, assess, and evaluate the function, capacity, and health status of individuals and population groups including diverse populations whilst practising cultural safety across various clinical domains. |
Creative and critical thinker Engaged |
1.2.5, 3.2.1, 3.2.3 |
| 4 | Interpret data from clinical outcome measures to integrate clinical reasoning to implement safe and effective movement, physical activity, and exercise-based interventions that consider health and treatment needs, and client preferences and goals. |
Knowledgeable Creative and critical thinker |
2.2.6, 3.2.3, 4.2.1 |
| 5 | Practise person-centred care to prescribe, deliver, adapt, and evaluate safe and effective evidence-based movement, physical activity, and exercise-based interventions that optimise health status, function, recovery, and independence in collaboration with individuals and population groups, whilst practising cultural safety including diverse populations across the full health spectrum. |
Creative and critical thinker Ethical Engaged |
1.2.5, 4.2.1, 4.2.2, 4.2.3 |
| 6 | Develop reflective practices through self-reflection, seeking and engaging with feedback from supervisors and clients, critically evaluating service delivery and outcomes, and engaging in ongoing learning. |
Creative and critical thinker Engaged Sustainability-focussed |
1.2.7
|
* Competencies by Professional Body
| CODE | COMPETENCY |
| Exercise and Sports Science Australia | |
| 1.2.1 | Practise with integrity within the scope of practice for an AEP, the ESSA Code of Professional Conduct and Ethical Practice, and jurisdictional Codes of Conduct. |
| 1.2.5 | Practise in a culturally safe, inclusive, sensitive, respectful, and responsive way and according to person-centred care principles. |
| 1.2.6 | Practise collaboratively and effectively with other professionals, including seeking feedback and input to inform decision-making, delegating tasks, and referring to other professionals and services where appropriate. |
| 1.2.7 | Develop reflective practices through self-reflection, seeking and engaging with feedback from colleagues and clients, critically evaluating service delivery and outcomes, and engaging in ongoing learning. |
| 2.2.5 | Evaluate research findings and apply exercise prescription principles to develop recommendations and interventions, including targeted exercise prescription for the purposes of optimising health status, function, recovery, independence, and participation. |
| 2.2.6 | Apply clinical, ethical, and evidence-based decision-making to formulate appropriate interventions and recommendations and communicate the expected outcomes. |
| 3.2.1 | Formulate appropriate screening processes to evaluate and stratify risk for participation in assessments and interventions, including consideration of appropriate service modalities for clients. |
| 3.2.3 | Formulate appropriate assessments and outcome measures relevant to treatment and client goals, and evaluate health status, function, capacity, and progress, to inform clinical reasoning and to monitor the delivery and outcomes of interventions. |
| 4.2.1 | Formulate evidence-based exercise prescription, interventions, and recommendations that address health and treatment related client needs, preferences, goals, and abilities, assessment findings, and social and cultural determinants of health. |
| 4.2.2 | Design, prescribe, deliver, and monitor safe and effective movement, physical activity, and exercise-based interventions for clients with complex presentations, including those with acute and chronic health conditions and multiple comorbidities. |
| 4.2.3 | Formulate and apply strategies to manage risks, evaluate progress, and adapt recommendations and interventions in partnership with clients based on needs and measured outcomes. |
Am I eligible to enrol in this course?
Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.
Pre-requisites
Successfull completion of 288 units (all first, second, and third year courses in the Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Physiology program) and SPX410 and SPX411. No other courses are to be completed concurrently with SPX402.
Co-requisites
Not applicable
Anti-requisites
Not applicable
Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)
Not applicable
How am I going to be assessed?
Grading Scale
Limited Grading (PNP)
Details of early feedback on progress
Formative feedback will be provided during the Professional Attributes Intermediate Assessment. Students are required to schedule the Professional Attributes Intermediate Assessment to discuss their placement goals, progress on placement, and to discuss their supervisors' feedback on their placement performance to date. The Professional Attributes Intermediate Assessment will provide students with early feedback on their academic progress and help identify any additional support the clinical educator can provide throughout placement. The Professional Attributes Intermediate Assessment will be facilitated by the clinical educator in person or via a Teams, where appropriate.
Assessment tasks
| Delivery mode | Task No. | Assessment Product | Individual or Group | What is the duration / length? | When should I submit? | Where should I submit it? |
| All | 1 | Code of Conduct | Individual | For the duration of the placement course |
Refer to Format | SONIA |
| All | 2 | Portfolio | Individual | For the duration of the placement course |
Refer to Format | Online ePortfolio Submission |
| All - Assessment Task 1:Placement Code of Conduct | |||||||||||||
| Goal: | This task enables you to become familiar with and demonstrate the requisite professional behaviours captured in the Code of Conduct for your discipline and work environment. |
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| Product: | Code of Conduct | ||||||||||||
| Format: | Whilst completing placement across SPX402 and SPX403, students are expected to abide by the UniSC Placement Code of Conduct and professional standards outlined by Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA). Failure to abide by the Placement Code of Conduct or professional standards may result in a fail (FU) grade for your placement course and withdrawal from placement (as per the UniSC Workplace and Industry Placement procedures). Submission: A signed Placement Code of Conduct submitted before the completion of Orientation week (O-week). |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | Communication, Collaboration, Problem solving, Organisation, Information literacy |
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| All - Assessment Task 2:Placement Performance | |||||||||||||||||||
| Goal: | You will demonstrate your competency towards developing the skills expected of a graduate-ready Clinical Exercise Physiologist. A key element of this assessment will be the compilation of documents in the form of an ‘ePortfolio’, which demonstrates your competency, and the professional attributes set by ESSA. |
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| Product: | Portfolio | ||||||||||||||||||
| Format: | ESSA has identified several core ‘Professional Attributes’ and skills that are fundamental to graduates seeking accreditation as Exercise Physiologists. Your placement portfolio will capture these professional attributes and skills, evidencing your journey and performance on placement. The Practicum Portfolio will include the following components: a) Professional Attributes Self-Assessment: Students must reflect on their performance and self-assess across eight professional attributes using a Likert scale. From this reflection, students will, in collaboration with their placement supervisors, complete a learning plan outlining goals relevant to their placement. These goals will be monitored and revisited in the intermediate and final assessments. Submission: Upon accrual of 48 hours of placement. b) Professional Attributes Intermediate Assessment: Supervisor feedback for each placement; completed with the student and their placement supervisor and mediated by your clinical educator at the halfway mark of your placement (upon accrual of 80 to 100 hours of placement). Submission: Facilitated by your clinical educator. No submission is required by students. Students are required to coordinate and book a time for the Professional Attributes Intermediate Assessment approximately halfway through their placement (upon accrual of 80 to 100 hours of placement). The intermediate assessment should be booked with the student, placement supervisor, and clinical educator in attendance. c) Professional Attributes Final Assessment: At completion of placement (upon accrual of approximately 180 placement hours), the placement supervisor will complete the Professional Attributes Final Assessment providing students with feedback across their placement. Submission: Students are required to remind their supervisors of the Professional Attributes Final Assessment at least 7 business days prior to the completion of their placement. The Professional Attributes Final Assessment must be completed before the completion of your placement. d) Logbooks: To demonstrate that students satisfy the ESSA Practicum Standards throughout their placement, a detailed record of practicum hours must be maintained, documenting service delivery and competency within the Accredited Exercise Physiologist Scope of Practice. Across SPX402 and SPX403 a minimum of 360 hours of clinical practicum is required to be undertaken across a variety of populations and contexts. Logbooks will be used to demonstrate attainment of competency across exercise assessment, exercise prescription, exercise delivery, and ‘Other’ activities within the Scope of Practice of an Accredited Exercise Physiologist. Submission: Logbooks must be submitted weekly via SONIA placement manager application. Logbooks are to be submitted by 9pm each Monday to be reviewed by your clinical educator. Feedback from clinical educators must be addressed before the completion of placement to receive a pass grade for your logbooks. A satisfactory level on SONIA is classified as having all logbook entries “Approved” by the completion of your placement. e) Record of Student Engagement (ROSE): The ROSE form offers a succinct overview of the placement experience and exercise services delivered during your placement and includes a reflection on how the experience supported your development of the ESSA Professional Attributes and Scope of Practice of an Accredited Exercise Physiologist. Submission: A ROSE form is required for each placement site attended. A draft, unsigned copy of your ROSE form is due one week (5 business days) after completing your placement. Your clinical educator will provide you with feedback where appropriate for action. Following this feedback, students are required to obtain their placement supervisor's signature to verify their placement hours. A final verified copy of the ROSE form is due within two weeks (10 business days) of completing your placement. |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | Communication, Collaboration, Problem solving, Organisation, Information literacy |
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Assessment to competency mapping
| Programme Delivery Mode | Assessment Type | Title | Competency | Teaching Methods |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESSA Accredited Exercise Physiologist Professional Standards 2021 | ||||
| All delivery modes | Code of Conduct | Placement Code of Conduct | 1.2.1 | Practiced, Assessed |
| 1.2.5 | Practiced, Assessed | |||
| 1.2.6 | Practiced, Assessed | |||
| 2.2.5 | Practiced, Assessed | |||
| 3.2.1 | Practiced, Assessed | |||
| 3.2.3 | Practiced, Assessed | |||
| 4.2.1 | Practiced, Assessed | |||
| 4.2.2 | Practiced, Assessed | |||
| 4.2.3 | Practiced, Assessed | |||
| Portfolio | Placement Performance | 1.2.1 | Practiced, Assessed | |
| 1.2.5 | Practiced, Assessed | |||
| 1.2.6 | Practiced, Assessed | |||
| 1.2.7 | Practiced, Assessed | |||
| 2.2.5 | Practiced, Assessed | |||
| 2.2.6 | Practiced, Assessed | |||
| 3.2.1 | Practiced, Assessed | |||
| 3.2.3 | Practiced, Assessed | |||
| 4.2.1 | Practiced, Assessed | |||
| 4.2.2 | Practiced, Assessed | |||
| 4.2.3 | Practiced, Assessed | |||
Directed study hours
A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.
What resources do I need to undertake this course?
Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.
Prescribed text(s) or course reader
Specific requirements
This course includes an assessment of a professional competency task deemed necessary to meet the Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) Professional Standards. Therefore, your attendance and participation in practicals/laboratory’s, tutorials and attendance at your placement site is required. Feedback will be provided to you during each of your classes and at your placement site and will provide you with support and guidance to become competent in the ESSA Professional Standards addressed in this course. For any work that is missed you will need to demonstrate to your course provider that you have covered the required material. This will usually take the form of a detailed summary and reflection of the directed study activities and practical skills for the missed class or placement. Mandatory Requirements To be eligible for a face-to-face enrolment meeting for SPX402, all placement mandatory requirements must have been completed and submitted to SONIA online. You must commence this process in June of the year prior by submitting an EOI if you intend to enrol in the fourth-year placement courses. Information on enrolling in the SPX402 and SPX403 placement courses and the mandatory requirements can be found on SONIA online (select Sport & Exercise Science), and/or the UniSC website under Sport and Exercise Science/ Clinical Exercise Physiology- Placements The Mandatories include the following: - blue card, - NDIS worker screening card - Clinical Vaccinations - QHealth modules - First Aid and CPR - Tuberculosis risk assessment form * COVID-19 vaccination evidence: Clinical Exercise Physiologists are Allied Health professionals who work with clinical population groups which largely consist of vulnerable and at-risk individuals. As such, external placement partners may require students to show evidence of their COVID-19 and/or current flu vaccination status. These sites may include but are not limited to QLD Health hospital and health service facilities, disability, aged care, and other vulnerable facilities. We support your right to make an informed choice regarding COVID-19 vaccination. However, as an education provider, UniSC does not have the authority to waive the requirements set out by a facility hosting a student for placement, or by the Queensland or Federal Governments. Important information: Please be aware that should you choose to not be vaccinated, UniSC can not guarantee that you will be able to attend a suitable clinical placement site or that you will be able to complete your required practicum hours within the usual semester timeframes. Please consider this information carefully before submitting your EOI to enrol in the fourth-year placement courses. Assessment Criteria You will receive whole class generic guidelines on the structure and content of your assessment items including your placement log books. They will be consistent with the standards required for submission to Exercise and Sport Science Australia (ESSA) and the university. You will be required to hold your assessment items to this standard whilst on placement. This will be discussed in detail in scheduled class workshops/tutorials. Each placement contains components of the overall assessment tasks and each component must be submitted on time and passed for the task (of the required standard) to achieve an overall PU grade. Electronic devices You will need access to an electronic device (e.g. laptop or PC) and the internet, in order to complete your assessment tasks. Clinical Tools You are expected to already own a personal set of clinical tools, comprising: a tailor's tape measure (150cm, flexible), large plastic goniometer, sphygmomanometer, and stethoscope (for SPX4XX courses, including your 4th-year intensives). It is expected that students will retain these tools throughout their working lives. Students may be required to bring their own (labelled) clinical tools to placements. Uniform You are required to wear the UniSC clinical student polo shirt and Identification badge when attending your placement. Additional Cost Any cost associated with accommodation while on placement or travel to, during or from placement, is the responsibility of the student. All placement hours must be completed through formal enrolment in the SPX402 university placement course as it embeds important ESSA accreditation requirements. Any placement hours completed outside formal enrolment in SPX402 will not count towards the completion of the course. UniSC may give recognition of prior learning (RPL) to students who have transferred from another university after completing an equivalent placement subject (AQF7) + accompanying equivalent assessment tasks, but this is dependent on assessment and approval by the SPX402 Course Coordinator and degree Program Lead. RPL may be applied for by contacting Student Central.
How are risks managed in this course?
What administrative information is relevant to this course?
Assessment: Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.
Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.
In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.
Assessment: Additional Requirements
This course will be graded as Pass in a Limited Grade Course (PU) or Fail in a Limited Grade Course (UF) as per clause 5.1.1.3 and 5.1.1.4 of the Grades and Grade Point Average (GPA) - Academic Policy.
In a course eligible to use Limited Grades, all assessment items in that course are marked on a Pass/Fail basis and all assessment tasks are required to be passed for a student to successfully complete the course. Supplementary assessment is not available in courses using Limited Grades.
Assessment: Submission penalties
You must contact your Course Coordinator and provide the required documentation if you require an extension or alternate assessment.
Refer to the Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs – Procedures.
SafeUniSC
UniSC is committed to a culture of respect and providing a safe and supportive environment for all members of our community. For immediate assistance on campus contact SafeUniSC by phone: 07 5430 1168 or using the SafeZone app. For general enquires contact the SafeUniSC team by phone 07 5456 3864 or email safe@usc.edu.au.
The SafeUniSC Specialist Service is a Student Wellbeing service that provides free and confidential support to students who may have experienced or observed behaviour that could cause fear, offence or trauma. To contact the service call 07 5430 1226 or email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au.
Study help
For help with course-specific advice, for example what information to include in your assessment, you should first contact your tutor, then your course coordinator, if needed.
If you require additional assistance, the Learning Advisers are trained professionals who are ready to help you develop a wide range of academic skills. Visit the Learning Advisers web page for more information, or contact Student Central for further assistance: +61 7 5430 2890 or studentcentral@usc.edu.au.
Wellbeing Services
Student Wellbeing provide free and confidential counselling on a wide range of personal, academic, social and psychological matters, to foster positive mental health and wellbeing for your academic success.
To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 1226.
AccessAbility Services
Ability Advisers ensure equal access to all aspects of university life. If your studies are affected by a disability, learning disorder mental health issue, injury or illness, or you are a primary carer for someone with a disability or who is considered frail and aged, AccessAbility Services can provide access to appropriate reasonable adjustments and practical advice about the support and facilities available to you throughout the University.
To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email AccessAbility@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 2890.
Links to relevant University policy and procedures
For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:
- Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
- Review of Assessment and Final Grades
- Supplementary Assessment
- Central Examinations
- Deferred Examinations
- Student Conduct
- Students with a Disability
For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching
Student Charter
UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.
General Enquiries
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In person:
- UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
- UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
- UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
- UniSC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
- UniSC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Student Central, Building A, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay
- UniSC Caboolture - Student Central, Level 1 Building J, Cnr Manley and Tallon Street, Caboolture
- Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
- Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au