Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology (Rehabilitation)

Become an allied health professional in Clinical Exercise Physiology

CSU’s Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology (Rehabilitation) is Australia’s only distance education course in Exercise Physiology that is accredited by Exercise and Sport Science Australia (ESSA).

Why study this course?

Chronic illness is the single greatest challenge facing health care in Australia. Recent data from Australian Institute of Health and Welfare indicates that chronic illness currently contributes to 70% of the health burden in Australia and this is expected to rise to 80% by 2020.

Accredited exercise physiologists play a critical role enhancing the health of the nation by specialising in the delivery of preventative exercise programs and/or exercise interventions for the management of chronic and complex conditions and/or injuries.

CSU’s Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology (Rehabilitation) develops the knowledge, skills and core competencies you require to work as an accredited exercise physiologist in a variety of settings. The course prepares students to conduct client consultations to determine medical and physical activity histories, perform pre-exercise screenings, use motivational interviewing to determine readiness for exercise and perform health and fitness assessments. Students will also be prepared to design and deliver evidence-based exercise prescriptions, apply psychological strategies to promote lifestyle modification and behaviour change, and provide client education to prevent or manage targeted cardiopulmonary, metabolic, musculoskeletal, and neurological conditions as well as cancer and depression.

The course also includes up to 500 hours of supervised clinical placement, which provides students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills in exercise physiology in real clinical settings whilst being supported by experienced health professionals.

Career opportunities

Graduates of the Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology (Rehabilitation) are eligible for accreditation in Exercise Physiology with ESSA and are able to obtain provider numbers with Medicare, Department of Veterans Affairs, private health funds and other compensable schemes.

Find out where this course can take you

Credit

Students with approved graduate entry membership with ESSA will receive credit for 140 hours of placement with apparently healthy persons and will only be required to complete the 360 hours of clinical placement to meet course requirements.

Residential schools

Students studying the Master of Clinical Exercise Science Physiology (Rehabilitation) are to attend compulsory Residential Schools for all subjects.

More information about residential schools

Academic expectations

For each 8 point subject at CSU, students should normally expect to spend between 140-160 hours engaged in the specified learning and assessment activities (such as attending lectures or residential schools, assigned readings, tutorial assistance, individual or group research/study, forum activity, workplace learning, assignments or examinations). The student workload for some subjects may vary from these norms as a result of approved course design.

Students will be assessed on the basis of completed assignments, examinations, workplace learning, or other methods as outlined in specific subject outlines.

Where applicable, students are responsible for travel and accommodation costs involved in workplace learning experiences, or attending residential schools (distance education students).

Expectations relating to academic, workplace learning, time and cost requirements for specific subjects are provided in the subject abstracts and in course materials.

Career opportunities

Graduates of the Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology (Rehabilitation) are eligible for accreditation in Exercise Physiology with ESSA and are able to obtain provider numbers with Medicare, Department of Veterans Affairs, private health funds and other compensable schemes. Employment opportunities for accredited exercise physiologists are increasing and may include work in private clinics, multidisciplinary allied health clinics, workplace health centres, hospitals, aged care facilities and private health and fitness centres, among others.

The Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology (Rehabilitation):

• produces highly skilled graduates who are capable of working with persons with targeted chronic and complex conditions and/or injuries in a range of primary, tertiary and secondary prevention settings
• develops student’s capacity to apply evidence-based practice to enhance health outcomes
• develops student’s capacity to work as part of team of allied health care providers
• enhances student’s capacity to reflect and critique upon the aforementioned knowledge and skills in professional practice settings. 

Workplace learning

Up to 500 hours of clinical placement is required to meet course requirements. These hours are dispersed amongst healthy and clinical patients as stated in ESSA Exercise Physiology accreditation guidelines:

• a minimum of 140 hours with apparently healthy persons AND
• a minimum of 360 hours with clinical patients divided among specific categories of:

• a minimum of 140 hours with cardiopulmonary / metabolic patients
• a minimum of 140 hours with musculoskeletal / neurological patients
• a maximum of 80 hours with other clinical health patients e.g. mental health, cancer, cardiac screening, etc.

Students with graduate entry membership with ESSA will receive credit for the 140 hours of placement with aparently healthy persons and will only be required to complete the 360 hours of clinical placement to meet course requirements.

NOTE: A total of 500 hours of placement MUST be completed within the course in order to be eligible to graduate. No recognition of prior learning or credit can be provided towards the 360 hours of clinical placement hours as these must be completed with the course to meet ESSA accreditation requirements.

Requirements to undertake clinical placements

Apply First Aid and CPR Certificate

All students are required to have current Apply First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Certificates from an accredited body (Workcover approved) before undertaking clinical placements. Also be aware that CPR must be renewed annually.

NOTE: As many courses include a clinical practicum in the first session, students are advised to complete their Apply First Aid and CPR Certificates prior to commencement of their first year of study.

National Police Clearance and Working with Children Check

The Department of Health in NSW, and most other states, currently require all health facility staff, including students on clinical placement, to undergo criminal record checks. The checks are intended to identify people who have convictions for such things as violence or sexual offences, who may put patients/clients personal safety or health at risk. Traffic violations and other minor offences are not of interest.

All students must therefore have a Criminal Record Clearance prior to placement in any capacity in the NSW Health system and most other State organisations. Prospective students should be aware that an inability to obtain a Criminal Record Clearance will make it impossible to complete this course satisfactorily as it will not be possible to arrange suitable clinical placements.

In addition, all students are required to complete a Prohibited Employment Declaration indicating whether or not they are a prohibited person under the Child Protection Act 1998.

If you have any queries regarding these requirements, including the opportunities available for review of a particular case, contact the Course Coordinator.

Immunisation - Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination Against Infectious Diseases

NSW Health is committed to ensuring the health and safety of all clients in health care settings and providing a safe and healthy working environment for all staff and other clinical personnel, including students. This commitment includes adopting an assessment, screening and vaccination policy Occupational Assessment Screening and Vaccination Against Specific Infectious Diseases (PD2007_006) that minimises the risk of acquiring infectious diseases. Compliance with this policy is mandatory for all health facility staff, including students on clinical placement.

All students must undergo vaccination against infectious diseases prior to placement within the NSW Health System, and most other Australian State Health Systems. Results of these vaccinations are kept on a personal record card (available from the School through which the student is studying). This card must be presented, upon request, by NSW Health, or other State Health staff, whilst the student is on placement.

The Policy requires that you consult your local doctor to obtain written proof of protection against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox and hepatitis B.

NOTE: It is the student's responsibility to ensure that the requirements of this policy have been met, and failure to comply with the requirements may interrupt completion of your studies.

As a full course of vaccinations may take several months to complete, you are advised to consult your local medical practitioner well in advance of the commencement of your clinical experience placement. Please contact your medical practitioner to identify your local TB screening provider and ensure the screening is completed prior to your first clinical placement.

NOTE: As many courses involve clinical practicums in the first semester of study, the hepatitis B immunisation should be commenced early, in order for full immunisation status to be attained prior to clinical placements and so meet NSW Health requirements.

Further information is available from NSW Health

Additional Costs

The following costs associated with clinical placements are not included in course fees and will need to be directly funded by the student:

• Apply First Aid and CRP certificates
• obtaining criminal record clearance
• immunisations
• uniforms for clinical placement
• any travel and/or accommodation expenses
• any equipment required for clinical practice e.g. stethoscope, heart rate monitor, tape measure etc.
  

Residential schools

A central component of the Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology (Rehabilitation) is two residential schools held on the CSU Bathurst campus. These residential schools give students the opportunity to attend campus for face-to-face lectures and tutorials, use university facilities, and to meet academic staff and other students.

Residential school 1 is held in June / July and is three days in duration. This residential school will develop student's knowledge and skills in applied clinical exercise physiology as they relate to EHR509 Clinical Assessment and Exercise Prescription for Chronic Conditions and assist to prepare students to commence their clinical placements in EHR510 Exercise Physiology and Health Care Practice in Session 2.

Residential school 2 is held in November and is two days in duration. This residential school involves a practical skills assessment that will evaluate your performance of core competencies related to Exercise Physiology using a number of realistic clinical scenarios to reflect real workplace situations and professional tasks.

Attendance at both residential schools is a compulsory course requirement for all students. Students who are unable to attend both residential schools will need to apply for an exemption and if approved, attend both residential schools in the following year in order to be eligible to graduate.

Allied health scholarships and grants

NSW Health provides financial assistance to allied health students as part of its ongoing commitment to maintain and improve the health status of rural communities via the NSW Rural Allied Health Scholarships, NSW Rural and Metropolitan Allied Health Clinical Placement Grants, and NSW Rural Allied Health Postgraduate Scholarships. Further information is available from NSW Health.

Admission requirements

Entry into the Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology (Rehabilitation) requires:

• Bachelor Degree in Exercise Science and/or Sport Science, or equivalent

and

• evidence of approved graduate entry membership with Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA)

or

• evidence of pending graduate entry membership with Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) due to an inadequate number of apparently healthy practicum hours only (i.e. all Exercise Science knowledge and skills criteria are met).

Therefore, applicants must meet point one above and either point two or point three. Evidence of graduate entry membership status (approved or pending) can only be provided via an ESSA assessment letter.

Please Note: An ESSA assessment letter must be included with your application.

Evidence of ESSA graduate entry membership status (i.e. approved graduate entry membership or pending graduate entry membership with an assessment letter) or proof of submission of an application for graduate entry membership MUST be provided with an admission application. Those students who provide evidence of submitting an application for graduate entry membership with their application for course admission MUST demonstrate membership status prior to the HECS-Help census date of the first session of study otherwise they will be withdrawn from the course. Please note that ESSA may require up to 45 days for processing applications and providing an assessment letter

Please see the links below for ESSA membership information and application instructions:

• www.essa.org.au/membership-types
• www.essa.org.au/membership-application-forms

Because the Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology (Rehabilitation) is a one year postgraduate course in Clinical Exercise Physiology that is accrediated with ESSA, offers for course admission can only be made to applicants with an Bachelor level qualification in Exercise Science and/or Sports Science or equivalent (e.g. Human Movement or Physical Education) that demonstrate they meet all Exercise Science knowledge and skills criteria. Knowledge and skills in Exercise Science are assumed knowledge and are not addressed in this course.

Applicants with a Bachelor level qualification in Exercise Science and/or Sports Science or equivalent (e.g. Human Movement or Physical Education) with pending graduate entry membership ESSA that have not achieved all Exercise Science knowledge and skills criteria may be able to satisfy the additional study requirements outlined on the ESSA assessment letter by completing subjects in the Graduate Diploma of Exercise and Sport Science, which are offered by distance education.

It is the applicants responsibility to seek feedback from ESSA regarding the suitability of such subjects prior to enrollment.

Information for current Exercise Science (full) members with ESSA

Applicants with current Exercise Science (full) membership with ESSA have demonstrated they have met all Exercise Science knowledge and skills criteria and are eligible for course admission. However, applicants with Exercise Science (full) membership that are seeking credit for the 140 hours placement with apparently healthy persons are required to apply for graduate entry membership so these hours can be formally assessed against exercise physiology requirements. Applicants with current Exerise Science (full) membership that do not apply for graduate entry membership will be required to complete all 500 hours of placement.

English language proficiency

The University has minimum requirements for English language proficiency prior to entry to our courses. Some courses also have a requirement for a higher entry or exit level of English proficiency. More information on English language requirements.

Internet access

CSU places great emphasis on services to its students. It is a leader in the provision of online services and, in particular, the use of the internet in the support of teaching, administration and communications with students.

The online environment is so integrated into all aspects of student life and the learning experience at CSU that the University now assumes that all on campus and distance education students at CSU will have ongoing access to an internet connected computer capable of communicating with CSU online systems.

Students enrolled in Information Technology subjects (i.e. with an ITC subject code) may be required to have additional hardware and/or software that is deemed essential for the completion of the learning activities in that subject.

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Session 1