Grading of Assessments

Grade descriptors and other information concerning grading are contained in the Macquarie University Assessment Policy.

All final grades are determined by a grading committee, in accordance with the Macquarie University Assessment Policy, and are not the sole responsibility of the Unit Convenor.

Students will be awarded a final grade and a mark which must correspond to the grade descriptors specified in the Assessment Procedure 

To pass this unit, you must demonstrate sufficient evidence of achievement of the learning outcomes, meet any ungraded requirements, and achieve a final mark of 50 or better.

If there is a lack of sufficient evidence demonstrating you have met the required level of achievement in all learning outcomes you will be awarded a Fail grading with an assigned mark of 49 or less.

Further details for each assessment task will be available on iLearn.

You will receive a grade for each assessment within this unit. The grades awarded will reflect a holistic evaluation of the work against the criteria outlined within the corresponding assessment rubric. Numerical marks will be calculated for each assessment based on the following percentages, and rounded to the nearest full mark:

• High distinction (HD) – 95%
• Distinction (D) – 80%
• Credit (C) – 70%
• Pass (P) – 60%
• Pass threshold (P-) – 50%
• Fail (F) – 40%

Submission of an assessment task deemed by the unit convenor to be incomplete or not a serious attempt may result in the Fail (F) grade to be awarded a numerical grade below 40%.

Clinical Placement Logbook Assessment

The Clinical Placement Logbook is a hurdle assessment. A hurdle assessment is defined as an assessment task mandating a minimum level of performance as a condition of passing the unit in which it occurs. You must obtain a pass grade in this assessment as a minimum requirement for passing the unit. Should you fail to obtain a pass grade upon your initial attempt, one supplementary opportunity will be provided to demonstrate that you meet the minimum requirements for this assessment. Should you still not meet a pass standard a Fail (Hurdle) grade will be awarded, as indicated by a FH grade upon your transcript.

Late Submissions

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (Of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern.

For example:

For any late submissions of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, students need to submit an application for Special Consideration.

Assessment Tasks

Mid Unit Assessment

Assessment Type ¹: Clinical performance evaluation Indicative Time on Task ²: 3 hours Due: Week 3 of placement Weighting: 0%

You will assess your own performance and behaviour in the clinical setting at the midpoint of the unit, using the Assessment of Physiotherapy Practice (APP). Your self assessment will be compared with the Clinical Educators assessment at the midpoint of the placement. The primary Clinical Educator will provide feedback on your performance and behaviour in the clinical setting at the midpoint of the unit, using a national standardised tool, the Assessment of Physiotherapy Practice (APP).

On successful completion you will be able to:

• ULO1: Demonstrate professional behaviour and appropriate communication in accordance with ethical, legal and professional standards of care when interacting with clients, clinical educators, other health professionals and the host organisation. (Professional/Clinical Practitioner)
• ULO2: Use clear, accurate, sensitive and effective communication, including verbal and non-verbal forms, to support the development of trust and rapport with clients, carers and other professionals. (Professional/Clinical Practitioner)
• ULO3: Apply knowledge and skills to plan and implement an efficient, effective, culturally responsive and client centred physiotherapy assessment. (Engaged Global Citizen/Clinical Practitioner)
• ULO4: Plan and implement an appropriate intervention based on analysis and interpretation of assessment findings, using evidence-based practice, and client centred principles to inform decision making. (Clinical Practitioner/Scientist & Scholar)
• ULO5: Implement safe practices by identifying adverse events and near misses, and by minimising risk associated with physiotherapy practice, including recognition of situations that are outside the scope of expertise and/or competence, and by taking appropriate and timely action (Clinical Practitioner/Engaged Global Citizen)

End Unit Assessment

Assessment Type ¹: Clinical performance evaluation Indicative Time on Task ²: 3 hours Due: Week 5 of placement Weighting: 70%

You will assess your own performance and behaviour in the clinical setting at the completion of the unit, using the Assessment of Physiotherapy Practice (APP). Your self assessment will be compared with the Clinical Educators assessment at the completion of the unit. At the completion of the unit the primary Clinical Educator will assess your performance and behaviour in the clinical setting using the Assessment of Physiotherapy Practice (APP) which will be used to evaluate achievement of unit learning outcomes.

On successful completion you will be able to:

• Demonstrate professional behaviour and appropriate communication in accordance with ethical, legal and professional standards of care when interacting with clients, clinical educators, other health professionals and the host organisation. (Professional/Clinical Practitioner)
• Use clear, accurate, sensitive and effective communication, including verbal and non-verbal forms, to support the development of trust and rapport with clients, carers and other professionals. (Professional/Clinical Practitioner)
• Apply knowledge and skills to plan and implement an efficient, effective, culturally responsive and client centred physiotherapy assessment. (Engaged Global Citizen/Clinical Practitioner)
• Plan and implement an appropriate intervention based on analysis and interpretation of assessment findings, using evidence-based practice, and client centred principles to inform decision making. (Clinical Practitioner/Scientist & Scholar)
• Implement safe practices by identifying adverse events and near misses, and by minimising risk associated with physiotherapy practice, including recognition of situations that are outside the scope of expertise and/or competence, and by taking appropriate and timely action (Clinical Practitioner/Engaged Global Citizen)

Clinical Placement Logbook.

Assessment Type ¹: Log book Indicative Time on Task ²: 4 hours Due: Sunday 11:55pm immediately following placement Weighting: 0% This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

You will submit a Clinical Placement Logbook along with a Logbook Summary at the completion of this clinical placement.

On successful completion you will be able to:

• Demonstrate professional behaviour and appropriate communication in accordance with ethical, legal and professional standards of care when interacting with clients, clinical educators, other health professionals and the host organisation. (Professional/Clinical Practitioner)
• Use clear, accurate, sensitive and effective communication, including verbal and non-verbal forms, to support the development of trust and rapport with clients, carers and other professionals. (Professional/Clinical Practitioner)
• Apply knowledge and skills to plan and implement an efficient, effective, culturally responsive and client centred physiotherapy assessment. (Engaged Global Citizen/Clinical Practitioner)
• Plan and implement an appropriate intervention based on analysis and interpretation of assessment findings, using evidence-based practice, and client centred principles to inform decision making. (Clinical Practitioner/Scientist & Scholar)
• Implement safe practices by identifying adverse events and near misses, and by minimising risk associated with physiotherapy practice, including recognition of situations that are outside the scope of expertise and/or competence, and by taking appropriate and timely action (Clinical Practitioner/Engaged Global Citizen)

Viva Examination

Assessment Type ¹: Viva/oral examination Indicative Time on Task ²: 10 hours Due: Week 5 of placement Weighting: 30%

You will provide a handover of a patient you have been involved with during your placement. In the viva examination you will be asked to describe and justify evidence based assessment and treatment choices using sound clinical reasoning.

On successful completion you will be able to:

• Demonstrate professional behaviour and appropriate communication in accordance with ethical, legal and professional standards of care when interacting with clients, clinical educators, other health professionals and the host organisation. (Professional/Clinical Practitioner)
• Use clear, accurate, sensitive and effective communication, including verbal and non-verbal forms, to support the development of trust and rapport with clients, carers and other professionals. (Professional/Clinical Practitioner)
• Apply knowledge and skills to plan and implement an efficient, effective, culturally responsive and client centred physiotherapy assessment. (Engaged Global Citizen/Clinical Practitioner)
• Plan and implement an appropriate intervention based on analysis and interpretation of assessment findings, using evidence-based practice, and client centred principles to inform decision making. (Clinical Practitioner/Scientist & Scholar)
• Implement safe practices by identifying adverse events and near misses, and by minimising risk associated with physiotherapy practice, including recognition of situations that are outside the scope of expertise and/or competence, and by taking appropriate and timely action (Clinical Practitioner/Engaged Global Citizen)
• Accurately evaluate and communicate your own knowledge and performance including strengths and areas for improvement, using relevant professional benchmarks. (Professional/Clinical Practitioner)

¹ If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

• the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
• the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

² Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

As a student enrolled in this unit, you will engage in a range of face-to-face learning activities while on clinical placement. Details can be found on the iLearn site for this unit.

Assumed knowledge

This unit builds upon your learning across the first year of the Doctor of Physiotherapy course, including your previous first year clinical experience. 

Learning and teaching strategy

In this unit you will spend 25 days on placement as a member of a healthcare team working with individuals or groups with a variety of health conditions, including complex case presentations. The placement will be in a setting relevant to the delivery of physiotherapy, including clinical settings, such as a hospital or private practice, or other relevant setting, such as a corporate or sporting organisation.

Unit organisation

This is a ten credit point unit run as a 25-day clinical placement, conducted as a 5-week block, or the equivalent. Further information is available via the DPTClinical iLearn site for your cohort. See http://ilearn.mq.edu.au.

Attendance

Individual clinic descriptors and clinical calendars should be used to confirm dates and times of attendance for your clinical placement. This information is available via the DPTClinical iLearn site for your cohort. See http://ilearn.mq.edu.au

Unit materials and readings

Resources used across the Doctor of Physiotherapy may be useful when completing this unit. You are encouraged to review any relevant unit iLearn sites before commencing your placement. In addition, resources specific to clinical education and to specific areas of clinical physiotherapy are available on the DPTClinical iLearn site. 

Technology and equipment

Clinical sites will provide access to technology and equipment on-site as required. iPads, laptops and other patient/education-related equipment may be available to borrow from the Department of Health Sciences or the university library if required. 

Transport and costs

You will need to arrange your own transport to clinical placements and will be responsible for covering all costs associated with attending placements such as vaccinations, parking, public transport and accommodation (where necessary). 

Consultation with staff 

All staff will be available for individual consultation. See iLearn for contact details.

Social inclusion at Macquarie University is about giving everyone who has the potential to benefit from higher education the opportunity to study at university, participate in campus life and flourish in their chosen field. The University has made significant moves to promote an equitable, diverse and exciting campus community for the benefit of staff and students. It is your responsibility to contribute towards the development of an inclusive culture and practice in the areas of learning and teaching, research, and service orientation and delivery. As a member of the Macquarie University community, and a respresentative of Macquarie University while on clinical placement, you must not discriminate against or harass others based on their sex, gender, race, marital status, carers' responsibilities, disability, sexual orientation, age, political conviction or religious belief. All staff and students are expected to display appropriate behaviour that is conducive to a healthy clinical learning environment for everyone.

In the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, professionalism is a key capability embedded in all our courses, and a pillar of the Fitness to Practice Policy.

As part of developing professionalism, students are expected to attend all clinical placement days and engage in learning activities outside placement hours (eg revision of material, preparing for treatment sessions). As an adult learner, we respect your decision to choose how you engage with your learning, but we would remind you that the learning opportunities created for you have been done so to enable your success, and that by not engaging you may impact your ability to successfully complete this unit. We equally expect that you show respect for both Macquarie University and external clinical educator staff who have worked hard to develop meaningful activities and prioritise your learning by communicating with them appropriately and in a timely fashion.

Another dimension of professionalism is having respect for others. Please arrive to clinical placements on time, and contribute to the healthcare team appropriately. Please treat all patients, other members of the healthcare team, and your fellow students with the utmost respect.