POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMS

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POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMS in EXERCISE REHABILITATION
for international physiotherapists and other
health practitioners
Presenters name Steve Selig and Lainie
Cameron Date September 2006
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MedicareBreakthrough

• The Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Mr
  Tony Abbott MHR, announced on 6 September 2005
  that from 1 January 2006, University-educated
  Exercise Physiologists will be able to provide
  exercise services for the prevention and
  management of chronic illness and injury under
  Medicare Plus for patients referred to them by
  General Practitioners.
• This means that for the first time in Australia
  and probably the world, Exercise Therapists will
  join other health professionals as allied health
  practitioners within the healthcare system.
• This recognises the importance of physical
  activity for long term health and the level of
  education and training of Exercise Therapists.
• Victoria University is a world-leading provider
  of education and training in this field with its
  Graduate Program in Exercise Rehabilitation.

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COURSE GOALS AND OPPORTUNITIESProducing
leaders in exercise delivery to patients

• Exercise Therapists
• Assess
• Design
• Implement
• Lead
• Evaluate
• Targeting
• Diabesity (metabolic syndrome)
• Cardiovascular diseases, esp heart failure
• Back pain / disability
• Arthritic conditions
• Osteoporosis
• Post-acute surgical patients
• Other musculoskeletal injuries
• Mental Health
• Working in
• Occupational wellness / rehabilitation

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CAREERS AS AN EXERCISE THERAPIST Promoting
healthy lifestyle through exercise

• Hospital rehabilitation
• Restoration of function and 20 prevention for
  in-patients and out-patients
• Medical rehabilitation
• 10 and 20 prevention, and restoration of function
  for patients referred by medical practitioners
• Sports rehabilitation
• Return to training and competition for injured
  athletes
• Injury Prevention ? Conditioning
• Occupational rehabilitation
• Return to work programs (RTW)
• Injury Prevention ? Work Conditioning
• Community rehabilitation
• 10 and 20 prevention, and restoration of function
  for clients referred by medical practitioners /
  physiotherapists / self-referred
• Aged Care and Fitness facility clientele
• Case Management
• Human Resources Departments
• OHS Departments
• Insurers
• Decision and Policy Makers

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EXAMPLES OF JOBS HELD BY OUR GRADUATES
Promoting healthy lifestyle through exercise

• Chief Exercise Therapist at Victorian
  Rehabilitation Centre
• Senior Exercise Therapist at Kingston Centre
• Exercise Therapists at most teaching and
  rehabilitation hospitals in Melbourne
• Injury Management Advisor at CGU Insurance
• Case Manager at Toyota Australia
• Medical Education Officer at Alfred Hospital
• Return to Work advisors / Case Managers at
  multinational company in Melbourne
• Exercise Therapist at Australian Football Club
  (professional)
• Exercise Therapists for occupational
  rehabilitation providers across Australia

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Grad Program in Exercise Rehabilitation for
physiotherapists or other health practitioners
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Grad Program in Exercise Rehabilitation for
physiotherapists or other health practitioners
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Warning to those from backgrounds other than
Exercise Science Human Movement

• Please note that entering the Graduate Program in
  Exercise Rehabilitation (ie Graduate Diploma in
  Exercise for Rehabilitation HGEX or Master of
  Applied Science Exercise Rehabilitation HMER)
  without prior completion of the Graduate Diploma
  in Exercise Science (HGXS) will almost certainly
  bar you from future accreditation as an
  AAESS-Accredited Exercise Physiologist.
• This will seriously jeopardise you with respect
  to making a living in the clinical exercise
  industry
• Provider status with Medicare Plus, medical
  insurers or WorkCover
• Job prospects or job eligibility
• Eligiblity to gain professional indemnity
  insurance
• It will also prevent you from undertaking certain
  clinical placements (eg hospital-based clinical
  placements).
• This university gives no undertakings or
  guarantees with regard to AAESS accreditation or
  any industry-related matters.

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UNITS OF STUDY

• Graduate Diploma Exercise Science
• Course Code HGXS, CRICOS code 059086B
• Exercise Physiology Theory and Practice
• Biomechanics Theory and Practice
• Applied Psychology of Sport and Exercise
• Exercise Prescription
• Motor Control and Skill in Exercise
• Nutrition and Diet for Performance
• Resistance Training
• Exercise and Sport Science Fieldwork (70 hours)

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UNITS OF STUDY

• Graduate Diploma Exercise Rehabilitation
• Course Code HGEX, CRICOS code 002824K
• Year 1 of Masters degree
• Musculo-Skeletal Physiology
• Exercise Prescription - Musculo-Skeletal
• Physiological Testing for Rehabilitation
• Cardiorespiratory Metabolic Physiology
• Exercise Physiology for Work
• Biomechanics for Rehabilitation
• Functional Anatomy
• Research Methods for Practitioners
• Clinical Practice (140 hr)

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UNITS OF STUDY

• Master Exercise Rehabilitation
• Course Code HMER CRICOS code 041653A
• Year 2 of Masters degree
• Exercise Prescription for Cardio / Metabolic OR
  Exercise Prescription for Work
• Psychology for Rehabilitation
• Case Management
• Neurological and Neuromuscular Disorders OR
  Clinical Nutrition
• Clinical Practice (700 hr)

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EXERCISE REHABILITATION GRADUATEDIPLOMAorM
ASTER

• Graduate Diploma in Exercise for Rehabilitation)
  code HGEX
• 8 units over 2 semesters
• Master of Applied Science Exercise
  Rehabilitation code HMER
• Graduate Diploma 1st year of Master
• 2nd year comprises-
• 4 units in 3rd semester followed by
• 4th semester of EITHER
• Case Study Practice (700 hrs) OR
• Research minor thesis 5-20,000 words

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Clinical Anatomy, Physiology, Biomechanics,
Pathology, Psychology

Exercise Rehab Coursework Philosophy
?
Knowledge
review, refresh, apply knowledge
gain knowledge
Application
Application ? screening, exercise testing,
programming, leadership, evaluation
?
Mentored practice ? 140 hour (4 wk) industry
placement hospital, medical, occupational, sport
or community rehabilitation
?
Professional Skills
Work Readiness Networking
700 hours (20 wk) industry placement
?
Practice and Work
?
Novice Practitioner
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Growth in Exercise Rehab Enrolments Note
large increase in international demand
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Victoria Universitys commitment to Exercise
Sciences

• In August 2005, the University committed 22.4
  million to build a new Exercise and Sports
  Science Complex, including new laboratories for
  Exercise Rehabilitation and an Exercise
  Rehabilitation Clinic.
• This comes on top of the multi-million dollar
  Victoria University Aquatic and Fitness Centre
  (opened 2003)

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Indian students experiences studying exercise
rehabilitation at Victoria University
Hannah reading a 12-lead ECG following an
exercise test
Narayanan I have had an amazing experience
during my study at VU. The staff have helped me
gain knowledge and skill in exercise testing and
prescription. These are in their primitive stages
in my country.
Hannah The course has been fantastic. The best
aspect of the course is the amount of practical
exposure that we get. In Biomechanical Testing
and Physiological Testing units, we actually
perform the tests that we had only read and heard
about in India, but never seen.
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Indian students experiences studying exercise
rehabilitation at Victoria University
Namrata (from India) measuring blood pressure and
setting up a 12 lead ECG in preparation for an
exercise test in a client with chronic heart
failure.
Praveen Studying exercise rehab at VU has
improved my knowledge as a physiotherapist. The
teaching staff are excellent. This is one of the
top universities of Australia.
Manvir This course has not only improved my
knowledge and skills, but also put me forward in
the field of physiotherapy through increased
knowledge of exercise testing and gait analysis
in laboratories with the latest technology.
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Indian students reasons for studying exercise
rehabilitation at Victoria University
Thangavel (t_mani_at_lycos.com)

• Quality of courses in Australia
• Comprehensive course structure
• Practical sessions that allow for evaluation of
  theoretical concepts
• Clinical placements to put theory into practice
• Enthusiastic tutors who make that extra effort
  for students
• I am taking my AECOP exams (written and theory)
  to try to gain registration to practise
  Physiotherapy in Australia

Australian Examining Committee for Overseas
Physiotherapists
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Indian students reasons for studying exercise
rehabilitation at Victoria University
Hannah (Hannah_joshi_at_yahoo.com)

• To gain permanent residency
• I did not get a place into other postgraduate
  courses before completing the Graduate Diploma in
  Exercise for Rehabilitation, but I have now been
  offered, and have accepted, a place in the Master
  of Physiotherapy Musculoskeletal at the
  University of Melbourne. This is designed to
  prepare me for AECOP exams and future
  registration.
• Whilst studying the Graduate Diploma, I have
  worked part-time as a Physiotherapy Assistant

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Indian students reasons for studying exercise
rehabilitation at Victoria University
Manvir (drmanvir_at_yahoo.com)

• To gain permanent residency
• I think that by completing the Graduate Program
  in Exercise for Rehabilitation, it will help me
  to get into a Masters of Physiotherapy
  (Cardiothoracic) which will help to prepare me
  for AECOP exams
• I would eventually like to take my AECOP exams to
  try to gain registration to practise
  Physiotherapy in Australia, but would also be
  happy to practise Exercise Rehabilitation in
  Australia

Note current accreditation guidelines for
Clinical Exercise Physiologists do not permit the
entry of local or overseas Physiotherapists,
without taking further studies in undergraduate
Human Movement or Exercise Science courses.
Manvir may need to take these studies after
completing the Graduate Program in Exercise for
Rehabilitation, if he doesnt complete AECOP
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Indian students reasons for studying exercise
rehabilitation at Victoria University
Praveen (Praveen14983_at_yahoo.com)

• Quality of courses in Australia
• I applied and was accepted into Masters
  Physiotherapy courses before entering this course
• I am working part-time in exercise rehabilitation
  while taking the course
• I intend to take my AECOP exams to try to gain
  registration to practise Physiotherapy in
  Australia. To get accepted into AECOP exams, I
  need a four year degree in physiotherapy, 1,000
  hrs of supervised clinical practice and 7 band in
  IELTS

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Indian students reasons for studying exercise
rehabilitation at Victoria University
Narayanan (narayananpt_at_gmail.com)

• I was offered places in Clinical Exercise courses
  at the Universities of Queensland and Wollongong,
  and Physiotherapy courses at University of South
  Australia and Curtin University, but chose this
  course instead.
• I will undertake my Clinical Practice in the USA
  and this has been approved to gain American
  College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) accreditation
  as a Clinical Exercise Physiologist. But this
  will not gain me accreditation in Australia as
  an Exercise Physiologist

Note we often approve clinical placements
overseas, either in the students home country or
somewhere else. The student enrols in our unit
HPG6043 Clinical Practice. Note current
accreditation guidelines for Clinical Exercise
Physiologists in Australia do not permit the
entry of local or overseas Physiotherapists.
Narayanan will gain entry to the profession via
ACSM accreditation
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Support for Indian students who study exercise
rehabilitation at Victoria University

• Clinical Placements may be taken with us in our
  Clinic, or we assist Indian students to gain
  these placements via the website
  http//www.staff.vu.edu.au/exrehab/
• Exercise prescription and leadership our
  Clinical Practice Supervisor assists Indian
  physiotherapists with exercise prescription and
  leadership to lift them to the level of Exercise
  Science students. This knowledge is lacking in
  Indian and Australian physiotherapy courses and
  is vital for success in exercise therapy.
• Part-time jobs the website helps Indian students
  to gain part-time employment as Physiotherapy
  Assistants and related jobs whilst studying in
  Melbourne.

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LOCATIONTIME

• VU Footscray Park and City Campuses convenient
  to public transport
• Classes held in evening 2-4 evenings per week
  of 3-4 hr
• Duration for full time students
• Grad Dip Ex Science 2 semesters
• Graduate Diploma 2 semesters OR
• Master 4 semesters
• Maximum 3 year requirement
• (Part-time option not available to international
  students)

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ELIGIBILITYAND FEES

• Entry requirements
• Grad Dip Ex Science
• An undergraduate degree in Physiotherapy,
  Podiatry, Medicine, or equivalent.
• Satisfactory IELTS and/or English language
  competency.
• Grad Dip Ex Rehab / Master Ex Rehab
• Grad Dip Ex Science
• Clinical Work Experience using exercise is not
  required, but considered favorably.
• Satisfactory IELTS and/or English language
  competency.
• Professional References.
• Graduates without adequate exercise / sport
  science background (eg Grad Dip Ex Science) may
  be refused accreditation to practice clinical
  exercise in Australia.

Fees A7,500 - A8,000 per semester http//www.vu.
edu.au/library/pdf/PGCG.pdf Contact Course
Coordinator steve.selig_at_vu.edu.au Website
http//www.staff.vu.edu.au/exrehab/ Graduate
Program in Exercise Rehabilitation School of
Human Movement, Recreation Performance Faculty
of Arts, Education and Human Development