UWA Handbook 2025

Unit Overview

Description

Students rotate through the UWA Podiatry Clinic, podiatry departments of the main teaching hospitals, community health centres and selected private practices and are instructed in the podiatric treatment of common foot conditions and engage in team based care. Students will be learning podiatric clinical skills via hands on training, practical classroom demonstrations, role plays and simulated patients. Students demonstrate developing skill and knowledge of podiatric anatomy and biomechanics to the prescription, design and manufacture of orthotic devices for patients with complex and multiplanar conditions. Students buld on clincal assessment of the musculoskeletal system by ldeveloping skills in assessing the knee, hip and lower back. This unit also bulids on previously acquired knowedge of gait to furthere examine biomechanics and pathological gait using a variety of clinical assessments and equipment independently and safely, to articulate findings using appropriate clinical terminology. Students develop clinical problem-solving skills to formulate differential diagnoses, propose short- and long-term treatment plans recognise clinical priorities to provide a patient-centred management plan; and develop skills of a reflective practitioner in seeking to identify and address gaps in knowledge and practice. Since diagnostic imaging integral to podiatry practice,reistered podiatrists can refer for x-rays, sonography and magnetic resonance imaging for diagnostic purposes,students gain a deep understanding of the theory, practical and medico-legal responsibilities of medical imaging with regards to clinical podiatry practice. Clinically students also learn to apply appropriate terminology to imaging findings, differentiate normal from pathological and evaluate the radiologists report.

Students must abide by the Professional Behaviour Procedure set in out in the experiential work-place learning environments.

Credit

6 points

Offering
(see Timetable)

Availability	Location	Mode
Non-standard teaching period	UWA (Perth)	Face to face

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) demonstrate professional behaviour in educational and diverse work integrated learning settings including exposure to podiatry and diabetes education for Aboriginal people (Moorditj Djena)

; (2) demonstrate developed communication and reflective practice skills to identify and address gaps in knowledge and practice

; (3) conduct clinical assessments, interpret results and differentiate findings with adherence to clinical protocols at the expected level of Year 2; in accordance with legislation, guidelines, and regulations pertaining to podiatric practice, under supervision; (4) discuss and implement long and short term patient centered treatment planning evidencing safe practice at expected level for Year 2 taking into consideration patients, cultural, social, personal financial and environmental background and their capacity to give informed consent; (5) apply rules for safe, ethical and appropriate use of radiographic, ultrasonic and advanced imaging techniques in the assessment of the lower limb; (6) explain the relevance of diagnostic imaging techniques and their use in the assessment and treatment of the lower extremity with respect to specific clinical case; (7) demonstrate developing psychomotor skills in foot orthoses prescription, manufacture, design, modification and dispensation for complex & multiplanar conditions; (8) analyse the biomechanics of the gait patterns using gait analysis equipment independently and safely, to articulate findings using appropriate clinical terminology; (9) critically evaluate and communicate findings from evidence based practice underpinning current understanding of human gait, orthotics and biomechanics; and (10) demonstrate learning by recording therapeutic management of patients; including the use of ESM's in more complex case presentations and WIL placements.

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) assignment(s); (2) examination(s); (3) clinical assessment(s); and (4) professional behaviour assessment. Further information is available in the unit outline.

To pass this unit, a student must: (a) achieve an overall mark of 50 per cent or higher for the unit; and (b) achieve the requisite requirements(s) or a mark of 50 per cent or greater, whichever is higher and specified in the unit outline, for the examination(s), clinical assessment(s), and professional behaviour assessment components.

Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Unit Coordinator(s)

Dr Sarah Carter

Unit rules

Prerequisites

(a)
Enrolment in

Doctor of Podiatric Medicine 91870, and (b)

successful completion of

PODI4221 Podiatric Populations 1 (ID 7836) PODI4222 Clinical Podiatric Practice 3 (ID 7837) PODI4223 Pharmacotherapeutics for Podiatrists 2 (ID 7838) PODI4224 Research Project Planning (ID 7839)

Co-requisites

PODI4225 Podiatric Populations 2 (ID 7824) PODI4227 Podiatric Surgery and Clinical Therapeutics (ID 7842) PODI4228 The High Risk Foot (ID 7843) PODI4000 Research Project Development (ID 7844)

Incidental fees

Incidental student fees and charges are costs incurred by students as part of their studies at UWA that are in addition to their tuition fees (further information is available "
Participation in this unit will incur the following incidental fee(s):
(1) Transport costs associated with attending field trips and placements (estimated cost - $20 - $5000)
(2) Replacement costs for borrowed equipment (estimated cost - Up to $500).

Contact hours

Approximately 6 hours per week, including lectures 2-3 hours per week and a combination of: seminars, clinical skills workshops, team and case based learning workshops, e-learning sessions, tutorials, and self-directed online learning.