UWA Handbook 2025

Unit Overview

Description

This unit consolidates clinical practice in podiatry in preparation for the student to enter independent practice upon graduation and registration as a podiatrist. All aspects of the assessment and treatment of common foot conditions, performing minor surgery and the administration and prescription of scheduled medications are covered. Students should demonstrate critical thinking ability, reflective practice, engage in peer mentorship and learning, and research skills to promote themselves as lifelong learners. Students engage in critical clinical reasoning skills, communication skills, cultural awareness and the ethical principles of patient centered care in practice. Students will also build on essential skills such as a self-directed approach to learning and the ability to work as part of a team, becoming the life long learner, the ethical professional, the educator, the researcher and the patient advocate. Evidence -based practice is consolidated in a podiatric clinical context. Students will also consolidate the ability to interpret the results of medical imaging tests employed in the diagnosis and management of foot and ankle pathology and consolidate their ability to implement short and long term management plans for a variety of podiatric conditions, whilst recognising the need for further care and make an appropriate referral of podiatric patients to other health professionals. Students will demonstrate a professional approach to the management of ethical and legal responsibilities and challenges in podiatric practice while demonstrating full integration of reflective practice into all aspects of clinical behaviour.

Credit

6 points

Offering
(see Timetable)

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

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) display professional behaviour in the educational and clinical setting; (2) demonstrate critical clinical reasoning skills; (3) apply communication skills, cultural awareness and ethical principles of practice patient centered care in practice; (4) demonstrate skills of a reflective practitioner in seeking to identify and address gaps in knowledge and practice; (5) appraise the results of medical imaging tests employed in the diagnosis and management of foot and ankle pathology; (6) formulate and apply evidence based management of podpopulations in conservative and minor surgical procedures; (7) construct clinical care considering how cultural diversity can influence perceptions and patient interactions; (8) formulate a management plan that reviews patients' progress, recognising the need for modifications or change to prescribed therapy evidencing adaptability; and (9) formulate treatment plans and management strategies inclusive of ESM, National Health Strategies, Health Frameworks and International guidelines.

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 Catherine Crabb and Dr Kim Holmes

Unit rules

Prerequisites

(a)
Enrolment in

Doctor of Podiatric Medicine 91870, and (b)

successful completion of

PODI4225 Podiatric Populations 2 (ID 7824) PODI4226 Clinical Podiatric Practice 4 (ID 7841) PODI4227 Podiatric Surgery and Clinical Therapeutics (ID 7842) PODI4228 The High Risk Foot (ID 7843) PODI4000 Research Project Development (ID 7844)

Co-requisites

PODI5331 Podiatric Populations 3 (ID 7845) PODI5333 Extended Placement 1 (ID 7847) PODI5334 Research Project 1 (ID 7849)

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) Replacement costs for borrowed equipment (estimated cost - $20 - $5000)
(2) Transport costs associated with attending field trips and placements (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.