Overview

This unit examines and consolidates the knowledge, skills and evidence to effectively assess and manage health and wellbeing across the lifespan utilising the World Health Organization International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (WHO-ICF) model. Students will explore the role and scope of physiotherapy within an inter-disciplinary team with respect to the management of clinical presentations related to lifespan events and transitions, including childhood, pregnancy, and end-of-life care. This unit also explores the role of technology and digital health in these settings.

Requisites

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
HE Block 6
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
25-August-2025
28-September-2025
Last self-enrolment date
25-August-2025
Census date
05-September-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
12-September-2025
Results released date
28-October-2025
Term 4
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
29-September-2025
02-November-2025
Last self-enrolment date
29-September-2025
Census date
10-October-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
17-October-2025
Results released date
09-December-2025

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Critically evaluate and synthesise current research evidence for the differential diagnosis, assessment, and intervention of diverse clinical presentations across the lifespan
  • Select, safely perform, and justify appropriate physiotherapy assessments tailored to the unique needs of clinical presentations across the lifespan
  • Apply effective clinical reasoning to analyse assessment findings, develop prioritised problem lists, and establish person-centered goals for people across the lifespan
  • Safely perform, evaluate, and justify evidence-informed and person-centred physiotherapy interventions for clinical presentations across lifespan events and transitions
  • Interpret and effectively communicate clinical information to clients, caregivers, and interdisciplinary team members from diverse backgrounds, to enhance understanding, inclusivity and engagement in the therapeutic process

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Activity Type Activity Total Hours Number of Weeks Hours Per Week Venue Type and Activity Detail
Live Online Lecture 20 5 weeks 4 4 x 1hr
On-campus Practical 30 5 weeks 6 2hr x 3
Specified Activities Various 30 5 weeks 6  
Unspecified Activities Independent Learning 70 5 weeks 14  
Total Hours: 150 Total Hours (per week): 30  

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Assignment Individual  30%  1,3,4,5
Practical Examination Individual  40%  2,3,4,5
Practical and Oral Examination Individual  30%  1,2,3,4,5

Content

  • Clinical presentations across the lifespan, including various aetiologies and pathophysiologies, that can impact health and wellbeing
  • Systematic and holistic approach to patient centred care: assessment, interpretation of information, treatment planning, goal setting and evaluation of outcomes
  • Evaluation of contemporary research evidence to inform the differential diagnosis and management of clinical presentations related to lifespan events and transitions
  • Developmental stages across childhood and their variations
  • Technologies that support diagnosis and physiotherapy management of clinical presentations across the lifespan
  • Validated outcome measures and clinical tests that inform physical examination, differential diagnosis and management of clinical presentations across the lifespan
  • Inter-disciplinary short- and long-term goal setting
  • Graduate Attribute 1 (Communication 1: Verbal communication)
  • Graduate Attribute 2 (Communication 2: Communicating using different media)
  • Graduate Attribute 6  (Digital Literacies 2 – Technical literacy)

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.