Unit Synopsis
This unit will provide you with the foundational components of neurological physiotherapy to prepare you for the clinical management of patients with neurological conditions. You will develop an understanding of neuroanatomy, neuroscience, and neurodevelopment and realise how health theories and frameworks (e.g., motor learning, International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)) guide neurological rehabilitation. You will learn to conduct assessments that define impairments and limitations in the context of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), select and apply outcome measures that monitor functional limitations and impairments, and use clinical reasoning for the basis of treatment planning. The interventions you implement will be effective, evidence-based, and directed at the re-education of functional movement.
Details
| Level | Undergraduate |
|---|---|
| Unit Level | 2 |
| Credit Points | 6 |
| Student Contribution Band | SCA Band 2 |
| Fraction of Full-Time Student Load | 0.125 |
| Pre-requisites or Co-requisites |
To enrol in this unit you must be enrolled in the CB85 Course and meet the following pre-requisites: BMSC11007 Medical Anatomy and Physiology 1 BMSC11008 Medical Anatomy and Physiology 2 PSIO11004 Foundations of Physiotherapy Practice 1 PSIO11003 Foundations of Physiotherapy Practice 2 ALLH11006 Life Course Development for Health Professionals
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework). |
| Class Timetable | View Unit Timetable |
| Residential School | No Residential School |
Unit Availabilities from Term 1 - 2026
Term 2 - 2026 Profile
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Assessment Tasks
| Assessment Task | Weighting |
|---|---|
| 1. In-class Test(s) | 25% |
| 2. In-class Test(s) | 25% |
| 3. On-campus Activity | 0% |
| 4. Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) | 50% |
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%).
Past Exams
All University policies are available on the Policy web site, however you may wish to directly view the following policies below.
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of policies are available on the Policy web site .
Term 2 - 2025 : The overall satisfaction for students in the last offering of this course was 100.00% (`Agree` and `Strongly Agree` responses), based on a 21.28% response rate.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Source: Unit evaluation data, direct student feedback, self reflection, broader feedback.
Students appreciated the opportunity to learn from physiotherapists who are actively practicing in specialised areas.
It is recommended to continue to look for opportunities for students to engage with physiotherapists currently working in specialised areas. (e.g., guest lectures, practical workshops, observational placements, site visits).
A new guest lecture was created and delivered by the CQUniversity Speech Pathology Team on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) with continuation of observational placements and site visits offered in this unit.
Source: Unit evaluation data, direct student feedback, self reflection, broader feedback.
Students enjoyed the practical nature of the unit, valuing the hands-on learning experience. However, challenges with the balance between time allocated to neuroanatomy and practical content were noted.
It is recommended to review the allocation of tutorial time between neuroanatomy and practical content to ensure an optimal balance for the development of both knowledge and practical skills.
The allocation of time across all theoretical and practical classes was adjusted to achieve an optimal balance that supported the effective development of both knowledge and practical skills in this unit.
Source: Unit evaluation data, direct student feedback, self reflection, broader feedback.
Students reported the newly developed neurological assessment video resources supported their learning and assessment preparation.
It is recommended to review opportunities to expand the use of multimedia resources, such as video demonstrations, for other key neurological content areas to further support student learning and assessment preparation.
In Progress
Source: Unit evaluation data, direct student feedback, self reflection, broader feedback.
Students valued the interactive sessions, hands-on learning experiences, and revision resources. Students suggested incorporating more case studies to enhance application of knowledge.
It is recommended to explore opportunities to integrate additional case-based learning activities to further support clinical reasoning and engagement.
In Progress
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- Describe basic concepts of neurosciences, including organisation and function of the nervous system, neurodevelopment and signs and symptoms in neurologic lesions
- Select and apply appropriate assessment tools, including observational analysis and outcome measures, to identify functional limitations and impairments in the context of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and contemporary healthcare practice
- Demonstrate competency in the selection (rationale) and execution of evidence-based neurological rehabilitation techniques to address sensorimotor dysfunction and promote the re-education of functional movement
- Demonstrate acceptable professional and ethical behaviours consistent with a physiotherapy practitioner.
Learning outcomes and assessment tasks have been mapped against and aligned with the Physiotherapy Practice Thresholds in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - In-class Test(s) | • | |||
| 2 - In-class Test(s) | • | • | ||
| 3 - On-campus Activity | • | |||
| 4 - Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) | • | • | • | • |
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Communication | • | • | • | • |
| 2 - Problem Solving | • | • | • | |
| 3 - Critical Thinking | • | • | • | |
| 4 - Information Literacy | • | |||
| 5 - Team Work | • | • | • | |
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | • | • | • | |
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | • | |||
| 8 - Ethical practice | • | |||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | • | |||
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | |