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Clinical Assessment

What Is The Clinical Assessment?

The Clinical Assessment is part of the Standard Assessment pathway and assesses the ability to apply clinical skills in a simulated environment.

It consists of three practical assessments – one each in musculoskeletal, neurological, and cardiorespiratory physiotherapy.

Where Can I Do My Clinical Assessment?

From 1st April 2019 onwards, the Clinical Assessments will be conducted in a simulated environment with standardised patients.

LOCATION: Council’s Simulation Lab – Level 3, 600 Victoria Street, Richmond, Victoria, Australia, 3121.

The candidates who opted for hospital based clinical assessments and applied for clinical assessments before 1st April 2019, will still be allocated to the hospital based assessments in their state of preference, where possible.  All the hospital-based assessments will be completely phased out by the end of September 2019.

Will I Need Insurance?

You must have adequate Professional Indemnity Insurance to cover your attendance of assessment sessions. Prior to the commencement of each session, you must produce a Certificate of Currency of Professional Indemnity Insurance for a minimum of $5 million.  But we have great news…

Free Insurance

You are automatically entitled to free insurance and membership with the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA). Please click here for more information.

You can opt out when making your Eligibility Assessment application.

 

How Can I Prepare for My Clinical Assessment?

Clinical Assessment Information Booklets

These will provide you further information on the Assessment Format, Assessor Panel Configuration, Domains and Performance indicators used by the assessors during the assessment etc.

Download the Clinical Assessment Information Booklet (Simulation) Download the Clinical Assessment Information Booklet (Hospital)

Training and Preparation Programs

There are training and preparation programs provided by external organisations to familiarise you with the Assessment. However, the Council does not receive any fees, accredit, endorse or review any training or preparation programs provided by these organisations.

You are advised to seek detailed information from these providers to ensure that the advertised program will meet your needs.

Many of these programs will be advertised via the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA).

360 Pre-Orientation Video

You’ve probably heard of, or seen, a new type of video that offers viewers the opportunity to explore a video in 360-degrees with their mouse or mobile device. This medium is called spherical video and one popular category is “360-degree video”(360) which allows viewers to interact with, and experience, the content, instead of just sitting back passively to watch.

And then we started thinking….Hmmm…

What if we created a 360 video to get you acquainted with our state-of-the-art Simulation Lab before you ever come in to undertake your Clinical Assessments?

Good Idea?

We hoped you’d think so…

We wanted to provide you with an insight into the Simulation Lab and demystify assessments conducted in a simulated environment.

Our 360 pre-orientation video offers an immersive experience that allows you to choose where to look and what to focus on.

To watch our 360 video on YouTube, all you need is a mobile device or desktop. You can explore the video in all directions with a few simple gestures. On your desktop, you can click and drag with a mouse or click the arrows in the upper left corner of the screen.  On a mobile device, you can drag your finger across the screen or move it around in different directions.

Happy 360-ing!!!

 

 

 

 

Clinical Assessment Allocation

As a guideline, you will be allocated to the clinical assessment within approximately 3 months from the time of application.

You will receive advance notification of your Clinical Assessment allocations as soon as you are assigned to each session.

You will be provided with a minimum of 6-8 weeks advance notification so that you can make necessary arrangements for the assessment.

We would kindly ask that you refrain from requesting to change the allocated assessment dates unless absolutely necessary, as assessment allocations are in high demand and varying your allocated date may affect the allocations of other candidates and it may incur cancellation fee of up to 100%.

 

What if I Am Based Overseas?

All your three assessments will be scheduled on the same day in the Council’s Simulation Lab in Melbourne.

We recommend that you do not book any flights until all your Assessments are confirmed. You will be provided with at least 6-8 weeks advance notification so that you can make necessary arrangements for the assessment.

What If I Am Pregnant?

For your safety, the Council will not allow you to undertake the Clinical Assessments if you are more than 34 weeks pregnant.

If you are pregnant you will need to provide a letter from your medical practitioner dated no earlier than 1 week before your assessment date confirming that you are physically and medically fit to undertake a clinical assessment on that particular day.

What Can I Expect After My Assessment?

Results

You will be emailed a candidate report within 14 days from the date of the Assessment.

The candidate report will indicate performance in the Domains and Performance Indicators that are observed during the Assessment. Please refer to the Clinical Assessment Information Booklet (Simulation) for further information on Domains and Performance Indicators.

The result of each clinical assessment is final and cannot be altered. No other information is provided regarding the performance during the Assessment. It is essential that you are able to interpret your performance against the Assessment criteria.

What Happens When I am Successful?

Once successful with all the three components, you will be issued with a Final Certificate which will meet the qualification requirement for General Registration with the Physiotherapy Board of Australia.

What Happens if I am Unsuccessful?

A Candidate who is unsuccessful with any of the assessment component(s) in their first attempt (musculoskeletal, cardiorespiratory or neurology), they will only have one more resit attempt to demonstrate their competency in that particular area. The exceptions apply when a complaint is upheld by the Internal Review Panel.

If you are unsuccessful in your Assessment, you can apply for an Internal Review within 14 calendar days of receiving notification of the Assessment outcome.  This process can only be undertaken based on procedural grounds.

Please note that candidates can only apply and pay for all additional assessment(s)/resits through the Candidate Dashboard once they complete assessment in all the three areas (cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal and neurology).

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

For more information on the Clinical Assessment, please get in touch with our Assessment Team and we’ll be delighted to help you in any way we can.

 

CONTACT OUR ASSESSMENT TEAM

assessment@physiocouncil.com.au
1300 528 003 (Within Australia)
+ 61 3 7018 1499 (Outside Australia)

Useful Links

Clinical Assessment Information Booklet (Simulation)

Clinical Assessment Information Booklet (Hospital)

Domains and Performance Indicators (Hospital)

The Council's Simulation Series

The Lab

The Council

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