Entry-Level Physiotherapy Practitioner Program

Expression of interest (EOI)
to accredit

ENTRY-LEVEL PHYSIOTHERAPY PRACTITIONER PROGRAM

Disclaimer: While care has been taken in the production of this form, no legal liability is implied, warranted or accepted by the authors or the Australian Physiotherapy Council Limited and any liability is hereby expressly disclaimed.

ABN 28 108 663 896

Version 1.1

OVERVIEW

INSTRUCTIONS

SECTION 1 - Program Profile & Enrolment Projections

SECTION 2: ESTABLISHING THE PROGRAM

SECTION 3: STUDENT ENROLMENT NUMBERS

SECTION 4: STAFFING

SECTION 5: FINANCIAL VIABILITY

SECTION 6: PHYSICAL FACILITIES

OVERVIEW

The Australian Physiotherapy Council Limited (the Council) is the accreditation authority for Physiotherapy Practitioner Programs in Australia. All programs accredited by the Council are assessed against the Accreditation Standard for Physiotherapy Practitioner Programs (2016), (the Accreditation Standard).

An accreditation authority for a health profession may accredit a program of study if, after assessing the program, the authority is reasonably satisfied—

(a)the program of study, and the education provider that provides the program of study, meet an approved accreditation standard for the profession;

(b)the program of study, and the education provider that provides the program of study, substantially meet an approved accreditation standard for the profession and the imposition of conditions on the approval will ensure the program meets the standard within a reasonable time.

Source: Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009 [s48 (1)]

The standards set out the minimum requirements to be met in order to deliver physiotherapy programs that provide persons who complete the program with the knowledge, clinical skills and professional attributes for practise of physiotherapy in Australia. A standard is met when each and every criterion within that domain is met.

Entry-level programs must address all the relevant attributes and competencies defined in the Physiotherapy Practice Thresholds (2015), producing graduates who can practise safely within an ethical framework as defined in the PhysioBA Code of Conduct for registered health practitioners. (Education providers should refer to the PhysioBA website for the current versions of these documents

INSTRUCTIONS

This form is to be used for Expression of Interestto accredit applications. Before commencing your application please contact the Council for advice.

Review the table below to ensure your planning enables the required timeframe.

Table 1: Accreditation pathway of a new program

TIME
Prior to enrolment of first cohort / PATHWAY / ALTERNATE OUTCOME
- 24 months / Expression of interest
- 18 months / Application lodged / Returned if incomplete. May be re-submitted within one month of return date.
- 9 months / Site visit
- 6 months / Accreditation with conditions / Not accredited

Each section of the Expression of Interest form must be completed.

Where the education provider’s Course Proposal form and/or the education provider’s Business Case provide the required information, the applicant may refer to the document title and the specific pages in the education provider document. There is no need to reproduce this information where it is clearly laid out.

The Expression of Interest form should be accompanied by a payment of $1000.00 to cover expenses associated with review of documentation and administration. This $1000.00 will be deducted from the Accreditation fee where the applicant proceeds through to lodging the application. Contact r EFT details or postal address for payment by cheque. The lodging of the EOI will not be processed until the fee has been paid.

The Expression of Interest and accompanying documentation should be emailed to

The subject line of the email should follow the format: ‘EOI-education provider-program-year’.

If the file is too large, please contact the Council for access through “Dropbox “.

Feedback on the Expression of Interest will be provided no later than six weeks from the date of receipt and payment.

SECTION 1 - Program Profile & Enrolment Projections

The Education Provider is requested to complete the blue sections of Table 1. This program profile will be used in all notifications to the Physiotherapy Board of Australia.

Table 2: Program Profile

Education Provider
Campus
Program of Study Name
Program of Study Course Code(s)
Program of Study Length
Australian Qualifications Framework Level
Clinical Practice first undertaken (Year and Semester)

* If an honours program is also to be included, identify, and include course code in applicable box.

SECTION 2: ESTABLISHING THE PROGRAM

Your Expression of Interest application must address the following:

NEED - Evidence of the need for this program in relation to the physiotherapy workforce and the employment prospects for graduates.

SWOT ANALYSIS - of curriculum

CLINICAL EDUCATION - Identify the source of clinical placements for the program and provide evidence of negotiations with the future providers, e.g. letters of support, memorandum of agreement, letters of intent. Identify if the potential clinical education provider/s currently supply placements for an existing accredited entry-level physiotherapy program, and explain how the placements will operate i.e. are these additional placements or will they compete with the existing accredited program?

Evidence must demonstrate there will be adequate opportunities for students to undertake clinical education as required by the accreditation standard.

Enter your response below. Please explain the context and relevance of attached evidence.

SECTION 3: STUDENT ENROLMENT NUMBERS

Please complete the table applicable to your proposed program below:

Table 3:

Four Year Program

PROPOSED STUDENT ENROLMENT NUMBERS
20XX / 20XX / 20XX / 20XX
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4

Three Year Program

PROPOSED STUDENT ENROLMENT NUMBERS
20XX / 20XX / 20XX / 20XX
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3

Two year Program

PROPOSED STUDENT ENROLMENT NUMBERS
20XX / 20XX / 20XX / 20XX
Year 1
Year 2

SECTION 4: STAFFING

Provide information of staffing and recruitment plans in the following section:

Head of Program

Qualifications

Level of academic appointment

Registered to practise physiotherapy in Australia

Yes No

If head of program not yet appointed, identify recruitment timeline for appointment

If head of program not yet appointed, identify person responsible for this application

Qualifications

level of academic appointment

Registered to practise physiotherapy in australia

Yes No

Other staff appointments

Name / Qualifications / Level of appoint-ment / Fraction EFT committed to physiotherapy program / Specify main teaching or research area and position

If no other staff yet appointed, identify proposed staffing profile and recruitment strategy and timeline for appointments

Position title / Level of appointment / Fraction EFT committed to physiotherapy program / Specify main teaching or research area and position / Planned commencement date

Other comments:

SECTION 5: FINANCIAL VIABILITY

Provide evidence of a five-year business plan, demonstrating the viability of the program and make clear the program-funding model. Projected income and expenditure should be identified including faculty charges/recurrent expenditure and costs associated with clinical education

Establishment costs for physical facilities and equipment, and expectations around education provider funding, and any program repayments should be made clear.

Provide evidence of your organisation’s internal approval to develop the program.

SECTION 6: PHYSICAL FACILITIES

Identify existing buildings/spaces and location(s) to be used, new facilities to be built and timelines for completion. Lecture and laboratory spaces should be discussed including consideration of student spaces off campus at clinical education sites.

CONTACT DETAILS

Signature Head Academic Unit:

Name:

Date:

Position title:

Contact details (address, email and phone):