Unit rationale, description and aim

Experienced health professionals focusing on delivering rehabilitation or restoration for people who require complex care require advanced knowledge and skills to adopt holistic and interprofessional approaches to optimise outcomes and enhance participation. HLSC632 builds on the knowledge gained in HLSC630 providing a range of complex cases, purposefully designed to enhance knowledge, encourage reflection and facilitate autonomous and collaborative learning. The cases aim to draw out the complex interplay of factors related to the person’s health condition, activity, participation levels, and contextual factors such as socioeconomic and culture using a universal framework to facilitate interprofessional discussion, as well as facilitate discussion on current practice and innovative management. Cases and activities have been designed to examine the complex interplay of factors related to foster holistic discipline and interprofessional management with the purpose of maximising outcomes across the continuum of care and increasing capacity for participation in daily activities, work and leisure within a person-centred framework. Students will practice communicating clinical decision-making processes, critically analysing delivery of their services, and those provided by others, thereby promoting collaboration for current and future academic and clinical practice. This unit aims to encourage students to incorporate learning into clinical reasoning processes, to enhance collaboration with people with a range of complex health conditions, their families and other interprofessional team members, to optimise outcomes across the continuum of care.

2025 10

Campus offering

No unit offerings are currently available for this unit.

Prerequisites

HLSC630 Holistic Rehabilitation and Restoration 1

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

Critically analyse how decision making and holisti...

Learning Outcome 01

Critically analyse how decision making and holistic outcomes for people requiring rehabilitation/restoration for complex conditions across the continuum of care are influenced by the health condition, including identified factors related to body structure/function, activity and participation, dynamically interacting with contextual factors, such as socioeconomic, cognition, behaviour, communication and culture (including for those from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island (ATSI) backgrounds).

Apply the principles of holistic, person-centred, ...

Learning Outcome 02

Apply the principles of holistic, person-centred, evidence-informed and innovative contemporary approaches, to synthesise and/or evaluate discipline and interprofessional assessment and intervention strategies, aimed at achieving optimal outcomes for people with complex conditions requiring rehabilitation/restoration across the continuum of care.

Effectively communicate decision-making processes ...

Learning Outcome 03

Effectively communicate decision-making processes verbally and/or in writing to a diverse audience adopting holistic, interprofessional, collaborative strategies, taking local, national and international perspectives into account while demonstrating an awareness of person-centred practice.

Content

Topics will include:

In depth study related to Clinical presentations for a range of pathologies

  • Use of the International Classification of Functioning and Disability (ICF) as a universal framework to facilitate both autonomous and interprofessional/interdisciplinary collaboration. Factors of interest can be identified and organised relevant to individuals/target populations with various health conditions requiring rehabilitation/restoration including: 
  • Factors related to body/ structure and function such as relevant pathophysiology; symptomatology; primary and secondary impairments; disease progression/recovery mechanisms associated with various health conditions;
  • Factors related to the activities people do and the way in which they participate including relevant activity limitations and participation restrictions;
  • Factors related to contextual factors such as environmental factors related to physical, social and attitudinal environment in which people live and conduct their lives (e.g., built environment; social attitudes) and personal factors (e.g. social, communication, behaviour, economic, education and cultural factors including awareness and sensitivity);
  • The complex interplay and dynamic interaction of the various domains of the ICF related to people with various health conditions and the influence on clinical decision making and holistic outcomes across the continuum of care.
  • Holistic interdisciplinary assessment and intervention strategies, including discipline specific role within the team, such as:
  • Assessment and clinical reasoning/decision making; reflection on selection, justification and application of processes used including outcome measurement and collaborative goal setting;
  • Intervention strategies and clinical reasoning/decision/making; reflection on discipline specific and holistic (team) interventions and approaches;
  • Identifying and reflecting on the roles of the team of key stakeholders collaborating with the person with a health condition across the continuum of care to optimise outcomes at each stage identifying coordination/role overlap influences;
  • The influence on assessment, intervention strategies and clinical decision making of:
  • evidence informed practice;
  • person centred practice – patient preference;
  • interprofessional and interdisciplinary practice and processes;
  • innovative, contemporary approaches to practice including self-management;
  • Clinical decision-making processes including the impact of various clinical reasoning factors such as service delivery models; service specific considerations; stage of the continuum of care; funding, legislation, clinician experiences etc.
  • Communication of, and reflection on, clinical decision making and reasoning processes including in the context of increasing focus on:
  • Holistic and person-centred practice including coordination across the continuum of care including transitions across various health and participation settings;
  • interprofessional/interdisciplinary practice;
  • local, national and international perspectives.

Assessment strategy and rationale

HLSC632 assessments have been purposefully designed with authentic , real-world relevance for students aiming to replicate aspects of clinical practice and real-life scenarios. The assessment strategy incorporates a broad range of tasks aligned to andragogic principles of adult learning facilitating choice and self-direction for the post graduate student. Furthermore, the assessment tools have been designed from an “Assessment for Learning” approach in order to provide evidence for judgement of learning, while also reinforcing, facilitating and supporting learning and application of learning. The broad range of assessment activities encourages application of learning to practice and embeds reflection on decision making and clinical reasoning; problem solving and critical reflection on advanced theoretical knowledge and contemporary and holistic, interprofessional industry relevant approaches. In addition to assessing enhanced patient-centred approaches, a major focus of the assessment items, is the ability to reflect on personal and collaborative practice, and communicate reflections, evidence informed reasoning and decision making. 

In Assessment task 1, students will use example/s from their clinical practice or provided case stories if necessary, to demonstrate advanced professional and theoretical knowledge, critical analysis, synthesis and evaluation. The task will encourage reflection on, and communication of, their personal and collaborative practice pertaining to optimising client outcomes for participation across relevant settings. Assessment task 2 provides students with the opportunity to contribute to collaborative inter-professional learning; to expand and apply knowledge, insights and experiences gained from directed and self-directed learning and collaborative discussions; and retrospectively reflect on learning gained. In Assessment task 3 students apply advanced knowledge of a selected topic for a specific niche group, including critique of service gaps and options, an understanding of the holistic management required for optimal client-centred outcomes, and planned strategies to meet these needs.

These assessments have been specifically timed to align with the advanced level of professional and theoretical knowledge, enhanced critical analysis, collaboration and professional presentation modes developed throughout the unit. Assessment tasks may be delivered and assessed locally with moderation according to University Policies and Procedures. All assessments will be submitted electronically.

Overview of assessments

Written assignment Enables students to, apply enh...

Written assignment

Enables students to, apply enhanced theoretical and professional knowledge, reflect on personal and  collaborative practice, and communicate clinical decision-making processes

Weighting

40%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2, LO3

Collaborative Interprofessional learning Enables ...

Collaborative Interprofessional learning

Enables students to advance their ability to engage in collaborative learning through synchronous and asynchronous activities and enhance collegial communication

Weighting

25%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2, LO3

Seminar Presentation: Enables students to develop...

Seminar Presentation:

Enables students to develop the ability to apply advanced theoretical and professional knowledge, and communicate reflections, evidence based reasoning and decision making, in a professional presentation

Weighting

35%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2, LO3

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

Teaching and learning strategies used in this unit aim to support students to meet the learning outcomes of this unit as well as to meet broader course learning outcomes. The learning approaches applied in this unit are flexible and allow students the opportunity to critically analyse, discuss and explore various contemporary approaches to holistic rehabilitation and restoration and be guided to increasing interprofessional collaboration and person-centred practice.

This unit is offered multi-mode, or online (normally for special cohorts), utilising an online learning platform with supported tutorials. Thus, the learning strategy includes both synchronous and asynchronous learning activities to encourage both learner centred and interprofessional collaboration through encouraging engagement in extended dialogues in various formats. The learning activities enable the students’ active participation within a community of inquiry, in collaboration with interprofessional members of the learning community. Purposefully designed online and industry relevant activities promote inquiry-based and work integrated learning principles, while encouraging critical thinking to enhance knowledge, understanding and reflection. Learning and teaching strategies for this postgraduate unit are based on a blend of constructivism, social constructivism, and experiential learning.  The fundamental aim is for students to translate learning into their real-world practice in the area of rehabilitation and/or restoration across the continuum of care, in collaboration with key other stakeholders. 

A blend of case-based and problem-based learning activities are provided pre-tutorial. The cases stories in the learning strategy are used both to drive learning, and as exemplars for learning, with the aim of developing higher order thinking and reasoning including guiding students towards innovative reasoning and practice for holistic person-centred care. Students will be encouraged to learn how to learn and problem solve through learning activities proposed.

Representative texts and references

Representative texts and references

Edmans, J., Preston, J., & College of Occupational Therapists. Specialist Section Neurological Practice, issuing body. (2016). Occupational therapy and neurological conditions. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Herdman, S., & Clendaniel, R. A. (2014). Vestibular rehabilitation (Fourth edition). F. A. Davis Company.

Khan, F., & Ng, L. (2009). Guillain-Barre syndrome: an update in rehabilitation. International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 16(8), 451–460. https://doi.org/10.12968/ijtr.2009.16.8.43483.

Ko, H.-Y. (2019). Management and Rehabilitation of Spinal Cord Injuries (1st ed. 2019.). Springer Singapore : Imprint: Springer.

Lennon S, Ramdharry G, Verheyden G. (2018) Physical management for neurological conditions. 4th Edition. Elsevier.

Lundy-Ekman, L. (2018). Neuroscience: Fundamentals for rehabilitation 5th ed. St. Louis, Mo. Elsevier.

National Stroke Foundation (2017). Stroke Clinical Guidelines. Melbourne, Australia. National Stroke Foundation (2010). Stroke Clinical Guidelines. Melbourne, Australia.

O'Sullivan, S. B., & Schmitz, T. J. (2016). Improving functional outcomes in physical rehabilitation (Second edition.). F.A. Davis Company.

Van den Berg, B., Walgaard, C, Drenthen, J., Fokke, C, Jacobs, B. and van Doorn, P. (2014): Guillain-Barre syndrome: pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. Nature Reviews Neurology, 10, 469-482.

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