Clinical Exercise & Rehabilitation (VUCER) placements

Clinical placements

As part of your exercise science study, you'll undertake hands-on training to help you understand the role exercise can play in managing the health of clients.

Training is under the supervision of ESSA approved supervisors, and is offered in two programs, according to your study level:

Apparently healthy populations: clinical placement for our undergraduate students, working with clients with no known injury or illness
Clinical populations: clinical placement for our masters students, working with clients with injuries and/or chronic disease.

Undergraduate clinical placement: Apparently healthy populations

Undergraduate students undertake their clinical placements working with ‘apparently healthy’ clients.

These clients have no known injury or illness, but may wish to improve their health and fitness or use exercise as a preventative health-management strategy.

This clinical placement will allow you to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to assess, prescribe and deliver exercise to this population.

You must complete at least 140 hours in this area before beginning other clinical placement hours related to further study in exercise physiology.

ESSA approved supervisors for apparently healthy clientele

The following ESSA approved supervisors are eligible to supervise and sign off the 140 hours with apparently healthy clientele:

80 hours (minimum) of supervision must be by one or more of the following:  

an accredited exercise scientist
an Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP)
an accredited sports scientist
an individual with a bachelor level degree or higher in exercise and sports science
an individual with an ASCA level 3 qualification where the placement is in a strength and conditioning context
a bachelor level or higher qualified physical education teacher with a major in physical education (in this instance, the practicum must be completed in a school setting).

60 hours (maximum) of supervision may include the following:

a qualified and experienced professional who holds a qualification (recognised or endorsed by a regulating authority such as a national association or AHPRA) for the activity they are supervising.

Students must list these hours under the 60 hours regardless of whether they are completing exercise assessment, prescription or delivery activities unless there is a co-supervision arrangement in place.

Examples for supervisors included under the 60 hours may include:

a qualified physiotherapist registered with AHPRA or APA
Certificate IV qualified personal trainer registered with Fitness Australia
a professional sporting coach with a coaching qualification and registration (e.g. level 3 cricket coach) from national sporting body (e.g. Cricket Australia)

All supervisors must have experience in the specific activity they are supervising.

For further information please refer to the ESSA guidelines.

Postgraduate clinical placement: Clinical populations

As a postgraduate student, you can begin placements in the areas of clinical exercise science and exercise rehabilitation once you've completed the following:

140 hours with 'apparently healthy' clientele
readiness exam
required placement documentation.

You must complete a total of 360 hours of placements in the following categories:

at least 200 hours across cardio/metabolic/musculoskeletal clientele
at least 100 hours across neurological/renal/respiratory/cancer/mental health clientele
a minimum of 60 approved 'other hours'.

Approved supervisors for clinical clientele

The following ESSA approved supervisors are eligible to supervise and sign off the 360 hours of clinical clientele:

an Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP) (minimum 200 hours)
a degree-qualified exercise physiologist
an ESSA-approved health professional.

360° tour of VUCER - Transcript

Clinical placement information & opportunities

Clinical placement information and upcoming clinical placement opportunities are announced via student email. Details about each particular placement and any required pre-requisites will be included.

Placement opportunities are advertised on an ongoing basis.

Prior to commencing placement you will need to:

complete the required placement preparation unit
provide all mandatory documents
sign a clinical placement contract
buy a clinical uniform
make work arrangements that fit in with your placements
pay for your own travel.

Pre-placement requirements

You'll need to complete a three-step process before you can commence Clinical Exercise & Rehabilitation (VUCER) placements.

Mandatory submission of four documents:
- police check (a Victorian police check is mandatory for all students, international police checks are require if applicable)
- Working with Children check
- CPR certificate
- First Aid Level 2.
CPD application.
Completion of placement preparation unit.

Contracts & logbooks

All internal and external placements completed within the VUCER placement program must be:

covered by a current Clinical Placement Contract
recorded in your ESSA clinical logbooks with accurate hours, which are approved and signed off by an ESSA–approved clinical supervisor. This includes the completion of the ESSA record of student engagement.

Timing & rosters

Placements can take place throughout the year, including during weekends, public holidays, semester breaks and exam periods.

You're expected to change any paid-employment hours to fit in with your clinical placement roster.

You need a valid reason to miss your allocated placement. Where appropriate, a medical certificate or a signed statutory declaration needs to be submitted to the Clinical Placement Coordinator and/or Clinical Practice Administrator within one week of absence.

Internal placements

Internal placements are available throughout the year at the VUCER clinic. Opening hours differ from semester to semester during the summer break (see below).

External placements

Timing and rostering of external placements depend on the needs of the host placement organisation.

Clinical uniforms

Unless otherwise instructed by your host organisation, you will wear our clinical uniform, which can be ordered through the University Co-op bookshop. Name badges are ordered through a separate company.

The VUCER uniform is:

top: black polo top with 'Clinical Exercise' written on the right side.
pants: black, professional-looking trousers (please don't wear jeans, cargo pants, overalls, dungarees, miniskirts or hot pants).
socks: black; if you're placed with an exercise instruction, you can wear sports socks.
shoes: black enclosed-toe boots, loafers or court shoes.
stethoscope: a personal stethoscope of any brand is required. Make sure you bring your stethoscope to internal placements at the VUCER clinic, or you won't be able to take part.
student ID badge.

Career & Professional Development (CPD) placement contract

All students attending placements are required to apply for a Career & Professional Development (CPD) placement contract, prior to their allocated placement.

The contract system formally recognises your involvement in a clinical placement contract for both internal and external placements.

It provides for public liability insurance cover for students undertaking course work at Victoria University and at host placement organisations and industry partners.

This contract must be approved and signed by all relevant parties prior to the start of the clinical placement.