CSB525 Podiatric Medicine and Clinical Practice

Unit Outline: Flexible Period - 10A 2026, Kelvin Grove, Internal (Start Date: 13 Jul 2026)

Overview

Podiatric Medicine and Clinical Practice has been designed for students entering the graduate entry podiatry course who have completed a degree in a health-related field. The unit introduces the knowledge and clinical skills required for podiatry students who are commencing patient management. It is a 24 credit point unit equivalent to half of a full-time study workload.

You will acquire foundational knowledge and skills in the areas of biomedical science (microbiology and lower limb anatomy), podiatric clinical biomechanics and gait analysis, podiatric medicine, and podiatric clinical practice. The unit develops the application of your knowledge and skills in these areas to enable your transition into the third year of the Bachelor of Podiatry the following semester.

This unit is a work integrated learning (WIL) unit in which you will complete clinical placements in the QUT Podiatry Clinic.

Please note that mandatory elements may start in Orientation week.

This is a designated unit which is essential to your course progression. Designated units include professional experience units, units requiring the development of particular skills, and units requiring demonstration of certain personal qualities. If you fail to achieve a satisfactory level of performance in a designated unit, you may be excluded from enrolment or will be put on academic probation. If you fail a designated unit twice within your course, you may be excluded. Supplementary assessment is not available on designated units.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Apply specialised knowledge of podiatric practice and employ clinical reasoning skills to case-based problem solving.
2. Safely conduct and interpret podiatric clinical assessments in a culturally responsive and person-centred manner
3. Apply an evidence-based approach to plan assessments and formulate and negotiate person-centred and culturally responsive treatment plans, considering the patient’s context and presenting complaint, while adhering to the principles of healthcare stewardship.
4. Apply safe work principles within relevant ethical, professional, and regulatory frameworks to select and implement appropriate management strategies for common foot pathologies, utilising manual clinical skills
5. Critique and modify clinical practice after engaging in self-evaluation, peer assisted learning and self-directed learning

Content

Learning Approaches

The integration of theory and practice is achieved by linking lectures and tutorials to teaching activities in the podiatry clinic. Teaching methods include lectures, discussion groups, self-directed learning, peer-assisted learning and clinical practice (Work Integrated Learning). This unit utilises contemporary approaches to learning and teaching in a clinical environment that places you at the centre of all clinical activities, clinical reasoning and reflection to build your skills for employability.

This unit is the first Work Integrated Learning unit experience in the Bachelor of Podiatry - Graduate Entry. To assist with the integration of the learning within the workplace environment, tutorials are based around clinical cases and followed by critical discussions of cases. The principles of quality, safety and professional practice in health care are explained in lectures, which present the new knowledge you need to begin to work within the podiatry context. Evidence-based practice is explained and applied to the selection of physical examination and treatment techniques that would be considered most appropriate for the management of the clinical cases presented. The transition to professional practice is facilitated through learning activities in the podiatry clinic and the podiatry skills laboratories. These sessions use simulations to assist you to acquire physical examination skills and clinical skills.

In consultation with staff, you will be required to undertake self-audit of performance against relevant professional capabilities for podiatrists, with a view to goal setting. This activity will guide your learning throughout the unit.

This unit requires compulsory attendance at on-campus clinical placement (45 hours), and any absence from clinical placements will reduce the opportunity for development of your professional capabilities. Where absence is due to special or unforeseeable circumstances independently supported by documentation (e.g. medical certificate), make-up clinical placement days will be facilitated wherever possible. In certain circumstances, involving a substantial number of missed clinical hours, you may be advised to seek withdrawal from the unit without academic penalty. Standard course progression cannot be guaranteed following withdrawal from a clinical placement unit (or fail grade).

You must comply with the policies and procedures of the clinic at all times, and you will be required to sign a declaration form stating that you have read and understood all policies and procedures. Failure to comply with relevant policies and procedures may lead to exclusion from the clinics and inability to complete the unit.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

You are provided with these formative assessment opportunities:

• Online case scenarios with feedback in class time
• Weekly verbal feedback from staff in practical and clinical sessions regarding the development of skills in preparation for your clinical skills exam
• Completion of weekly clinical self-evaluation forms
• Formative feedback provided in orthoses sessions on negative casting, positive casts and functional foot orthoses (including peer assessment and feedback)
• Online quizzes during the semester in preparation for the final theory exam

Assessment

Overview

The learning outcomes in this unit address elements of the professional capabilities for podiatrists. The Podiatry Board of Australia recognises these capabilities as the minimum standards for professional practice. As such, this unit contains specified threshold assessment conditions. 

There are three assessment items in this unit that will enable you to demonstrate achievement of the unit learning outcomes. In the first assessment (workbook), you will show evidence of reflective practice and safe completion of simulated practical tasks within the clinical environment. Your second assessment item is a clinical placement performance and logbook of your clinical hours. Thirdly, you will complete a written examination to demonstrate your integration of theoretical concepts.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Pre-clinical skills demonstration

You will be required to demonstrate specific pre-clinical skills as evidence of your learning in this unit, ensuring safety to commence patient treatment within the QUT Health Clinics. Your scheduled learning activities will enable you to progressively develop these foundational skills, and you will receive weekly formative feedback from relevant teaching staff.

Through an extended period of supervised practice, you will demonstrate your ability to safely and effectively undertake the following: effective professional communication (including terminology used in clinical records); safe and ethical patient assessment using applied regional anatomy knowledge; practical skills and techniques used for podiatry treatment (nail and skin care, including safe use of sharps, incident management and sterilisation procedures), in accordance with ethical, professional and regulatory frameworks.

This assessment is completed during your scheduled practical, tutorial and clinic sessions.

The use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is prohibited in this assessment.

Threshold Assessment:

Threshold conditions apply. If you do not achieve the pass level for each demonstration component, you will be offered one re-attempt for the minimum pass level, only when your achieved mark/grade is within 10% (or 1 grade) of the pass level for the assessment item. You are advised to seek feedback on your submission from the unit coordinator prior to resubmission. Supplementary assessment is not permitted if you fail this unit because of a failure to meet the special conditions of assessment.

Assessment: Placement Performance and Logbook

As a student practitioner, you will be required to undertake the supervised assessment and treatment of patients in the clinical environment. You will be required to elicit a medical history, demonstrate competence in completing the patient's medical record, conduct relevant screening tests, apply podiatric theory to the diagnosis of the patient's foot condition(s), demonstrate competence in infection control procedures and clinical skills and provide patient care. In preparation for this assessment, you will engage in guided self-reflection on your clinical performance. You will receive feedback on a formative assessment in week 8 to aid your preparation.

The use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is prohibited during the Placement Performance.

You will also submit a logbook of your clinical experiences throughout the semester. In this log you will demonstrate self-awareness through reflection on your experiences and supervisor and peer feedback, to identify learning needs and develop plans for lifelong learning.  In your logbook you will document completion of the required number of clinical hours (45 hours) and this will be recorded in InPlace.

The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised for the Logbook component. See the relevant assessment details page for specific guidelines.

Threshold Assessment:

In order to receive a grade for this assessment item, fulfilment of all clinical hours must be documented in your logbook and you must achieve the minimum pass level as indicated by a criterion-referenced assessment rubric mapped to AHPRA’s professional capabilities for podiatrists. You will be eligible for one reattempt at the minimum pass level, only when your achieved mark/grade is within 10% (or 1 grade) of the pass level. You are advised to seek feedback on your performance from the unit coordinator prior to the reattempt

Assessment: Examination (Theory)

A final examination will be used to assess theoretical knowledge about all aspects of the unit content. Question types will include multiple choice, short answer, and an essay response to a case study.

The use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is prohibited during this assessment.

Threshold Assessment:

Threshold assessment conditions
If you do not achieve the pass level for each assessment task you are able to make one resubmission of this work for the minimum pass level, only when your achieved mark/grade is within 10% (or 1 grade) of the pass level for the assessment item. You are advised to seek feedback on your submission from the unit coordinator prior to resubmission. Supplementary assessment is not permitted if you fail this unit because of a failure to meet the special conditions of assessment.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.

The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Requirements to Study

Requirements

The Health Work Integrated Learning Support (WILS) team supports checking of mandatory documentation required for all student clinical placements.

Failure to comply with these requirements will result in your exclusion from clinical activities. 

• Blue Card: A blue card confirms that you have passed a screening of your criminal history (Working with Children Check) and have been approved to work with children and young people. For more information on the blue card and how to apply please visit the QUT website (https://qutvirtual4.qut.edu.au/group/student/jobs-and-careers/get-work-experience/blue-cards).
• Vaccine Preventable Diseases Evidence:  It is a mandatory requirement for students to be vaccinated and evidence immune serology against a number of vaccine preventable diseases. For more information, please refer to QUT Health students placements website.  
• First Aid Certificate: You are required to have a current Senior First Aid Certificate before you begin your podiatry placement. There are a variety of First Aid certificate courses that are delivered by approved providers and duly authorised under the Ambulance Service Act 1991. 

All documentation needs to be provided to Work Integrated Learning Support (via InPlace) before the commencement of clinical placements.

Specific disclosure: Students will be required to disclose specific personal or medical information where: 

• A medical condition or medication use may increase the risk of injury to yourself or others (e.g. use of sedative medications or communicable disease). 
• Adjustments may be required for a disability, injury, health condition or pregnancy (e.g. access to facilities, manual tasks such as scalpel work or orthosis fabrication, working with chemicals). 
  

Please seek advice about disclosure from your Disability Advisor. Refer to Disability Services homepage for information. 

Further information regarding WIL policies and procedures, such as health and safety, risk management, confidentiality, intellectual property, disclosure and insurance, are available via the QUT Health student placements website. 

Blue Card

A blue card is required to complete this unit. A blue card confirms that you have passed a screening of your criminal history (the Working with Children Check) and have been approved to work with children and young people. For more information on the blue card and how to apply please visit the QUT website.

Costs

Students are required to meet the specific course costs associated with CS44 Bachelor of Podiatry, including clinic uniform and suitable footwear, podiatry instruments kit, immunisations and CPR/first aid certificate.

Resources

Resource Materials

Recommended text(s)

Burrow, J. G. et al. (2020) Neale’s disorders of the foot and ankle (9th Edition). J. Gordon Burrow et al. (eds.). Amsterdam: Elsevier.

Levine, D., Richards, J., and Whittle, M.W. (Eds.). (2012). Whittle's gait analysis. (5th Edition). Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, Elsevier.

Merriman, L.M. (2012). Assessment of the lower limb (3rd Edition). Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier.

Safety and protective equipment

Podiatry Clinic uniform and compliant footwear

Other

Podiatry instruments kit

Risk Assessment Statement

As a health practitioner you are responsible for the safe provision of health care, in compliance with various regulations. The management of risk associated with Workplace Integrated Learning is the responsibility of all stakeholders. Students have a responsibility to minimise risk to themselves, other staff and clients while on clinical placements both on campus and off campus.

This unit will involve lab-based and clinic-based sessions in on campus clinic facilities. You will be required to attend a mandatory induction session in Orientation week and/or at the commencement of the semester, where the safety precautions to be observed while working in the labs and clinic will be outlined. You are required to read the Clinic Policies and Procedures documents, and sign forms indicating that you have read and understood the material contained in these manuals. Please direct any questions regarding safe working procedures to the unit coordinator. Protective clothing outlined in the Policies and Procedures documentation must be worn at all times in the laboratories (e.g. face mask, goggles/face shield, lab coat) along with closed in footwear and the clinic uniform during all clinic sessions. This unit involves contact with patients, and risks associated with the clinical environment (e.g. scalpel injury and exposure to patients with a blood borne virus) are outlined in the policies and procedures manuals for podiatry students. You are expected to comply with these procedures and guidelines at all times.

Course Learning Outcomes

CS44 Bachelor of Podiatry

1. Critically evaluate and integrate specialised discipline knowledge of body systems, pathology, podiatric medicine and therapeutics in real-world settings.
   Relates to: Examination (Theory)
2. Employ information literacy, evidence-based professional reasoning and shared decision-making to safely and effectively undertake person-centred management for diverse lower limb conditions through assessment, investigation, diagnosis and evaluation.
   Relates to: Placement Performance and Logbook, Examination (Theory)
3. Implement safe and effective assessment and management of patients, using highly developed clinical and technical skills, exercising reflexive, ethical, sustainable and culturally responsive practice, within regulatory and legal frameworks.
   Relates to: Pre-clinical skills demonstration, Placement Performance and Logbook
4. Practice effective multimodal communication and collaboration, establishing inclusive partnerships with patients, health professionals and relevant stakeholders, leveraging digital capabilities and interprofessional referral pathways to positively impact individual and community health outcomes, applying the full scope of podiatric practice.
   Relates to: Placement Performance and Logbook
5. Uphold, promote and advocate for the culture and practice of safety, quality assurance and risk management in diverse health care environments and populations, while recognizing personal accountability and responsibility for sustainable and culturally safe systems, and embracing diverse perspectives and innovative health care solutions.
   Relates to: Pre-clinical skills demonstration
6. Leads self and others in reflective practice and lifelong learning, recognizing and addressing own biases, seeking and responding to feedback, engaging in evidence-based practice, fostering a culture of peer support and mentoring, alongside a curious, agile, resilient and entrepreneurial mindset.
   Relates to: Pre-clinical skills demonstration, Placement Performance and Logbook