CSB521 Podiatric Medicine 1
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | CSB521 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | LSB235 and LQB201 |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
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| CSP student contribution | $1,192 |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $4,704 |
| International unit fee | $5,784 |
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2026, Kelvin Grove, Internal
| Unit code: | CSB521 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | LSB235 and LQB201 |
| Coordinator: | Nerylie Whitecross | n.whitecross@qut.edu.au |
Overview
This unit is a work integrated learning (WIL) unit in which you will complete pre-clinical skills simulations in the QUT Health Clinic. You will transition toward becoming a clinician as you are introduced to the clinical, theoretical and professional domains of podiatric medicine and clinical practice. The application of prior knowledge including anatomy, physiology, disease processes and the integration of new knowledge, is encouraged through a case-based learning approach. You will develop clinical skills, theoretical knowledge and an understanding of professional standards and protocols. You will also build essential skills such as evidence-based and reflective practice, a self-directed approach to learning and the ability to work as part of a team.
Please note that mandatory QUT Health Clinics induction 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:
- Apply relevant podiatry practice principles and theoretical concepts
- Apply clinical reasoning to develop a provisional diagnosis and develop management planning skills using a person-centred approach and adhering to the principles of healthcare stewardship
- Apply safe work principles to identify and implement safe and effective management options, including manual clinical skills, for simple foot pathologies, in accordance with ethical, professional and regulatory frameworks
- Using a person-centred approach, safely conduct objective assessments, taking into account cultural considerations, and using an evidence informed approach to interpret the findings
Content
The content is presented in five areas, each linked to the major learning outcomes for the unit.
- Professional and Ethical Practice in Podiatry
- Roles and responsibilities of the practitioner
- QUT podiatry clinic protocols - occupational health and safety, sterilisation, infection control, digital clinical systems (medical records) and emergency procedures
- Introduction to sustainability in healthcare practice, this will be covered both theoretically and in the applied clinical practice setting at the QUT health clinic
- Specialised Knowledge
- Infection control
- Vascular assessment
- Neurological assessment
- Musculoskeletal assessment
- Dermatological assessment
- Assessment of the older person
- Assessment of common conditions affecting the lower limb
- Footwear assessment
- Professionalism, ethics and law
- Communication Skills
- Use of culturally appropriate verbal and non-verbal communication skills to acquire and record important details of a patient medical and social history and use accepted formats to complete patient charts (eg clinical notes)
- Communication skills/use of terminology
- Cultural sensitivity, informed consent, patient confidentiality
- Physical examination and clinical skills
- Safe performance and interpretation of relevant tests of the foot and lower limb in the clinical setting. This includes instruction in foot and lower limb anatomy, surface anatomy and performance of the following clinical examinations:
- Vascular assessment
- Neurological assessment
- Musculoskeletal assessment
- Dermatological assessment
- Clinical/treatment skills
- Proficiency at an introductory level in:
- Scalpel techniques
- Nail care, including use of high speed podiatric drills
- Padding and strapping techniques
- Compliance with clinical protocols
- Proficiency at an introductory level in:
These learning outcomes address elements of the AHPRA's professional capabilities for podiatrists. Students are registered with the Podiatry Board of Australia which recognises these capabilities as the minimum standards for professional practice. For more information, please refer to Podiatry Board of Australia.
Learning Approaches
This second year unit is the first substantive student experience you will have in podiatry practice. 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. Your 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 examinations and clinical skills. Workshops and resources developed by the Student Success Group are embedded within this unit to support your success in performance-based clinical exams.
Your student cohort forms the initial patient group for development of the practical skills aided by the use of foot models. You will be working in pairs with fellow students, and this will provide the opportunity for you to gain regular feedback from your peers on your communication, physical assessment, and management skills. Communication skills within teams and with other professionals are developed by requiring you to use professional communication with peers and supervisors.
This unit requires your participation in pre-clinical skills simulations within the QUT Health Clinics, and any absence will reduce the opportunity for development of your professional capabilities. Mandatory requirements for Work Integrated Learning (WIL) must be met in order to participate in these clinical sessions, as outlined in 'Unit requirements'.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
You are provided with these formative assessment opportunities for feedback on formative and summative items:
* Online case scenarios in preparation for the case study assessment item.
* Weekly verbal feedback from staff and peers in practical and clinical sessions regarding the development of skills in preparation for the case study and clinical skills exam.
* Online formative quizzes during the semester in preparation for the final theory exam.
* Generic comments to the cohort via QUT Canvas with reference to the written examination
Assessment
Overview
The learning outcomes in this unit address elements of AHPRA's professional capabilities for podiatrists. The Podiatry Board of Australia recognises these competencies 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 be required to show evidence that you have safely completed a number of simulated practical based tasks within the clinical environment. Throughout the semester you will gain weekly formative feedback on your performance from your clinical supervisors to progressively work towards the final workbook submission (late semester). The second assessment (OSCE) will assess your ability to safely conduct objective assessments using a person-centred approach and your clinical reasoning and management planning skills in the applied clinical environment. The third assessment (written examination) will occur in the central examination period and will assess your understanding of relevant podiatry practice principles and theoretical concepts.
As assessment items one and two, specifically relate to the assessment of the AHPRA's professional capabilities for podiatrists, these assessment items are a threshold component of the unit.
Threshold assessment conditions
In this unit, for you to be eligible to receive a passing grade, threshold assessment conditions apply. If you do not achieve the pass level for an assessment task you are able to make one resubmission of this work for the minimum pass level, only when their 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.
CSB521 Podiatric Medicine 1 is a prerequisite for CSB522 Podiatric Medicine 2. You must pass CSB521 Podiatric Medicine 1 to progress to CSB522 Podiatric Medicine 2.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Pre-clinical skills demonstration
You will be required to demonstrate evidence of your progressive attainment towards meeting the podiatry professional capabilities and learning outcomes in this unit, ensuring safety to practice in future clinical placement units. Your scheduled learning activities will enable you to develop foundational skills for podiatry practice, and you will have 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 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: OSCE
An objective structured clinical exam (OSCE) will be employed to assess your professional practice, manual clinical skills and your ability to apply safe work principles in the QUT Health Clinic and compliance with professional and regulatory frameworks. During the assessment you will be required to demonstrate that you can safely conduct objective assessments, using a person-centred approach and use an evidence informed approach to interpret the findings. Your ability to safely implement effective management options for simple foot pathologies using appropriate podiatric instruments and materials will be assessed.
The use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is prohibited during this assessment.
Threshold Assessment:
Threshold conditions apply. If you do not achieve the 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: Theory exam
You will be required to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of relevant podiatry practice principles and theoretical concepts. Format of questions will include multiple-choice and short-answer questions, with application to clinical case scenarios.
The use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is prohibited during this 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 following 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
CS44 Bachelor of Podiatry
Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella, Pertussis vaccinations in addition to uniform and suitable footwear, First Aid and CPR Certificate that includes AED (Automated External Defibrillation) and anaphylaxis training, blue card and podiatry instruments kit.
$1000-$1500
Resources
Students are required to meet the uniform requirements for the QUT Podiatry Clinic (including compliant footwear) and purchase an individual podiatry instruments kit.
The primary learning resource will be the textbook listed below. Additional learning resources will be outlined to supplement this text will be provided throughout the semester via the unit Canvas site. Students are encouraged to curate and critically apply open educational resources from relevant and appropriate online sources.
Full details of costs and choices of suppliers are on the unit and/or Health Clinics Canvas page.
Resource Materials
Recommended text(s)
Burrow,J.G,, and et al. (2020). Neale's disorders of the foot. (9th Edition). Elsevier.
Yates, B., & Merriman, L. M. (Eds.). (2009). Merriman's assessment of the lower limb. Elsevier Health Sciences.
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
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.CS44 Bachelor of Podiatry
- Critically evaluate and integrate specialised discipline knowledge of body systems, pathology, podiatric medicine and therapeutics in real-world settings.
Relates to: Theory exam - 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: OSCE - 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, OSCE
CS46 Bachelor of Podiatry (Honours)
- Critically evaluate and integrate advanced specialised knowledge of body systems, pathology, podiatric medicine and therapeutics in real-world settings.
Relates to: Theory exam - Employ research skills in parallel with 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: OSCE - 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, OSCE