XNB473 Sport and Exercise Science Practicum 3

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2027, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

This major work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunity is the focal point of this course, enabling you to fulfill the practicum requirements necessary to become a Sports Scientist as outlined by Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA). Through this WIL experience, you will demonstrate your capacity to implement sports science services in a professional manner within multidisciplinary sports organisation.

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. Reflect on your placement experience and identify your progress towards meeting the relevant ESSA standards of practice for an accredited sports scientist.
2. Communicate effectively in accordance with ESSA standards of practice when collaborating with service users, colleagues, and other health professionals.
3. Develop and exhibit a range of ‘soft’ skills, including interpersonal communication, to perform independently or collaboratively and facilitate effective engagement in diverse and multidisciplinary settings
4. Provide evidence of professional capabilities as a sports scientist with a readiness to practice in an ethical, culturally sensitive, inclusive and non-discriminatory manner.

Content

Learning Approaches

Practicum allows you to integrate theoretical knowledge with practical application in professional work environments. Adopting a professional mindset is critical to your development whilst on placement. Such a mindset requires you to demonstrate suitable knowledge, understandings, and skills, be a critical and discerning learner, and accept that feedback is imperative for your growth as a skilled and reflective professional.  

You will have several opportunities to interact and share your experiences and reflections with peers in intensive workshops. You will  work through scenarios, critique approaches and propose alternative ways a practitioner could approach collaboration, communication and culturally safe practice within the practicum experience.  

The unit involves real-world learning. Administration of the practicum process is supported by the WILS office personnel. You must demonstrate a professional commitment to engaging in the process of placement in the prescribed time frame as advised by WILS or be identified as at risk of failing. For information about the WILS of QUT, please visit www.careers.qut.edu.au/student/wil.jsp http://www.careers.qut.edu.au/student/wil.jsp. 

Your placement allocation is overseen by QUT staff and may occur in collaboration to accommodate your needs. Placement allocations are subject to change, and you must be flexible to accommodate any alterations. You may be required to attend placement across geographical locations within and outside the Brisbane metropolitan area. 

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Supervisors will be expected to provide you with regular, considered, and informative feedback. Formal feedback will be provided via the Midpoint Self-Evaluation and Endpoint Supervisor Evaluation tools. It would be expected that if you are at 'risk of failing' your placement, you would have received explicit feedback during the collaborative completion of your midpoint self-evaluation and been provided with specific strategies to improve. You will receive timely feedback from assessors and be given opportunities to modify responses if you do not attain a grading of 'satisfactory'.

Presentation of reflections for collaborative peer discussion of practicum experiences provides learning opportunities from outside your own practicum experience. 

Assessment

Overview

The assessment component of the course is through a:

• Reflection on practice linked to ESSA standards of practice
• Record of Student Engagement; and
• Practicum Evaluation and Logbook

All tasks are assessed as either being satisfactory or unsatisfactory. You will need to receive a grading of satisfactory for all the assessment items listed above in order to pass the unit.

Unit Grading Scheme

S (Satisfactory) / U (Unsatisfactory)

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Reflective Presentation

Submit written reflections using the 4Rs framework and linking them to the ESSA standards of practice: Select three scenarios that provide evidence of practice experiences where you have applied collaborative techniques within multidisciplinary teams, effective communication, and cultural competency.  Present one of these submitted scenarios to peers for collaborative discussion.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

The use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools is NOT authorised during this assessment. Unauthorised use may be treated as a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and appropriate penalties imposed. 

Assessment: Record of Student Engagement

The Record of Student Engagement details the total number of practicum hours and nature of the activities undertaken. Additionally, it requires you to reflect on how your practicum enhanced your professional capacities as a sports scientist.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

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

Assessment: Practicum evaluation and logbook

At the midpoint of your practicum, you will complete a self-evaluation with mandatory input from your supervisor. You will receive explicit feedback on your performance and be provided with specific strategies to address areas that need improvement. Your supervisor will complete an online evaluation of your performance against a set of criteria at the end of the practicum and verify a logbook of activities undertaken during the placement. It is expected that you and your supervisor will have an opportunity to discuss your results in depth.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

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

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

You must submit mandatory documentation that aligns with the expectations of QUT and other relevant external organisations (e.g. placement provider) as they apply to  practicum engagement in a specific discipline. These expectations will be conveyed to you by WILS.

If you do not submit your documents in a timely fashion then you may be prevented from completing your placement.

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.

Resources

Risk Assessment Statement

You should be aware of and abide by the health and safety requirements of the workplace. You are expected to undergo any induction or other training provided in the workplace for employees or visitors to the workplace as appropriate. See the Faculty Workplace Integrated Learning Canvas site for further details relating to prerequisite practicum requirements, including vaccination, working with children and Queensland Health expectations. It is your responsibility to ensure all mandatory documentation that you have submitted to WILS is current and complies with current unit requirements. 

Course Learning Outcomes

XN55 Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science (Honours)

1. Design and deliver advanced exercise assessments and programs to meet the specific needs of contemporary sport, exercise and health contexts.
   Relates to: Reflective Presentation, Record of Student Engagement, Practicum evaluation and logbook
2. Critically apply problem-solving, innovative thinking, and analytical reasoning to develop, implement and evaluate evidence-based interventions for diverse clients and stakeholders.
   Relates to: Reflective Presentation, Record of Student Engagement, Practicum evaluation and logbook
3. Communicate and collaborate effectively using a range of written, oral and digital formats to transfer complex knowledge to clients and sport and exercise professionals in an inclusive and culturally responsive manner.
   Relates to: Reflective Presentation, Record of Student Engagement, Practicum evaluation and logbook
4. Uphold the professional, legislative, and ethical standards of sport and exercise science expected of learner practitioners.
   Relates to: Reflective Presentation, Record of Student Engagement, Practicum evaluation and logbook