Master of Musculoskeletal and Sports Physiotherapy
- Key features and benefits of the program
- Competency standard information
- How to apply
- Additional costs
- Teaching formats
- Clinical placement requirements
- Staff Profiles
- Testimonials from past students
- Graduate opportunities and professional recognition
- Useful links
- Further information
- IMPX homepage (program specific information)
- Download an IMPX brochure (PDF, 374KB)
- IMPX Alumni
The Master of Musculoskeletal and Sports Physiotherapy program is a
one-year coursework Masters degree with a focus on improving clinical
knowledge and skills. Classes commence in early to mid January and
finish in late November. As a combined Masters of both
Musculoskeletal and Sports Physiotherapy, the nine courses which make up
this program have been developed to meet the competency
requirements of the Charter of Educational Standards for
Musculoskeletal
Physiotherapy Australia (MPA) and
Sports Physiotherapy Australia (SPA),
two special interest groups of the
Australian Physiotherapy Association.
Contemporary health care in general, and Musculoskeletal and Sports
Physiotherapy in particular, requires therapists' reasoning and practice
to be critical, reflective, patient-centred and evidence-based. It is
the aim of our program to provide physiotherapists with specialised
musculoskeletal and sports physiotherapy training to enable them to
develop an advanced level of evidence-based practice.
Key Features and Benefits of the Masters Program
UniSA's Postgraduate Physiotherapy Program has a number of unique features including:
- Dedicated courses in:
- Evidence-based theory and practice (including instruction in completing a systematic review and critical appraisal of literature)
- Pain science and chronic pain management with opportunity to revise your anatomy through clinically related tutorials with real prosections
- Musculoskeletal and Sports physiotherapy
assessment and management including:
- Two dedicated courses in musculoskeletal and sports physiotherapy assessment skills with intensive supervision.
- Three dedicated courses in musculoskeletal and sports physiotherapy management skills and supervised practice with intensive supervision (student ratio of mostly 1:3 for clinical work). Students undertake 180 hours of supervised clinical practice across these three courses.
- Advanced education in clinical reasoning theory and practice with close supervision of clinical reasoning in practice through one to one discussion of patients.
- All practical, theory and supervised clinical sessions are supervised by leading musculoskeletal and/or sports physiotherapists with medical theory provided by Adelaide's leading medical orthopaedic and sports related medical specialists.
- A program that can be completed in one calendar year.
- Committed teaching staff who have reputations for their clinical expertise, publications and teaching both nationally and internationally.
Competency Standard Information
The Australian Physiotherapy Association has implemented a Charter of Educational Standards against which Masters programs in Sports and Manipulative or Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy are evaluated. All programs that can demonstrate to the Australian Physiotherapy Association that their programs satisfactorily address each of the competencies required by the relevant National Special Group (Sports Physiotherapy Australia or Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Australia) are recognised by the relevant National Special Group so that their graduates are eligible for titled membership (Tier 2) of that group.
Our program has been established to meet the competency criteria for both Sports Physiotherapy Australia (SPA) and Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Australia (MPA). The competency criteria for both groups are below. These are the competencies against which students are evaluated on final assessment for each course in Semester 2.
- Sports Physiotherapy Australia (SPA) competency standards (PDF, 67KB)
- Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Australia (MPA) competency standards (PDF, 65KB)
How to Apply
Domestic applicants should apply online via the SATAC Gradstart portal.
International applicants must complete the University's online application form (please note you will be prompted for some general information about yourself before you reach the registration section).
Additional documentation required:
- Official undergraduate physiotherapy transcripts revealing subjects studied and marks obtained (translated if not in English)
- Two referee reports (report forms included with above link to application)
- Curriculum Vitae outlining education (including Grade Point Average or Aggregate mark for undergraduate studies if available), work experience, continuing education gained since graduation (certificates of continuing education completed, translated if not in English, must be included) and experience with sport or sports physiotherapy.
Graduate Opportunities and Professional Recognition
There are a number of benefits of postgraduate study that relate to the qualification and the quality of the education. The Australian Physiotherapy Association has implemented a Charter of Educational Standards against which Masters' programs in Musculoskeletal and Sports Physiotherapy are evaluated. Our program has been established to meet the competency criteria for both Sports Physiotherapy Australia (SPA) and Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Australia (MPA) and was evaluated in 2005 where the review panel judged that ALL MPA and SPA competency standards were met and commended the program on the quality of its clinical supervision and use of recognised physiotherapy and medical experts in both clinical and theoretical teaching.
Perhaps the greatest benefit of postgraduate education is the improved clinical knowledge and skills leading to better patient outcomes and consequently greater patient and personal satisfaction. In Australia and most other countries, postgraduate education is also an advantage in gaining a senior position in major teaching hospitals and an enhancer for opportunities in private practice. If the postgraduate education includes sports specific training, this also creates significant work opportunities. Many of our Sports qualified Alumni have been successful in securing sports physiotherapy positions from amateur to elite levels across a wide range of sports internationally including Australian Rules Football, Soccer, Tennis, Netball, Gymnastics, Swimming, Water Polo, Dance, Circus, Downhill Skiing, Paralympic Sports - Winter and Summer Sports, Softball, Baseball, Cricket. Three of our graduates currently work at or with the Australian Institute of Sport and a number have been involved in Olympic Games and Paralympic Games teams.
Postgraduate education (i.e. Master degree) is also a requirement for titled membership of both Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Australia and Sports Physiotherapy Australia, both national special groups of the Australian Physiotherapy Association and for Stage 1 of a three tiered process for Specialisation for entrance to the Australian College of Physiotherapists.
The role of allied health professionals is evolving in response to workforce demands and the changing health needs of the community. Advanced Practice (AP) roles including triage and screening clinics conducted by allied health professionals are currently outside the scope of what is considered normal practice but within legislative boundaries for physiotherapists. These AP positions are already in place at major hospitals around Australia (and overseas). Graduates of our Master's program are currently fulfilling a number of these roles and our Master's education is considered an advantage to obtaining an AP position.
Lastly, Australia is a founding member of the International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Physical Therapists (IFOMPT). As such, Australian postgraduate programs, such as our Master of Musculoskeletal and Sports Physiotherapy, that meet the competency requirements of the Australian national special group Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Australia are recognised by IFOMPT. In addition, Australia is one of the founding members of a developing International Federation of Sports Physical Therapists (IFSPT) and again, our Master of Musculoskeletal and Sports Physiotherapy, will be eligible for titled membership of this new organisation.
Useful Links
Further Information
If you require any further information please email the Program Director, Mark Jones at mark.jones@unisa.edu.au.