Unit rationale, description and aim
Accredited exercise physiologists (AEPs) must be able to articulate, justify and defend their clinical reasoning across diverse healthcare settings and populations – capabilities that extend beyond the clinical skills developed through supervised placement alone.
This unit runs concurrently with the three clinical experience units (EXSC642, EXSC643, either EXSC646 or EXSC683), providing structured opportunities for students to integrate knowledge and experiences across clinical domains, develop advanced clinical reasoning frameworks, and build the professional communication, advocacy and reflective practice skills essential for independent practice.
Through progressive learning activities, students critically analyse the AEP scope of practice and professional standards, apply clinical reasoning to complex case management, evaluate gaps between evidence and practice, and develop culturally responsive, person-centred approaches to service delivery across diverse populations and communities. Students are supported to synthesise learning from placement experiences, engage in interprofessional dialogue, and develop the professional identity and self-awareness necessary for ethical, reflective and culturally responsive practice.
The aim of this unit is to prepare students for entry-level practice as work-ready accredited exercise physiologists who can critically reason, communicate effectively and deliver equitable, person-centred exercise physiology services.
Campus offering
No unit offerings are currently available for this unit.Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
Analyse the role and scope of practice of exercise...
Learning Outcome 01
Apply advanced clinical reasoning to complex case ...
Learning Outcome 02
Communicate professional knowledge, clinical reaso...
Learning Outcome 03
Integrate culturally responsive, interprofessional...
Learning Outcome 04
Evaluate evidence-practice gaps in exercise physio...
Learning Outcome 05
Reflect critically on personal and professional de...
Learning Outcome 06
Content
Topics will include:
- Analysis of AEP scope of practice, professional standards, ethics, and healthcare system fundamentals.
- Review and application of clinical reasoning frameworks.
- Professional and interprofessional communication, collaboration, and case‑based methodology.
- Culturally responsive, trauma‑informed, and person‑centred practice across diverse populations.
- Analysis of evidence–practice gaps, advocacy, and equitable service delivery.
- Professional development: self‑care, stress management, mentoring, and preparation for professional viva/interview.
Assessment strategy and rationale
The unit employs a single, authentic capstone assessment – the comprehensive professional interview/viva voce – which evaluates students’ ability to integrate clinical reasoning, professional communication, ethical judgement and person-centred decision-making across all learning outcomes. As a summative measure of entry level readiness, the viva requires students to articulate and justify clinical decisions, respond to complex scenarios, and demonstrate reflective and professional competencies.
Formative preparation is embedded across intensive blocks, with scaffolded case discussions, structured feedback, and mock interviews in the earlier intensives supporting the progressive development of competence and confidence. This staged approach ensures students can refine their reasoning, communication and self-assessment skills prior to the final viva voce.
To pass this unit, a student must be assessed as competent in the comprehensive professional interview/viva assessment. Students will have a maximum of two (2) attempts permitted to pass this assessment.
Generative AI must not be used in assessments unless explicitly permitted in the assessment instructions.
Rationale for single assessment: As a capstone unit running concurrently with three clinical placement units, EXSC631 culminates in a single comprehensive professional interview/viva voce. This format replicates professional interview standards and provides the most authentic, holistic assessment of entry-level practice across all learning outcomes simultaneously.
Overview of assessments
To successfully pass the unit, students must demonstrate achievement of all learning outcomes and pass the hurdle task.
Assessment Task 1 * Comprehensive Professional In...
Assessment Task 1 * Comprehensive Professional Interview /Viva Voce
Enable students an opportunity to practice essential clinical competencies, articulate and justify clinical decisions, respond to complex scenarios using professional communication, and demonstrate reflective practice.
Hurdle Task*
*Hurdle Task: Students will have a maximum of two (2) attempts permitted to pass this assessment.
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
Learning in this unit is structured around authentic, practice-focused activities that help students consolidate their clinical reasoning, professional communication and reflective skills while concurrently engaged in placement. Students participate in interactive workshops, complex case discussions, collaborative problem-solving tasks and structured reflection, allowing them to make meaningful links between their placement experiences and evolving professional identity.
Consistent with adult learners’ preference for relevant, practical, problem-centred tasks and opportunities to draw on prior experience, learning activities emphasise autonomy, real-world application and ongoing feedback. Collaborative learning is encouraged through small-group case work, peer dialogue and opportunities to articulate and justify clinical decisions, recognising that shared meaning-making and interaction support deeper understanding.
The teaching strategy scaffolds students progressively toward the final professional interview/viva, providing formative opportunities to refine their reasoning, communication and judgement. This approach ensures alignment between learning experiences and the competencies required for safe, culturally responsive, person-centred practice, supporting students’ transition into work-ready accredited exercise physiologists.