Year

2021

Credit points

20

Campus offering

No unit offerings are currently available for this unit

Prerequisites

EXSC510 Strength and Conditioning for Performance and Rehabilitation

Incompatible

EXSC654 Major Research Project (Part A) ;EXSC655 Major Research Proj (Part B)

Unit rationale, description and aim

Professional practice is an integral aspect of the transition from learner to practitioner. It provides students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge, understanding and skills in a work and/or organisational context. This unit delivers a 'capstone' experience for students by providing a professional placement in a high performance sport organization. Students engage in a work environment to provide experiential contexts for the development and application of their learnings. The aim of the unit is to develop in students professional/workplace skills and networks to meet the goals of the professional or industry body. The experience also enhances the reciprocal flow of knowledge and its application between the University and the workplace or community setting in which the student is placed. The unit is designed to create a safe experience in peer review because of the importance of maintaining standards of professional and ethical practice in the workplace.

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.

On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

LO1 - Apply specialised knowledge and skills from academic study in professional practice and/or research in the high performance sport environment (GA5, GA9, GA10)  

LO2 - Display appropriate standards of social responsibility and ethical conduct in the professional high performance setting (GA1, GA2, GA3, GA4)  

LO3 - Critically reflect on practice and evaluate areas for professional development to improve your professional practice skills (GA3, GA4, GA9, GA10) 

LO4 - Collaborate effectively in the multidisciplinary environment of high performance sport (GA1, GA2, GA3, GA9, GA10)  

Graduate attributes

GA1 - demonstrate respect for the dignity of each individual and for human diversity 

GA2 - recognise their responsibility to the common good, the environment and society 

GA3 - apply ethical perspectives in informed decision making

GA4 - think critically and reflectively 

GA5 - demonstrate values, knowledge, skills and attitudes appropriate to the discipline and/or profession 

GA9 - demonstrate effective communication in oral and written English language and visual media 

GA10 - utilise information and communication and other relevant technologies effectively.

Content

Students will be required to:  

 

  • engage in experiences of professional service or workplace practice  
  • clearly articulate the responsibilities and mutual expectations of the student, academic supervisor, and workplace or placement supervisor  
  • undertake structured activities and deliver specified outcomes, as developed and agreed upon by the student, academic supervisor, and workplace or placement supervisor  
  • integrate, where applicable, the knowledge and skills gained through academic study to the practice setting  
  • be informed about their personal responsibilities for occupational health and safety during placement in a professional/work setting  
  • contribute in a socially responsible and ethical manner to the goals of the organization and its stakeholders in which they are placed  

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

The learning and teaching strategies that comprise this unit of work-integrated learning recognises and utilises contributions from both academic and practice settings. These include active learning, case-based learning, individual and group activities, web-based learning, and reflective/critical thinking activities. This range of strategies will provide students with appropriate access to required knowledge and understanding of unit content, and experiences to apply this as well as develop practical skills relevant to the high performance sport industry. These strategies will allow students to meet the aim, learning outcomes and graduate attributes of the unit, as well as professional practice standards. Learning and teaching strategies will reflect respect for the individual as an independent learner. Students will be expected to take responsibility for their learning and to participate actively within group and individual activities including regular online activities. 

Assessment strategy and rationale

Standards-based assessment is utilised, consistent with University assessment requirements to enable students to achieve unit learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes. The assessment strategy is scaffolded to allow for progressive development of knowledge and skills from applied high performance sport settings.  

 

The first assessment allows students to reflect on the application of evidence-based practices in their area of interest. This will also be used as evidence of completing the minimum required hours of 250 hours for the Industry Internship placement. The second assessment requires students to further demonstrate their knowledge and application in an area of interest that has been identified in their Industry Internship. The third assessment is a Case Conference presentation and Viva Voce that will allow the students to design a short presentation about their Industry Internship placement and verbally answer questions raised about aspects of the placement. 

Hurdle Tasks for this unit are designed to provide minimum standards are satisfied for the benefit of the student, host organisation and Australian Catholic University. The first Hurdle Task requires students to provide evidence of the following documents, but not limited to: 

  • ACU online Working with Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults Module 
  • First Aid certification 
  • Police check 
  • Working with Children Check 

The second Hurdle Task is a Supervisors Report that can be used to provide formative feedback to the student regarding the Industry Internship placement. 

Overview of assessments

Brief Description of Kind and Purpose of Assessment TasksWeightingLearning OutcomesGraduate Attributes

Hurdle Task 

1. Completion of ACU-specific and discipline-specific requirements for professional practice, including but not limited to: 

  • ACU online Working with Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults Module 
  • First Aid certification 
  • Police check 
  • Working with Children Check 

LO1, LO2 

GA1, GA2, GA4 

Assessment 1 

Critical Reflection and Log Book:  

Allows for ongoing appraisal of the work and experiences students have on their internship. This helps them to identify aspects of their professional practice which they determine require improvement and plan development activities to address this. 

 Supervisors Report 

Enables the industry supervisor to provide feedback of the student the midway point and the completion of the internship.  

30% 

LO1, LO2, LO3 

GA1, GA2, GA3, GA4, GA5  

Assessment 2 

Demonstrate and communicate knowledge of High Performance Sport 

Enables the student to demonstrate their professional skills relevant for their scope of practice and practicum experiences 

30% 

LO1, LO2 

GA1, GA2, GA3, GA4, GA5, GA9, GA10 

Assessment 3 

Case Conference Presentation and Viva 

Present a case conference from your industry experience and reflect upon your knowledge, skills and attributes.  

40% 

LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4  

GA1, GA2, GA3, GA4, GA5 GA9, GA10 

Representative texts and references

Bartlett, R. and Bussey, M. (2012). Sports Biomechanics. Reducing Injury and Improving Performance (2nd Ed.). Abingdon: Routledge.  

Hong, Y. (Ed) (2016). Routledge Handbook of Ergonomics in Sport and Exercise. Abingdon: Routledge.  

Pyke, F. (Ed) (2013). Coaching Excellence. Champaign: Human Kinetics.  

Robertson, S., Kremer, P., Aisbett, B., Tran, J., Cerin, E. (2017). Consensus on measurement properties and feasibility of performance tests for the exercise and sport sciences: a Delphi study. Sports Medicine, 3(2), 1-10. Tanner, R. and Gore, C. (Eds) (2013). Physiological tests for elite athletes (2ndEd.). Champaign: Human Kinetics.  

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