This unit is the first in an advanced clinical exercise Work Integrated Learning (WIL) program that prepares you for real-world experience as a Student Exercise Physiologist. You will have graded exposure to the assessment, prescription, and delivery of exercise to clinical clientele via the accumulation of minimum 140 hours of practical experience through progressive placements starting with observation work and moving to leadership work. Professional Experience Placements (PEP) will occur in the UTAS Exercise Clinic and in University-approved WIL partner agencies, where you will be guided in your clinical education by appropriately qualified University, and agency supervisors. This unit provides an opportunity to develop and extend clinical decision making and communication skills through supervised WIL placements and to develop an understanding of professional practice requirements for an industry environment.
Unit objectives are:
(1) to develop proficiency in communication and behaviour-change counselling techniques with clinical clientele;
(2) to develop clinical reasoning skills, problem-solving and clinical decision-making skills with clinical clientele.
(3) to develop practical screening, assessment and exercise prescription skills with clinical clientele;
(4) To develop professional skills in collaborative practice, self-reflection, and self-direction.

PEP Attendance Expectations:
Students are expected to participate actively and positively in the clinical learning environment. They must strive to maintain steady progress within the unit, comply with workload expectations, and submit required work on time.

Students are required to attend placement blocks as allocated in accordance with the Agencies’ preferences listed in InPlace. Students may be required to travel state wide for placement. University accommodation may be offered at no charge to the student, where a placement is in a rural location. Students will be placed as near to their residence as is practicable, but this cannot be guaranteed. Other university commitments have been scheduled to allow time to attend placement blocks. Students must make the necessary arrangements (eg. with paid work, sporting, home or other life commitments) to ensure they are free and able to attend allocated placements. Unexplained absence from a scheduled placement is a breach of professional and PEP conduct and severe breaches can have implications for passing the Unit as per the SHS PEP Code of Professional and Ethical Conduct.