Friendships, frisbee, and fostering the future of physiotherapy education
Being part of the first cohort of the new masters program has proven to be a great bonding experience for Khushi, Jordan and the other students, who regularly get together outside of class for fun activities like a game of frisbee.
“Since we’re a small cohort, I’ve made some incredibly close friends who will stay with me not only throughout the course but throughout my career,” said Jordan.
“There’s a sense of camaraderie among us, knowing we’re all in this together, building something new,” said Khushi.
Dr Adrian Pranata, Program Manager and Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy in the STEM College, said the newness of the program also gives educators a unique opportunity to work with students to tailor the content to their needs.
“We designed this program in collaboration with industry to ensure our students are being equipped with contemporary skills that effectively address current industry needs,” said Adrian.
“The students are enthusiastic about providing their feedback on what is working for them and what they hope to explore further in the future. Their feedback is highly valuable for us, and their engagement with the program is inspiring to see.”
Khushi said she enjoys having this collegial relationship with her teachers.
“It feels like we’re shaping the future of physiotherapy education at RMIT,” she said.
Real-world learning gives students a leg up
The students are based at RMIT’s Bundoora campus where they have access to purpose-built health labs, the use of which is key to developing students’ clinical skills said Adrian.
“Our state-of-the-art facilities, such as our advanced simulation laboratories, and equipment enable students to apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings, preparing them for successful future careers.”
Not only do the facilities support students’ technical capabilities, but according to Jordan, they’re also really exciting to use.
“The facilities are incredible. We are getting access to equipment some workplaces don’t even have access to yet,” said Jordan.
“The lab rooms and access to really cool machines are great and really add to the enjoyment of the course!”