CQUniversity Unit Profile

In Progress

Please note that this Unit Profile is still in progress. The content below is subject to change.
ESSC28006 Principles of Clinical Exercise Physiology
Principles of Clinical Exercise Physiology
All details in this unit profile for ESSC28006 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

In this unit you will examine the principles and scope of practice of a clinical exercise physiologist within an inter-professional environment. The contemporary challenges of the Australian healthcare sector will also be explored. This unit will focus on legislation, regulations, and professional and behavioural standards, as well as ethical, cultural, and legal responsibilities as they apply to the clinical exercise physiology profession. You will also explore the application of behaviour change theories to support engagement. Finally, you will develop advanced communication skills for fostering effective collaborative and respectful interactions with clients and other health professionals.

Details

Career Level: Postgraduate
Unit Level: Level 8
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 10
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

There are no requisites for this unit.

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 1 - 2026

Mixed Mode

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback
Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Critically examine contemporary healthcare environments in accordance with ethically relevant legislation, regulations, and standards that apply to accredited exercise physiologists
  2. Critically examine the principles of professional practice and behaviour within professional, ethical, and legal frameworks of clinical exercise physiology
  3. Appraise established theories of behavioural change strategies to facilitate safe treatment, improve health outcomes, increase engagement, motivation, and adherence, and empower self-management of health conditions
  4. Employ highly developed communication skills to facilitate in-person and telepractice/telehealth service delivery, considering client needs, preferences, health and digital literacy, and accessibility factors, while fostering effective collaborative and respectful interactions with other health professionals.

Learning outcomes of this unit are linked to the following Exercise Physiology Professional Standards for Exercise and Sports Science Australia.

Element 1.2.1: Practice with integrity within the scope of practice for an AEP, the ESSA Code of Professional Conduct and Ethical Practice, and jurisdictional Codes of Conduct

Element 1.2.2: Practice in accordance with ethically relevant legislation, regulations, and standards that apply to AEPs including privacy, confidentiality, data security, informed consent, and record-keeping

Element 1.2.3: Differentiate and select verbal and non-verbal communication strategies that are contextually appropriate, timely, accessible, and respectful to clients, population groups, and relevant others

Element 1.2.4: Develop effective, concise, respectful, and informative clinical documentation, including case notes and reports, and apply appropriate record keeping practices

Element 2.2.1: Integrate knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, and other determinants of health and function and apply these to inform safe and effective movement, physical activity, and exercise-based interventions for individuals and population groups throughout all stages of their life

Element 2.2.2: Examine principles of biopsychosocial care, value-based care, person-centred care, and social and cultural determinants of health and apply this to promote health and well-being for individual clients and population groups

Element 2.2.6: Apply clinical, ethical, and evidence-based decision-making to formulate appropriate interventions and recommendations and communicate the expected outcomes

Element 2.2.7: Explain national, state, and compensable scheme frameworks across the health care, aged care, and disability sectors, and the requirements for AEPs working in these settings

Element 2.2.8: Evaluate and apply contextual learning principles and behaviour change strategies to improve health outcomes, increase engagement, motivation, and adherence, and empower self-management of health conditions

Element 3.2.6: Communicate appropriate client support strategies to facilitate in-person and telepractice/telehealth service delivery which considers client needs, preferences, health and digital literacy, and accessibility factors

Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Online Test - 20%
2 - Essay - 40%
3 - Presentation - 40%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Knowledge
2 - Communication
3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills
4 - Research
5 - Self-management
6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility
7 - Leadership
8 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures
Textbooks and Resources

Information for Textbooks and Resources has not been released yet.

This information will be available on Monday 16 February 2026
Academic Integrity Statement

Information for Academic Integrity Statement has not been released yet.

This unit profile has not yet been finalised.