This unit encompasses a clinical component and a research component. In the clinical component, you will continue to assess, diagnose, manage and treat a range of patients with different lower limb pathologies; including patients with dermatological, vascular, neurological and nail pathologies. In addition, opportunities will be provided to you to advance your podiatric skills and treat patients with sports injuries and other biomechanical concerns. During clinic, you are required to clearly present patient cases and explain the related underlying pathophysiology to your clinical supervisor; including demonstrating your clinical reasoning skills with respect to assessment, diagnosis and management. This unit is the first of the formal requirements of the research project component of the Honours degree. In the research component you will complete a research proposal and identify a research project through your analysis of the literature that will be carried out in the fourth year of the course.

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Informal feedback from students

Students enjoyed the introduction of clinically-oriented lecture and tutorial content

It is recommended that the newly introduced clinically-oriented learning materials continue to be developed and used in the delivery of this unit

Feedback from SUTE comments

Students appreciated the opportunity to work closely with their Honours supervisors

It is recommended that students continue to have the opportunity to work with a research supervisor to develop their entry-level research skills