Outline

Overview

In this unit, students will participate in a practical experience relevant to exercise science. This practical experience will reinforce theoretical knowledge and skills acquired through university studies. As part of their placement experiences, students will compile evidence of professional competency via a personal portfolio.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Movement Sciences
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	EXSS2034
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Tim Davies, timothy.davies@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Tim Davies, timothy.davies@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 5 September 2025

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Peer or expert observation or supervision	Student Placement Assessment Competency-based assessment of student performance across the placement	0%	Ongoing	N/A	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
Attendance - accreditation or faculty requirement	Attendance Placement attendance	0%	Ongoing	N/A	Not applicable
Outcomes assessed:
In-person practical, skills, or performance task or test	On-Campus Placement (Simulation) Low-fidelity simulated placement experience with proof of engagement tasks	0%	Progressive	N/A	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
In-person practical or creative task	Work, Health and Safety Checklist Submission of a completed Work, Health and Safety Checklist of the site.	0%	Week 01 Due date: 07 Sep 2025 at 23:59	N/A	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
In-person practical or creative task	Placement Schedule Completion of a pre-defined form outlining your weekly schedule on-site.	0%	Week 01 Due date: 07 Sep 2025 at 23:59	N/A	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
In-person practical or creative task	Paperwork Submission of required paperwork to document placement experience	0%	Week 12 Due date: 23 Nov 2025 at 23:59	N/A	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
Portfolio or journal	Placement Portfolio Completion of a group of tasks encompassing a placement portfolio	0%	Week 12 Due date: 23 Nov 2025 at 23:59	N/A	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ?

Assessment summary

On-Campus Placement (Simulation): Successful completion of a low-fidelity simulation placement prior to the first allocated placement with proof of engagement tasks supplied to an appropriate standard.
- Note: The On-Campus Placement (Simulation) must be completed before the first placement experience can be attended.

Work Health and Safety Checklist and Placement Schedule: Students must submit a checklist to assess their understanding of the site's Work, Health and Safety requirements. This university requirement ensures students understand the site's risks and are appropriately inducted. The Work, Health and Safety Checklist is managed and housed within the Sonia database. The Placement Schedule is a necessary document to determine a placement student's weekly schedule of days and times at the site. The submitted schedule must match the total number of hours allocated on Sonia and is managed through SRES and housed on Canvas.

Student Placement Assessment: Placement educators will use the Student Placement Assessment (SPA) tool to assess student's performance against the placement learning outcomes via observation of student interactions with clients and co-workers, the performance of work tasks, and assessment of their knowledge and skills.

Attendance while on placement: Students must attend placement to accumulate the desired number of hours (~80 hours) as per their Sonia allocation. A minimum attendance of >90% of the allocated time is required to successfully complete this assessment. Note that the On-Campus Placement (Simulation) is part of the placement activities. As such, the attendance criteria also apply to this activity.

Completion of required paperwork: Students are required to submit their logbook through the online logbook system, a completed SPA tool showcasing performance on each learning outcome of the unit of study at the mid-point and final assessment periods, and a Placement Portfolio of documented placement experience whilst at the site. The logbook is managed through the Student Relationship Engagement System (SRES) whilst the SPA and Placement Portfolio assessments are managed through Canvas.
- Note, this assessment is strictly referring to the submission of tasks and not the standard of the actual tasks themselves.

Placement Portfolio: Students are required to submit a series of tasks that provide a record of how placement experiences contributed to developing the competencies that are being assessed in the SPA. These tasks include:
1. Skills checklist: Provide a checklist of skills learnt throughout your placement experience considered within the context of your site.
2. Scope of practice report: A short report highlighting the potential career pathways of an Exercise and Sport Scientist with a link to the experiences from your placement to the Exercise Science workforce.
3. Mapping of placement experiences: Provide a list of activities performed during your placement that meets the professional competencies of an Exercise Scientist within the scope of practice.
4. Reflection task: Provide a series of reflections during your placement that detail successes, failures and learning opportunities throughout your placement.

All assessment tasks must be completed to a satisfactory standard to fulfil the requirements of this unit of study.

All unsecured assessment tasks will require a Declaration of AI use prior to submission outlining how AI was used in the formulation of the assessment task.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

Result name	Mark range	Description
Satisfied requirements (SR)	No mark	When you meet the learning outcomes to a satisfactory standard, for units that are marked as either Satisfied requirements or Failed requirements.
Failed requirements (FR)	No mark	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes to a satisfactory standard, for units that are marked as either Satisfied requirements or Failed requirements.
Results Incomplete (RI)	No mark	Temporarily used in cases where a result will remain incomplete for a longer period than the IC (Incomplete) result. You will be able to re-enrol with an RI result.
Unit of Study Continuing (UC)	No mark	When a unit continues in the following session. You will be able to re-enrol with a UC result.

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Refer to the assessment table above to see if AI is allowed, for assessments in this unit and check Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks and AI use.

If you use AI, you must always acknowledge it. Misusing AI may lead to a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Late submission of assessments may delay the awarded grade for the unit or lead to the award of an Absent Fail (AF) grade.

Academic integrity

The University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Our website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. This includes advice on how to avoid common breaches of academic integrity. Ensure that you have completed the Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM) which is mandatory for all commencing coursework students

Penalties for serious breaches can significantly impact your studies and your career after graduation. It is important that you speak with your unit coordinator if you need help with completing assessments.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Multiple weeks	Placement experience as allocated by the Placements Team	Placement (80 hr)
Pre-semester	On-Campus Placement (Simulation)	Simulation laboratory (16 hr)
Pre-semester	Multiple briefings from the previous year outlining the nature of the unit of study	Lecture (5 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance at preparation lectures and/or tutorials: Students are expected to attend, in their entirety, all briefing and preparation sessions scheduled in the semesters before placements commence. All sessions are mandatory. These sessions will be scheduled into students’ timetables, and reminder notices will be posted via the learning management system. Failure to attend may result in a student not commencing placement.

Attendance at the placement site: Learning in a professional environment is a key feature of this unit of study. Students will be allocated to a placement site for up to 25 hours per week in one of the various blocks throughout the year. Placements are mostly within the Sydney Metropolitan area (maximum 2-hour travel time, one-way). You will be required to work a variety of hours during your placement, depending on the site. Typically, students work Monday to Friday between 8 am and 5 pm. However, some placements may require unusual work hours, such as early morning, evenings, or weekends. This is to be expected because these types of hours are standard for some sectors of the industry. The total hours of placement will vary depending on the site, but will likely be ~80 hours of face-to-face attendance. Students must attend >90% of the allocated placement hours to meet the "Attendance" assessment task requirements. Failure to meet attendance requirements will prevent students from satisfactorily completing this unit of study.

Students are expected to attend all scheduled placement days and make up any days missed due to leave (sick, religious observance requirements, bereavement or other forms of leave, public holidays, or staff leave). Students normally would not attend placement if their nominated supervisor takes a rostered day off unless the supervisor has arranged for someone else at the site to supervise the student. The timing of make-up days is to be organised by the relevant Placements academic (Dr. Timothy Davies) and Placement Officer (Catharine Watton), who will negotiate arrangements with the placement site.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

N/A

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Demonstrate appropriate professional and socially responsible behaviour in a professional practice setting
LO2. Demonstrate effective communication with clients, colleagues and others
LO3. Demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving skills
LO4. Function effectively as part of a team
LO5. Demonstrate exercise science-related knowledge
LO6. Demonstrate exercise science practical skills

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Alignment with Competency standards

Outcomes	Competency standards
	Accredited Exercise Scientist Professional Standards (2022) - 1.2.1. Apply knowledge and skills in a variety of professional exercise science work settings. 1.2.6. Identify risks and apply appropriate risk management strategies to the professional practice of exercise science.
	Accredited Exercise Scientist Professional Standards (2022) - 1.2.3. Choose and apply a variety of verbal and non-verbal communication methods appropriate to the client and/or population, carers and other health and exercise professionals.
	Accredited Exercise Scientist Professional Standards (2022) - 1.2.3. Choose and apply a variety of verbal and non-verbal communication methods appropriate to the client and/or population, carers and other health and exercise professionals.
	Accredited Exercise Scientist Professional Standards (2022) - 1.2.1. Apply knowledge and skills in a variety of professional exercise science work settings. 14.2.4. Cite the research of others in written and oral communication 14.2.5. Select and apply basic data analysis techniques appropriate to exercise science subdisciplines. 4.2.2. Interpret data obtained during a client assessment to prescribe, deliver and monitor physical activity and exercise-based interventions. 8.2.5. Utilise relevant anatomical or lay terms in communication with clients, and families, carers and other health or exercise professionals where appropriate.
	Accredited Exercise Scientist Professional Standards (2022) - 1.2.1. Apply knowledge and skills in a variety of professional exercise science work settings. 1.2.3. Choose and apply a variety of verbal and non-verbal communication methods appropriate to the client and/or population, carers and other health and exercise professionals. 1.2.6. Identify risks and apply appropriate risk management strategies to the professional practice of exercise science. 4.2.2. Interpret data obtained during a client assessment to prescribe, deliver and monitor physical activity and exercise-based interventions. 8.2.5. Utilise relevant anatomical or lay terms in communication with clients, and families, carers and other health or exercise professionals where appropriate.

Accredited Exercise Scientist Professional Standards (2022) -

Competency code	Taught, Practiced or Assessed	Competency standard
1.2.1		Apply knowledge and skills in a variety of professional exercise science work settings.
1.2.3		Choose and apply a variety of verbal and non-verbal communication methods appropriate to the client and/or population, carers and other health and exercise professionals.
1.2.4		Practice with integrity within the scope of training for an Exercise Scientist and the ESSA Code of Professional Conduct and Ethical Practice.
1.2.6		Identify risks and apply appropriate risk management strategies to the professional practice of exercise science.
14.2.4		Cite the research of others in written and oral communication
14.2.5		Select and apply basic data analysis techniques appropriate to exercise science subdisciplines.
8.2.5		Utilise relevant anatomical or lay terms in communication with clients, and families, carers and other health or exercise professionals where appropriate.

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Feedback from Unit of Study and Placement Quality Surveys and informal student feedback has been considered and implemented where possible for 2025. This includes alteration of Canvas assignment set up and addition of the logbook entry and approval process. Placement quality is always being considered when engaging with external partners as part of this unit. Student feedback has led to changes in educational models, primarily leading to improvements in clarity of expectations, structure of learning activities and appropriate learning support given when on placement. We continue to provide additional communications through student-embedded portals of placement data that are consistently revised throughout the year.

Additional information

This unit of study outline must be read in conjunction with the Medicine and Health Handbook: https://www.sydney.edu.au/handbooks/medicine_health/

All students are required to familiarise themselves with their academic responsibilities, and the academic policies governing their enrolment and progression. The handbook provides a direct link to the University of Sydney’s Coursework policy and Faculty provisions.

When considering applications and appeals relating to these matters, it will be assumed that students understand their academic responsibilities and are familiar with these key policies and procedures

The FMH student placements Canvas site also provides information specific to FMH placements, such as essential preparation, forms and policies.

https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/54568

Work, health and safety

NSW Ministry of Health Verification
As you are completing a health-related degree, there are clinical checks and clearances you will need to complete before you can undertake placement. You can find more information at: https://www.sydney.edu.au/students/clinical-placement-checks.html. These checks are not required to complete a placement affiliated with EXSS3072. However, some opportunities in this unit will require full verification. Students interested in these opportunities will need to be compliant with all NSW Health Checks and Clearances to be eligible for the placement.

School of Health Sciences Checks
Further, students must have an up-to-date declaration (in Sonia) that they have read and understood key documents related to privacy and confidentiality, codes of conduct, NSW Health policies and general communication/email etiquette. Failure to meet these requirements will prevent you from being allocated to and/or completing a placement or placement unit of study irrespective of your enrolment status. This includes uploading a valid “Perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation” certificate (HLTAID009 CPR certifications) and a valid employee or volunteer Working with Children Check (WWCC).

Students who are Not Compliant with NSW Ministry of Health verification will NOT be able to attend placement within NSW Health-affiliated facilities as part of this unit of study.

Students who have not completed all School of Health Sciences checks will NOT be able to attend ANY placement that is affiliated with EXSS3072.

Any student who has not had their respective checks approved 6 weeks before the start of placement can have their placement cancelled.

Consistent with New South Wales WHS legislation, you are required to complete a WHS induction within the first few days of placement and, if relevant, at any time your placement requires you to work in another setting. This is an essential legal requirement to ensure that all risks are minimised for you and others for whom you are responsible. The University has a duty of care to ensure you have been inducted appropriately. Similarly, you are responsible for demonstrating that you know how to manage risk appropriately. A WHS form for you and your site will be made available on your first day of placement and can be completed on Sonia.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Alignment with Competency standards

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

EXSS3072: Practicum in Exercise Science 1

Intensive August - September, 2025 [Professional practice] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Alignment with Competency standards

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links