Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2025

Course Code: COTH5013

Course Title: Manage health risks in a myotherapy environment

School: 535T Social Care and Health

Campus: City Campus

Program: C6189 - Advanced Diploma of Myotherapy

Course Contact: Toby Glennon

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 99250320

Course Contact Email: toby.glennon@rmit.edu.au

Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Tino D'Angelo

tino.dangelo@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 60

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None

Course Description

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to manage health risks within a myotherapy environment. It includes aspects of health risk analysis, personal and premises hygiene, as well as infection prevention and control. It also covers special infection prevention and control for treatments involving dry needling.
This unit applies to a person who is practicing as a Myotherapist working within a clinical setting as an independent practitioner or as a member of a team within a health care clinic.
The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State and/or Territory legislation, Australian Standards, industry codes of practice and clinic guidelines.

National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:	VU23634 Manage health risks in a myotherapy environment
Element:	1. Provide guidance on health hazards, infection prevention and control
Performance Criteria:	1.1 Source and interpret relevant information on health risks, infection control regulations and the legal obligations of the practice 1.2 Ensure colleagues are fully informed of the need for compliance with infection control regulations and the implications of non-compliance 1.3 Establish policies and procedures that incorporate infection prevention and control into work practices 1.4 Provide opportunities for colleagues to seek further information on workplace health hazards, infection prevention and control 1.5 Encourage colleagues to report health hazards and contribute to the improvement of infection prevention and control procedures 1.6 Promote the importance of maintaining personal hygiene in minimising infection 1.7 Promote the importance of the premises layout, cleanliness and workflow arrangements in managing health risks
Element:	2.Apply infection prevention and control procedures for dry needling treatments
Performance Criteria:	2.1 Identify and interpret Commonwealth, State and local standards, regulations and guidelines applying to skin penetration treatments 2.2 Identify infection control risks for dry needling and establish and follow appropriate procedures 2.3 Monitor the hygiene of the premises to ensure that infection risks are eliminated or minimised 2.4 Perform dry needling treatments in accordance with client needs and to industry standards 2.5 Dispose of single use items in appropriate waste containers 2.6 Apply the infection control policy and procedures to ensure that potentially contaminated items are separated, removed, cleaned and sterilised appropriately 2.7 Review dry needling work practices regularly and make adjustments if necessary, to maintain infection control
Element:	3.Monitor infection prevention and control measures
Performance Criteria:	3.1 Review work practices regularly and make adjustments if necessary to control infection risks 3.2 Investigate an infectious hazardous event promptly to identify the cause, in accordance with the clinic’s policies and procedures 3.3 Provide prompt advice to colleagues on any non-compliance issues which result in changes to work practices 3.4 Maintain accurate records of any infection prevention and control risk or infection prevention and control incidents and corrective action taken 3.5 Provide appropriate training on infection prevention and control when risks are identified or incidents occur 3.6 Record and investigate potential breaches of the infection prevention and control procedures to determine the appropriate corrective action required
Element:	4. Conduct a health risk assessment of a myotherapy clinic
Performance Criteria:	4.1 Establish checklists to facilitate the risk assessment process for the myotherapy practice 4.2 Identify health hazards and risks and take steps to remove or minimise, as required 4.3 Assess the clinic design to identify potential improvements that would minimise the risk of transmission of infection 4.4 Evaluate relevant policies and procedures to identify potential improvements in work practices relating to risk of infection

Learning Outcomes

The critical learning for this course takes place in face to face classes and simulated clinics within in RMIT.  You will be instructed in skills through demonstration, modelling and role play.

1. Provide guidance on health hazards, infection prevention and control
2. Apply infection prevention and control procedures for dry needling treatments
3. Monitor infection prevention and control measures
4. Conduct a health risk assessment of a myotherapy clinic

Details of Learning Activities

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to manage health risks within a Myotherapy environment. It includes aspects of health risk analysis, personal and premises hygiene, as well as infection prevention and control.  It also covers special infection prevention and control for treatments involving dry needling.

Students will be provided the environment and material to ensure they have the ability and resources to manage infection risk in a Myotherapy environment with particular focus applied towards Myofascial Dry Needling.

Presentations and information will be presented in the classroom and in an online environment, supported by online assessment and practical tasks relevant to the outcomes.

Teaching Schedule

Teaching Schedule

Note: While all course content in this schedule will be covered, the weekly order may change depending on class needs and availability of speakers and resources. 

WeekTopicAssessment / Learning activities

Week 1	Hazards Compliance Best Practices guidelines	Over view of assessments Discussion of possible hazards Overview of compliance in Myotherapy clinics
Week 2	Risk assessment of clinic	Task 2 - Complete Part B of this task Prepare for group presentations
Week 3	Chain of infection Hand washing Disease Transmission Needle stick injury	Practice stages of washing hands Review practical process of managing a needle stick injury
Week 4	Group Presentations - Assessment Task 2 Review session - Assessment Task 2	Individual meetings to review work completed
Week 5	Labour day public holiday - no class
Week 6	Work flow Policy & procedures for prevention and control infection Incident /Accident reports	Assess classroom workflow Task 2 - review and completion

Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

References

Other Resources

Attendance: 

Your learning experience will involve class-based teaching, discussion, demonstration and practical exercises.    It is strongly advised and expected that you attend all timetabled sessions. This will allow you to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring you the maximum opportunity to complete this course successfully. If you attend late to a lab/clinic/practical teaching session you must wait to be allowed entrance to the lab/clinic as this can pose a WHS issue, especially if specialised equipment is being used and demonstrated. Teachers are permitted to not allow you to use equipment if formal training has been missed, if this happens you must request a meeting with the teacher and program coordinator to discuss moving forward.  If you miss an assessment or assessable practical class you need to apply for special consideration. The special consideration department will ask you to provide a medical certificate or give other evidence to support your request. Once Special consideration has been applied for the students will wait for the results and then contact their teacher on the outcome of the result. Information about your studies:   You can access My Studies through the RMIT website for information about timetables, important dates, assessment dates, results and progress, Canvas etc.     https://www.rmit.edu.au/students     Extensions of time for submission of assessable work:  If you are prevented from submitting an assessment on time by circumstances outside your control you may apply for an extension of up to seven (7) calendar days in writing (email) to your teacher and Program Coordinator one working day BEFORE the due date. Please provide evidence  and /or valid reasonings why you were unable to complete the submission on time within this email. Extensions cannot be guaranteed if evidence or valid reasons are not given. Eligibility criteria for application and the form is available from the link: https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment/extensions-of-time-for-submission-of-assessable-work    Where an extension of greater than seven days is needed, you must apply for special consideration.      

Special consideration:

If due to illness or other unforeseen circumstance, you are unable to attend on the due date of an assessment (e.g. test, examination, oral, etc.), you may submit an application for special consideration within 5 working days of the due date. If special consideration is granted, you will be given the opportunity to complete/repeat the assessment task at a later date. For advice on this application please visit www.rmit.edu.au/students/specialconsideration or speak to your Program Coordinator. 

    

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism:   

    

RMIT University has a strict policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy.  

    

https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/academic-integrity  

    

Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning:   

    

Credit transfer is the recognition of previously completed formal learning (an officially accredited qualification).  

    

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is an assessment process that allows you to demonstrate competence using the skills you have gained through experience in the workplace, voluntary work, informal or formal training or other life experiences.    

    

Please speak to your teacher if you wish to discuss applying for Credit Transfer or RPL for the unit(s) of competency addressed in this course.  

    

https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/enrolment/apply-for-credit  

Overview of Assessment

To be deemed competent you must demonstrate an understanding of all aspects required of the competency. Assessment methods have been designed to measure your achievement of each competency in a flexible manner over multiple tasks.

Assessment Tasks

Assessment for this course is ongoing throughout the semester. Your knowledge and understanding of course content is assessed through participation in class exercises, oral/written presentations and through the application of learned skills and insights. Full assessment briefs will be provided and can be found on CANVAS.      Students enrolled in Vocational Education and Training qualifications are assessed for Competency. To be assessed as Competent means you have consistently demonstrated the required knowledge and skills at a standard expected in the workplace.      To be assessed as Competent in this course, you will need to complete each assessment task to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback from the teacher at the conclusion of each assessment task.     Every task must be completed satisfactorily for competence to be achieved. Unless otherwise advised you must submit all work via the RMIT issued assessment tool which is located in Canvas for you to populate.    Resubmissions are at the discretion of the teacher and/or coordinator. Please see below statement under Resubmission    You should refer to the assessment brief which is available through Canvas for full assessment criteria and due dates 

 

Clinic – Observation skills checklist due date: Refer to Canvas for further information

During your time in the Student Clinic, you will be assessed on managing the health risks associated with a Myotherapy clinic. This will include assessing hygiene practices, following best practice guidelines and using appropriate disposal units for contaminated waste. The student will also be asked several questions by their assessor as they complete the task to help assess their knowledge and how they can apply it to work relevant situations. This must be completed by your last shift in the student clinic to demonstrate your practical application in a clinical setting.

 

Written assignment due date: Refer to Canvas for further information

For this assignment you will be assessed on your understanding of infection control prevention and the control processes for myofascial dry needling treatments, providing guidance on health hazards, monitoring infection prevention and control measures and conducting a health risk assessment of a myotherapy clinic.

 

Results that apply to courses that are delivered and assessed in accordance with competency-based assessment are:   CA: Competency Achieved  NYC: Not Yet Competent  DNS: Did not Submit for Assessment     Resubmissions    You will be given two (2) attempts for each assessment to demonstrate the required skills. If a student does not submit an assessment on the first date provided however submits on the resubmission date this submission will be the only attempt allowed.    A supplementary assessment can only be offered after discussions between teacher and the Program Coordinator and is not automatic.  Supplementary assessments are at the discretion of the Program Coordinator and Program Manager after a conversation is had by the teacher, Program Coordinator and Program Manager. A supplementary assessment will take into account class attendance (80-100% requirement), interaction within class and communication with the class teacher. 

 

Assessment Matrix

The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant unit of competency. These mapping documents are available through Program Administration if required.   

 

Other Information

Attendance: 

Your learning experience will involve class-based teaching, discussion, demonstration and practical exercises.    It is strongly advised and expected that you attend all timetabled sessions. This will allow you to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring you the maximum opportunity to complete this course successfully. If you attend late to a lab/clinic/practical teaching session you must wait to be allowed entrance to the lab/clinic as this can pose a WHS issue, especially if specialised equipment is being used and demonstrated. Teachers are permitted to not allow you to use equipment if formal training has been missed, if this happens you must request a meeting with the teacher and program coordinator to discuss moving forward.  If you miss an assessment or assessable practical class you need to apply for special consideration. The special consideration department will ask you to provide a medical certificate or give other evidence to support your request. Once Special consideration has been applied for the students will wait for the results and then contact their teacher on the outcome of the result. Information about your studies:   You can access My Studies through the RMIT website for information about timetables, important dates, assessment dates, results and progress, Canvas etc.     https://www.rmit.edu.au/students     Extensions of time for submission of assessable work:  If you are prevented from submitting an assessment on time by circumstances outside your control you may apply for an extension of up to seven (7) calendar days in writing (email) to your teacher and Program Coordinator one working day BEFORE the due date. Please provide evidence  and /or valid reasonings why you were unable to complete the submission on time within this email. Extensions cannot be guaranteed if evidence or valid reasons are not given. Eligibility criteria for application and the form is available from the link: https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment/extensions-of-time-for-submission-of-assessable-work    Where an extension of greater than seven days is needed, you must apply for special consideration.      

Special consideration:

If due to illness or other unforeseen circumstance, you are unable to attend on the due date of an assessment (e.g. test, examination, oral, etc.), you may submit an application for special consideration within 5 working days of the due date. If special consideration is granted, you will be given the opportunity to complete/repeat the assessment task at a later date. For advice on this application please visit www.rmit.edu.au/students/specialconsideration or speak to your Program Coordinator. 

    

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism:   

    

RMIT University has a strict policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy.  

    

https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/academic-integrity  

    

Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning:   

    

Credit transfer is the recognition of previously completed formal learning (an officially accredited qualification).  

    

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is an assessment process that allows you to demonstrate competence using the skills you have gained through experience in the workplace, voluntary work, informal or formal training or other life experiences.    

    

Please speak to your teacher if you wish to discuss applying for Credit Transfer or RPL for the unit(s) of competency addressed in this course.  

    

https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/enrolment/apply-for-credit  

Course Overview: Access Course Overview