Victoria University Clinical Exercise & Rehabilitation (VUCER) placements are included in the following courses:

VUCER placements are designed to equip you with skills and knowledge of an entry-level practitioner.

You may also gain membership and/or accreditation with Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA) as an Exercise Scientist and/or Exercise Physiologist (AEP).

Please note: accreditation with ESSA is not automatic. Students need to successfully complete their academic studies and also achieve 500 practicum hours to be eligible for accreditation with ESSA.

As of 2020, you may incur a placement fee if you don’t comply with minimum standards for external placements.

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Clinical placements

As part of your exercise science study, you'll undertake hands-on training to help you understand the role exercise can play in managing the health of clients.

Training is under the supervision of ESSA approved supervisors, and is offered in two programs, according to your study level:

  • Apparently healthy populations: clinical placement for our undergraduate students, working with clients with no known injury or illness
  • Clinical populations: clinical placement for our masters students, working with clients with injuries and/or chronic disease.

Undergraduate students start their clinical placements working with ‘apparently healthy’ clients.

These clients have no known injury or illness, but may wish to improve their health and fitness or use exercise as a preventative health-management strategy.

This clinical placement will let you develop knowledge, skills and confidence in exercise delivery for this population, preparing you for more complex clinical populations.

You must complete at least 140 hours in this area before beginning other clinical placement hours.

ESSA approved supervisors for apparently healthy clientele

The following ESSA approved supervisors are eligible to supervise and sign off the 140 hours with apparently healthy clientele:

  • Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP)
  • ESSA exercise science member (ES)
  • degree-qualified exercise and sports science professional
  • personal trainer with a SIS40210 - Certificate IV in Fitness, with a minimum of 10 years' industry experience
  • degree-qualified physical education teacher
  • bachelor-degree qualified trained allied health professional with experience in exercise delivery (e.g. physiotherapist).
  • state-, national- or international-level sports coach
  • Australian Strength and Conditioning Association (ASCA) level 2 or 3 coach.

For further information please refer to the ESSA guidelines.

As a postgraduate student, you can begin placements in the areas of clinical exercise science and exercise rehabilitation once you've completed the following:

  • 140 hours with 'apparently healthy' clientele
  • readiness exam
  • required placement documentation.

You must complete a total of 360 hours of placements in the following categories:

  1. cardio/metabolic/musculoskeletal clientele (minimum 200 hours)
  2. neurological/renal/respiratory/cancer/mental health clientele (minimum 100 hours)
  3. a minimum of 60 approved 'other hours.'

Approved supervisors for clinical clientele

The following ESSA approved supervisors are eligible to supervise and sign off the 360 hours of clinical clientele:

  • Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP) (minimum 200 hours)
  • Degree-qualified exercise physiologist
  • ESSA-approved health professional.
360° tour of VUCER - Transcript

Clinical placement information & opportunities

Clinical placement information and upcoming clinical placement opportunities are announced via student email. Details about each particular placement and any required pre-requisites will be included.

Placement opportunities are advertised on an ongoing basis.

You'll need to:

  • complete a three-step process before you start, that includes getting police checks and first-aid certificates
  • sign a clinical placement contract
  • fill in logbooks and records as you progress
  • buy a VUCER uniform
  • make work arrangements that fit in with your clinical placements
  • pay for your own travel.

You'll need to complete a three-step process before you can commence Clinical Exercise & Rehabilitation (VUCER) placements.

  1. Mandatory submission of four documents:
    • Victoria police check
    • Working with Children check
    • CPR certificate
    • First Aid Level 2
  2. Application
  3. Clinical Work Placement Readiness Assessment Procedure (CWPR)

Find out more about the three-step process.

All internal and external placements completed within the VUCER placement program must be:

  • covered by a current Clinical Placement Contract
  • recorded in your ESSA Clinical logbooks with accurate hours, which are approved and signed off by an ESSA–approved clinical supervisor.

Placements can take place throughout the year, including during weekends, public holidays, semester breaks, SWOTVAC and exam periods.

You're expected to change any paid-employment hours to fit in with your clinical placement roster.

You need a valid reason to miss your allocated placement. Where appropriate, a medical certificate or a signed statutory declaration needs to be submitted to the Clinical Placement Coordinator and/or Clinical Practice Administrator within one week of absence.

Internal placements

Internal placements are available throughout the year at the VUCER clinic, where opening hours differ from semester to semester during the summer break (see below).

External placements

Timing and rostering of external placements depend on the needs of the host placement organisation.

Unless otherwise instructed by your host organisation, you will wear our clinical uniform, which can be ordered through the University Co-op bookshop.

The VUCER uniform

  • Top: Black College of Sport and Exercise Science polo top with 'Clinical Exercise'  written in red on the right side.
  • Pants: Black, professional-looking trousers (please don't wear jeans, cargo pants, overalls, dungarees, miniskirts or hot pants).
  • Socks: Black; if you're placed with an exercise instruction, you can wear sports socks.
  • Shoes: Black enclosed-toe boots, loafers or court shoes.
  • Stethoscope: A personal stethoscope of any brand is required. Make sure you bring your stethoscope to internal placements at the VUCER clinic, or you won't be able to take part.
  • Student ID badge

All students attending placements are required to apply for a CPD contract prior to their allocated placement commencing using the Career & Professional Development Placement Contract (log in required).

The contract system formally recognises your involvement in a clinical placement contract for both internal and external placements.

It provides for public liability insurance cover for students undertaking course work at Victoria University and at host placement organisations and industry partners.

This contract must be approved and signed by all relevant parties prior to the start of the clinical placement.

You are required to pay for any travel costs to get to your placements.

Arrangements can't be made to fit clinical placement hours around part-time or full-time work.

VUCER clinic location & hours

VUCER has a dedicated, purpose-built gym and clinic for internal placements.

The VUCER clinic is located at:

Virtual VUCER clinic

We are currently offering virtual clinical exercise rehabilitation services via Zoom while our physical clinic is closed. We specialise in the delivery of exercise and lifestyle modification programs for the prevention and management of chronic diseases and injuries.

Sessions are free and go for one hour. They are available Monday to Friday at 9am, 10am and 11am. We require a GP referral (form provided by us) and a commitment to ongoing sessions so students can complete their placement hours.

Footscray Park Campus map

VUCER contacts

AMEP Course Coordinator

Dr André Nelson
Course: Master of Clinical Exercise Science & Rehabilitation (AMEP)
Phone +61 3 9919 4284
Email: [email protected]

Postgraduate Clinical Coordinator

Danilo Mangiameli, AEP
Phone: +61 3 9919 5894
Email: [email protected]

Undergraduate Clinical Coordinator

Sarah Bates, AEP
Phone: +61 3 9919 6084
Email: [email protected]

Clinic Duty Supervisor (VUCER Clinic)

VUCER Clinic
Phone: +61 3 9919 4737