Career as Prosthetists/Orthotists

 Career as Prosthetists/Orthotists

The Good Universities Guide states that Prosthetists/Orthotists assess the physical and functional limitations of people resulting from illness and disabilities and provide prostheses (artificial limbs) and orthoses (supportive devices) to restore function or compensate for muscular and skeletal disabilities, including limb amputation.

Prosthetists/orthotists work within major teaching hospitals, rehabilitation centres and private practice. They may also work for commercial companies that design and manufacture devices for people with disability.                                                                      

Good Universities Guide - Prosthetist and Orthotist

La Trobe University offers the 4-year Bachelor of Prosthetics and Orthotics (Honours) which focuses on training students to become a qualified health professional with expertise in treating people's physical and functional limitations. 

From first year, students undertake clinical placements and experiences both on campus in La Trobe's prosthetic and orthotic facilities and at external sites.  Students study anatomy, physiology, biomechanics and prosthetic and orthotic prescription, design and fabrication.  Honours is offered in two streams: industry and research. 

Students complete either a major industry-relevant honours project or a research honours project in the final years of the course.