COURSE OVERVIEW:
Welcome to the Assisting Clients with Hydrotherapy in Disability & Aged Care Settings course. This program has been developed to provide disability support workers, aged care staff, and allied health assistants with the foundational knowledge and practical skills required to safely assist clients in hydrotherapy programs.
Hydrotherapy is a therapeutic approach that uses the physical properties of water to support rehabilitation, mobility, and overall wellbeing. Unlike recreational aquatic activities, hydrotherapy is structured, goal-directed, and guided by allied health professionals such as physiotherapists. This course will ensure that support staff understand their role in facilitating safe participation, respecting client rights, and maintaining compliance with relevant policies and standards under the NDIS and aged care frameworks.
Hydrotherapy is widely recognised as an effective intervention for clients with disability, chronic conditions, and age-related health issues. This course begins by introducing the scope and purpose of hydrotherapy, distinguishing it from general aquatic exercise and leisure activities. It examines the regulatory, policy, and funding context that underpins its delivery, including NDIS requirements for funded supports and aged care quality standards. Learners will gain an understanding of the goals of hydrotherapy, such as pain management, improving strength and mobility, and supporting social and emotional wellbeing in aquatic environments.
Person-centred care is at the heart of hydrotherapy support. This section explains the ethical responsibilities of workers, including respecting client dignity, autonomy, and diversity. It highlights the importance of informed consent, cultural sensitivity, and confidentiality in service delivery. By embedding rights-based practice, workers can ensure that clients feel safe, respected, and empowered during their participation in hydrotherapy programs.
Compliance with legal and regulatory frameworks is essential. This section provides an overview of how hydrotherapy fits into the NDIS funding criteria and aged care regulatory environment, as well as key responsibilities relating to duty of care, occupational health and safety, and mandatory reporting in aquatic settings. Liability, insurance considerations, and professional boundaries are addressed, ensuring that staff understand both their obligations and their limits when assisting in hydrotherapy sessions.
The therapeutic benefits of hydrotherapy are grounded in the physical properties of water. This section explores principles such as buoyancy, hydrostatic pressure, viscosity, and thermal effects, explaining how these influence human physiology, movement, and recovery. It also covers contraindications and precautions, ensuring that workers are aware of risks and can identify when hydrotherapy may be unsuitable for particular clients due to medical or safety concerns.
Practical knowledge of pools, facilities, and equipment is also critical. This section introduces different hydrotherapy pool designs, features that enhance accessibility such as ramps and hoists, and equipment like floats, aqua belts, and handrails. Infection control, hygiene practices, water quality management, and safety features are discussed to ensure environments remain safe, inclusive, and compliant.
Support workers have a defined role within hydrotherapy programs. This section explains how to work under the supervision of therapists, assist with client transfers and positioning, provide safe support during aquatic activities, and monitor client wellbeing. It emphasises the importance of understanding scope of practice—knowing when to assist, when to observe, and when to escalate concerns to supervising professionals.
Client assessment and goal setting are vital elements of hydrotherapy programs. This section outlines the process of gathering relevant health information, assessing mobility and strength, and collaborating with allied health professionals to establish realistic goals. It also explores how support workers contribute to monitoring progress and providing feedback to the clinical team.
Planning and preparing hydrotherapy sessions requires attention to detail and safety. This section explains how to prepare the environment, structure sessions with warm-up and cool-down phases, and adapt activities for individuals or groups. Support workers will learn how to respond to the needs of diverse clients, including those with physical, cognitive, or sensory impairments.
The remainder of the course covers practical skills in assisting exercise and movement, therapeutic interventions, safety and emergency procedures, communication, dignity and comfort, documentation, collaboration with allied health professionals, and condition-specific considerations. It concludes with a focus on self-care, reflective practice, and program evaluation to ensure continuous improvement and alignment with Australian best practice standards in hydrotherapy.
By the end of this course, you will have the knowledge, confidence, and practical strategies to support clients effectively and safely in hydrotherapy settings. You will be prepared to contribute to improved client outcomes, promote wellbeing, and uphold professional and ethical standards in both disability and aged care environments.
Each section is complemented with examples to illustrate the concepts and techniques discussed.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By the end of this course, you will be able to understand the following topics:
1. Introduction to Hydrotherapy in Disability & Aged Care
- Definition and scope of hydrotherapy
- Purposes and goals of hydrotherapy (rehabilitation, mobility, wellbeing)
- Differences between hydrotherapy and recreational aquatic activities
- Regulatory, policy and funding context (NDIS, aged care requirements)
2. Client Rights, Ethics & Person-Centred Care
- Respect, dignity and client autonomy
- Informed consent for hydrotherapy participation
- Cultural sensitivity, diversity and inclusion
- Confidentiality, privacy and ethical responsibilities
3. Legal, Regulatory & Funding Frameworks
- NDIS supports: what is funded, what criteria must be met
- Aged care regulations and standards related to therapeutic supports
- Occupational health & safety, duty of care in aquatic settings
- Mandatory reporting, liability and insurance
4. Basics of Water & Hydrotherapy Principles
- Physical properties of water: buoyancy, hydrostatic pressure, viscosity, thermal effects
- How these properties affect human physiology, movement, pain and recovery
- Contraindications and precautions in hydrotherapy (medical, conditions, risks)
5. Pool, Facility & Equipment Knowledge
- Types of hydrotherapy pools and their design features (temperature, depth, ramps, hoists etc.)
- Equipment commonly used (floats, noodles, aqua belts, steps, rails)
- Hygiene, infection control and water quality management
- Accessibility and safe entry/exit points
6. Role & Responsibilities of the Support Worker
- Working under supervision of therapists or physiotherapists
- Assisting with transfers, entering/exiting pool, positioning in water
- Observing client condition, providing assistance, ensuring comfort
- Understanding scope of practice and when to escalate
7. Client Assessment & Goal Setting
- Collecting relevant health and medical history before hydrotherapy
- Assessing mobility, strength, ROM (Range of Movement), balance, pain, endurance
- Collaborating with client and health professionals to set realistic goals
- Monitoring & reviewing progress
8. Planning & Preparing Hydrotherapy Sessions
- Preparing the environment (pool temperature, equipment setup, safety checks)
- Session structure: warm up, main activity, cool down
- Individual vs group sessions: considerations & planning differences
- Adaptations for client needs, special populations, and impairments
9. Assisting Exercise & Movement in Water
- Techniques for supporting movement: manual assistance, cueing, guiding
- Progressive support: from maximal assistance toward more independence
- Ensuring correct technique and alignment in aquatic movement
- Encouraging participation, motivation, and comfort
10. Therapeutic Activities & Interventions
- Strengthening, balance, flexibility, endurance, coordination exercises
- Hydrotherapy for pain management, swelling, stiffness
- Use of games, functional tasks, aquatic walking, stretching routines
- Using adaptive aids or modifications in interventions
11. Safety, Risk & Emergency Management
- Identifying risks: slips, drowning, medical events, environmental hazards
- Pool safety practices: lifeguard presence, correct ratios, supervision levels
- Emergency procedures: rescue, first aid, evacuation, hypothermia management
- Infection control and managing waterborne hazards
12. Communication & Client Support
- Clear instructions, non-verbal cues, demonstrations in water context
- Building rapport, trust, reducing client anxiety in aquatic settings
- Supporting clients with sensory, cognitive or communication impairments
- Working with family, carers, therapists
13. Maintaining Client Dignity & Comfort
- Modesty, privacy, suitable swimwear, towels and covering needs
- Temperature comfort, controlling exposure
- Respecting personal boundaries and preferences
14. Documentation & Monitoring
- Recording session details: attendance, activities, responses, incidents
- Tracking goal progression, outcomes, changes in condition
- Reporting adverse events or concerns to therapists or supervisors
15. Collaboration with Allied Health Professionals
- Understanding roles: physiotherapists, occupational therapists, therapists prescribing hydrotherapy
- Communication channels, reporting up, feedback loops
- Following plans, directives from clinicians
16. Supporting Clients with Specific Conditions
- Neurological conditions
- Musculoskeletal conditions
- Cardiovascular, respiratory and age-related issues
- Cognitive, sensory or behavioural impairments
17. Self-Care, Professional Growth & Reflective Practice
- Recognising physical strain, safe body mechanics for support workers
- Ongoing training and upskilling in hydrotherapy and aquatic therapy support
- Reflective practice: reviewing sessions, seeking feedback, improving performance
18. Program Evaluation, Quality & Best Practice
- Quality standards and guidelines for aquatic physiotherapy / hydrotherapy in Australia
- Evaluation of outcomes: client satisfaction, functional gains, wellbeing
- Continuous improvement of sessions and facility operations
- Best practice models, staying up to date with research and guidelines
COURSE DURATION:
The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.
COURSE DELIVERY:
Purchase and download course content.
ASSESSMENT:
A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.
CERTIFICATION:
Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.