ASRI

Physiotherapist 2385-11¹

• On this page
• Job description
• Similar occupations
• Skill level
• Skills assessment authority
• Licensing or registration requirements
• Additional training
• Industry association memberships

Job description

Assesses, treats and prevents disorders in human movement caused by injury or disease.

Similar occupations

Sports Physiotherapist.

Skill level

The entry requirement for this occupation is a bachelor degree or higher qualification. Registration or licensing is required.

Skills assessment authority

Before you can migrate to Australia as a skilled migrant you must have your skills assessed by the relevant national assessment authority. The assessment authority for your occupation is:

Australian Council of Physiotherapy Regulating Authorities (ACOPRA)

The Australian Council of Physiotherapy Regulating Authorities Limited (ACOPRA) assesses overseas-trained physiotherapists who wish to be registered to practise in Australia and is also responsible for the oversight of the Australian Standards for Physiotherapy.

If you have not completed an accredited entry-level physiotherapy degree at a university in Australia or New Zealand, or do not have a current practising certificate in Australia or New Zealand then you must undertake the ACOPRA assessment and examination process before being eligible to apply to register with one of the Australian state or territory Physiotherapists Registration Boards. You may find that other requirements for registration apply in some Australian states/territories. For further information please contact the authority below.

Australian Council of Physiotherapy Regulating Authorities Ltd
PO Box 587
CANBERRA ACT 2601
AUSTRALIA
Telephone: 61 2 6262 6029
Fax: 61 2 6262 5284
Email: acopra@acopra.com.au
Website: http://www.acopra.com.au

Please note that ACOPRA is an assessing authority and is not responsible for registering physiotherapists. This is the function of the Physiotherapy Registration Board in each State/Territory. For more information contact the relevant State/Territory Board.

Licensing or registration requirements

In many occupations you must be registered with or obtain a license from a local authority in the state or territory where you wish to practise your occupation. Select from the following state links to find out details of the local authority in your state.

New South Wales

Registration is compulsory.

NSW Physiotherapists Registration Board
Level 2, 28-36 Foveaux St
Surry Hills NSW 2010
Postal Address:
PO Box K599
Haymarket NSW 1238
Telephone: 61 2 9219 0255
Fax: 61 2 9281 2030
Email: physioreg@doh.health.nsw.gov.au
Website: http://www.physioreg.health.nsw.gov.au

Victoria

Registration is compulsory.

Physiotherapists Registration Board of Victoria
Level 8, 525 Collins Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
Postal Address:
PO Box 248, Collins Street West
Melbourne VIC 8007
Telephone: 61 3 9286 1888
Fax: 61 3 9286 1880
Email: registrar@physioboard.vic.gov.au
Website: http://www.physioboard.vic.gov.au

Queensland

Registration is compulsory.

The Physiotherapists Board of Queensland
Postal Address:
GPO Box 2438
Brisbane QLD 4001
Telephone: 61 7 3234 1164
Email: physiotherapy@healthregboards.qld.gov.au
Website: http://www.physioboard.qld.gov.au/

South Australia

Registration is compulsory.

Physiotherapists Board of South Australia
First Floor, 67 Greenhill Road
Wayville SA 5034
Postal Address:
GPO Box 1270
Adelaide SA 5001
Telephone: 61 8 8274 1488
Fax: 61 8 8372 6677
Email: jbailey@gtsa.com.au
Website: http://www.physioboardsa.org.au

Western Australia

Registration is compulsory.

The Physiotherapists Board of Western Australia
Suite 7, Level 2
23 Richardson Street
South Perth WA 6151
Postal Address:
PO Box 959
South Perth WA 6951
Telephone: 61 8 9368 2644
Fax: 61 8 9368 2677
Email: enquiries@prbwa.com.au
Website: http://www.prbwa.com.au

Tasmania

Registration is compulsory.

Physiotherapists Registration Board of Tasmania
GPO Box 792
Hobart TAS 7001
Telephone: 61 3 6224 9331
Email: physio@regboardstas.com
Website: http://www.physioboard.tas.gov.au/info/register_procedures.htm

Northern Territory

Registration is compulsory.

Northern Territory Physiotherapists Board
Health Professions Licensing Authority
2nd Floor, Harbourview Plaza
Cnr McMinn and Bennett Streets
Darwin NT 0800
Postal Address:
GPO Box 4221
Darwin NT 0801
Telephone: 61 8 8999 4157
Fax: 61 8 8999 4196
Email: healthprofessions.ths@nt.gov.au
Website: http://www.nt.gov.au/health/org_supp/prof_boards/prof_licensing_auth.shtml

Australian Capital Territory

Registration is compulsory.

Physiotherapists Board of the ACT
6th Floor, Eclipse House
197 London circuit
Canberra City ACT 2601
Postal Address:
PO Box 976
Civic Square ACT 2608
Telephone: 61 2 6205 1601
Fax: 61 2 6205 1602
Email: trish.dowd@act.gov.au
Website: http://health.act.gov.au/

Additional training

You may require additional training in Australia before you can get your skills recognised, licensed or registered. For more information contact the relevant state or territory licensing or registration body listed below. You can also check with the Overseas Qualifications Unit in your state or territory.
See: Overseas Qualifications Unit

Industry association memberships

You may benefit from becoming a member of a relevant industry association for your occupation. This could help you with your employment prospects, networking, contact with industry and professional development and may provide you with important information and support.

New South Wales

Not listed at this time.

Victoria

Australian Physiotherapy Association (National Office)
Level 3, 201 Fitzroy Street
St Kilda VIC 3182
Telephone: 61 3 9534 9400
Fax: 61 3 9534 9199
Email: national.office@physiotherapy.asn.au
Website: http://www.physiotherapy.asn.au

Queensland

Not listed at this time.

South Australia

Not listed at this time.

Western Australia

Not listed at this time.

Tasmania

Not listed at this time

Northern Territory

Not listed at this time.

Australian Capital Territory

Not listed at this time.

AEI-NOOSR

PHYSIOTHERAPY²

Physiotherapy in Australia involves the regulated practice of the promotion, prevention, diagnosis, and therapeutic management of pain, disorders of movement or optimisation of function, to enhance the health and welfare of the community from an individual or population perspective. The practice of physiotherapy encompasses a diversity of clinical specialties to meet the unique needs of different client groups. Physiotherapy services are used in a wide variety of areas such as health organisations, private practices, schools and community, and sports and workplace settings.

The practice of physiotherapy in Australia is based upon a clinical reasoning process. The physiotherapist may undertake the following activities: the performance of physiotherapy assessments and the treatment of any injury, disease, or other condition of health, or the prevention or rehabilitation of injury, disease, or other condition of health. Physiotherapists may use physical interventions, and/or exercise prescription, and/or electro physical agents, within a framework of empowerment of the individual/carer or the community through education. Practice is informed by physiotherapy-specific research as well as the general scientific literature and in this way, physiotherapists in Australia engage in evidence-based practice.

Australian Council of Physiotherapy Regulating Authorities Limited (ACOPRA)

The Australian Council of Physiotherapy Regulating Authorities Ltd (ACOPRA) is responsible for a broad range of issues relevant to standards of physiotherapy education and practice in Australia. These include legislative matters relevant to a consistent national approach to physiotherapy registration, the accreditation of entry level physiotherapy educational programs, and responsibility for the Australian Standards for Physiotherapy

http://aei.dest.gov.au/AEI/QualificationsRecognition/

RecognisingProfessionalQualifications/GuideToProfessionalRecognition/physiotherapy_pdf.pdf (accessed 3 July 2006).

Directors comprising one nominee from each member. ACOPRA’s National Office is based in Canberra.

ACOPRA, through its standing committee, the Australian Examining Committee for Overseas Physiotherapists (AECOP), administers the assessment process for overseas-qualified physiotherapists seeking to gain full registration to practise in Australia.

ACOPRA is also the assessing authority for physiotherapists intending to apply for migration to Australia.

The contact details for both ACOPRA and the AECOP are:

Postal Location

GPO Box 587 Level 2, 19 Barry Drive

CANBERRA ACT 2601 TURNER ACT 2612

AUSTRALIA

Phone: +61 2 6262 6029

Fax: +61 2 6262 5284

email: Administrative enquiries: admin@acopra.com.au

Assessment enquiries: aecop@acopra.com.au

Accreditation enquiries: acopra@acopra.com.au

Website: http://www.acopra.com.au

Recognition Procedures in Australia

In order to practise physiotherapy in Australia, you must be registered with the local State or Territory Physiotherapists Registration Board. It is important that you check with the Physiotherapists Board of the State or Territory in which you wish to work whether any special registration requirements apply. Contact details for the registration boards can be found at http://www.acopra.com.au/contact_us/other_contacts/registration_boards. Full registration in Australia permits a physiotherapist to practise in any field of physiotherapy practice and as a practitioner of first contact.

If you have completed your physiotherapy qualification overseas, there are four ways in which you can enter the profession in Australia:

• successfully completing the eligibility and assessment process administered by ACOPRA;

OR

• applying directly for full registration with any Australian Physiotherapists Registration Board if you hold current full registration with the Physiotherapists Board of New Zealand under the Trans Tasman Mutual Recognition Arrangement (TTMRA);

OR

• completing an accredited entry level physiotherapy program at an Australian university. Contact details for universities can be found at http://www.acopra.com.au/contact_us/other_contacts/schools;

OR

applying directly for limited registration with an Australian Physiotherapists Registration Board. Special conditions apply for this form of registration and it is only for a period of up to 12 months. This form of registration is not available in some States and Territories.

Applicants under TTMRA from New Zealand

Physiotherapists who are currently registered to practise in New Zealand are able to apply directly to the Physiotherapists Registration Boards for immediate registration under the TTMRA legislation. For more information, please contact the individual Registration Boards or ACOPRA.

All other applicants from Overseas Countries

If you want to apply for full registration to practise physiotherapy in Australia, you must apply to have your eligibility assessed to undertake the examination procedure administered by ACOPRA and pass the examinations. If you want to apply to register to practise physiotherapy under limited conditions while holidaying in Australia, you may be exempt from the AECOP examinations—contact ACOPRA for more information.

The assessment process consists of the following components:

• Eligibility Assessment—assessment of qualifications and associated documents to determine the applicant’s eligibility to undertake the professional examinations; Please note that an application for an assessment of qualifications determines a person’s eligibility to undertake the examinations. It is not an application to sit the examination. When a person’s eligibility is determined, ACOPRA forwards separate examination registration forms to the person.

English Language Requirements (if applicable)— if your first language is not English, an overall minimum ‘B’ standard and a minimum of ‘B’ in all four sections of the Occupational English Test (OET), or an overall score of Band 7 (with a minimum of Band 6 in each of the four components) in the Academic Module of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) will satisfy this requirement if gained within 12 months of application to AECOP. Please note that candidates may seek exemptions from the OET/IELTS if they meet specific criteria.

Written Examination—conducted world-wide. The written examination is a multiple choice question examination based on case studies that cover the entire scope of physiotherapy as practised in Australia at the standard expected at entry to the profession. Following successful completion of the written examination, a candidate is issued with an Interim Certificate and is eligible to proceed to undertake an optional period of supervised clinical practice followed by the clinical examination.

Supervised Clinical Practice—optional but strongly recommended before taking the clinical examination.

Clinical Examination—a practical, clinical viva, examination covering the practice of physiotherapy.

If you are not eligible to undertake the professional examinations you may be eligible to apply to enrol in an accredited Australian physiotherapy degree course at an Australian university. There is strong competition for university places in physiotherapy. Contact details for the Australian institutions offering professional entry courses in physiotherapy are available at http://www.acopra.com.au/contact_us/other_contacts/schools

If you live overseas, you may undertake the OET or IELTS and the written examination overseas. If you are in Australia, you can sit the OET or IELTS and the written examination in a State or Territory capital city.

The written examination is held in the first week of March and September each year in Australia and overseas. In order to be assessed for the March examination, the eligibility application should be sent by mid-April and by mid-October for the September session. The clinical examination is only conducted in Australia and is arranged as required.

have the same rights to practise as an Australian trained physiotherapist. If required you will also be issued with a Certificate for Skilled Migration. Only then will a candidate’s skills and qualifications be assessed as suitable for migration purposes as a Physiotherapist (ASCO code 2385-11) under the General Skilled Migration Categories.

Australian Physiotherapy Association

The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) is the peak body representing the interests of Australian physiotherapists and their patients. The APA is a national organisation with non-autonomous state and territory branches and specialty subgroups.

The APA corporate structure is one of a company limited by guarantee. The organisation has approximately 11,000 members, some 70 staff, and over 300 members in volunteer positions on committees or working parties. The APA is governed by a Board of Directors elected by representatives of all stakeholder groups within the Association.

The Physiotherapy Research Foundation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the APA, strives to promote and facilitate physiotherapy-related research.

The address of the APA is:

Australian Physiotherapy Association ST KILDA ROAD CENTRAL PO Box 6465 VIC 8008 AUSTRALIA

Phone: +61 3 9534 9400 Fax: +61 3 9534 9199 Website: www.physiotherapy.asn.au

http://aei.dest.gov.au/AEI/QualificationsRecognition/RecognisingProfessionalQualifications/GuideToProfessionalRecognition/physiotherapy_pdf.pdf (accessed 3 July 2006). Back