The roots of the
One of our 11 founding members in 1951, the association is part of the World
Specialty groups
The Australian
The roots of the
One of our 11 founding members in 1951, the association is part of the World
The Australian
1906
1951
2023
25,470
Primary contact
Chief executive officer
National president
Chair of the Board
General Manager, Policy and Government Relations
41,633
16.03
64%
In this country/territory
53%
In this region
63%
Globally
25,470
60%
In this MO
48%
In MOs in this region
58%
In MOs globally
Bachelors degree
4
51
https://www.ahpra.gov.au/education/approved-programs-of-study.aspx
* = Continuing Professional Development
Physiotherapists must be registered with the Physiotherapy Board of Australia: http://www.physiotherapyboard.gov.au/ The legislation that established the National Registration Scheme is the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law: http://www.ahpra.gov.au/Legislation-and-Publications/Legislation.aspx Registered physiotherapists must adhere to registration standards, which include: Physiotherapy Continuing Professional Development Registration Standard Physiotherapy Criminal History Registration Standard Physiotherapy English Language Skills Registration Standard Registration Standard: Professional Indemnity Insurance Arrangements Registration standard: Recency of practice
One or more independent regulation/licensing/registration authorities
More than one
All programmes
Act as first contact/autonomous practitioners
Assess patients/clients
Make a diagnosis
Offer preventative advice/services
Refer to other specialists/services
Treat (interventions, advice and evaluation of outcome)
Provide telehealth services
*Direct access means a person can refer themselves to a physiotherapist without referral from another health professional
What are the circumstances in which direct access is limited?
Setting (eg. outpatient, private practice, school setting, prevention and wellness, etc)
Population/health condition (eg. musculoskeletal, non-complex, etc)
Time (eg. medical referral required if treatment is needed beyond 30 or 60 days)
Training (eg. certification, academic training, or CPD to demonstrate skill necessary to treat patients without referral from a medial doctor)
Other
Aquatics
Acupuncture
Cardiorespiratory physiotherapy
Educators in physiotherapy
Mental health
Orthopaedics/manual therapy
Older people
Oncology/palliative care and HIV
Pain management
Paediatrics
Sports physiotherapy
Womens health
Animal practice
Management/administration
Neurology
Occupational health and ergonomics
Private practitioners
APA Online Learning Portal
APA Professional Development Event Search
A global profile of the profession is also available.
300 (100-1000)
0.07 (<1)
60% (40-60%)
40% (20-40%)
Bachelors degree
0.49 (<1)
No
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
No
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
25,470 (>10000)
16.03 (15-20)
60% (40-60%)
64% (60-80%)
Bachelors degree
9.82 (5-10)
Yes
One or more independent regulation/licensing/registration authorities (Independent)
Yes, More than one
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
935 (100-1000)
0.16 (<1)
42% (40-60%)
43% (40-60%)
Bachelors degree
0.44 (<1)
No
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The World Physiotherapy member organisation specific standard
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
48 (<100)
0.51 (<1)
52% (40-60%)
48% (40-60%)
Bachelors degree
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
No
Public only
Yes
No
Yes
126 (100-1000)
0.24 (<1)
47% (40-60%)
45% (40-60%)
Diploma
0.89 (<1)
No
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The World Physiotherapy standard
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
78 (<100)
1.51 (1-5)
68% (60-80%)
71% (60-80%)
Bachelors degree
5.38 (5-10)
No
A partnership between a regulation/licensing/registration body and your organisation (Partnership)
Yes, The World Physiotherapy standard
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Private only
No
Yes
Yes
1,564 (1000-10000)
6.11 (5-10)
56% (40-60%)
58% (40-60%)
Bachelors degree
3.4 (1-5)
Yes
One or more independent regulation/licensing/registration authorities (Independent)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
No
Yes
No
Yes
15,183 (>10000)
0.6 (<1)
69% (60-80%)
68% (60-80%)
Bachelors degree
1.03 (1-5)
Yes
Not defined
Yes, The World Physiotherapy member organisation specific standard
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Yes
No
No
Yes
5,673 (1000-10000)
0.59 (<1)
63% (60-80%)
67% (60-80%)
Diploma
1.32 (1-5)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
Yes, Some programmes (Some)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
110,188 (>10000)
14.91 (10-15)
36% (20-40%)
36% (20-40%)
Diploma
11.11 (10-15)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
No
No
Yes
No
No
22,631 (>10000)
9.08 (5-10)
60% (60-80%)
60% (60-80%)
Diploma
8.14 (5-10)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
No
No
No
No
No
No
588 (100-1000)
3.98 (1-5)
62% (60-80%)
59% (40-60%)
Bachelors degree
1.17 (1-5)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The World Physiotherapy standard
No
No
No
No
Yes
169 (100-1000)
3.41 (1-5)
59% (40-60%)
42% (40-60%)
Bachelors degree
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
No
Private only
Yes
No
Yes
1,720 (1000-10000)
0.88 (<1)
66% (60-80%)
73% (60-80%)
Diploma
5.89 (5-10)
No
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
No
No
Yes
No
No
253 (100-1000)
0.74 (<1)
92% (>80%)
92% (>80%)
Bachelors degree
4.41 (1-5)
Yes
A partnership between a regulation/licensing/registration body and your organisation (Partnership)
No
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Private only
No
Yes
No
104 (100-1000)
0.09 (<1)
75% (60-80%)
75% (60-80%)
Bachelors degree
0.74 (<1)
No
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
No
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
No
Yes
No
Yes
570 (100-1000)
0.75 (<1)
47% (40-60%)
47% (40-60%)
Bachelors degree
0.98 (<1)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
No
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
4,340 (1000-10000)
12.4 (10-15)
73% (60-80%)
76% (60-80%)
Bachelors degree
2.93 (1-5)
Yes
One or more independent regulation/licensing/registration authorities (Independent)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
100 (<100)
1.09 (1-5)
58% (40-60%)
Bachelors degree
2.19 (1-5)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, More than one
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
1,645 (1000-10000)
0.09 (<1)
71% (60-80%)
56% (40-60%)
Bachelors degree
0.02 (<1)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
213 (100-1000)
0.21 (<1)
51% (40-60%)
51% (40-60%)
Bachelors degree
0.49 (<1)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
5,586 (1000-10000)
1.44 (1-5)
65% (60-80%)
65% (60-80%)
Bachelors degree
3.37 (1-5)
Yes
One or more independent regulation/licensing/registration authorities (Independent)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
150 (100-1000)
1.92 (1-5)
17% (<20%)
49% (40-60%)
Bachelors degree
3.02 (1-5)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Private only
No
No
Yes
439 (100-1000)
4.32 (1-5)
70% (60-80%)
69% (60-80%)
Bachelors degree
1.77 (1-5)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
456 (100-1000)
0.31 (<1)
54% (40-60%)
38% (20-40%)
Bachelors degree
0.9 (<1)
No
Not defined
No
No
Yes
No
No
Yes
1,282 (1000-10000)
3.63 (1-5)
60% (40-60%)
59% (40-60%)
Diploma
3.15 (1-5)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
2,110 (1000-10000)
1.89 (1-5)
66% (60-80%)
67% (60-80%)
Bachelors degree
1.19 (1-5)
Yes
Physical Therapy Council (Other)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
Yes, All programmes (Yes)
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
308 (100-1000)
3.78 (1-5)
71% (60-80%)
64% (60-80%)
Bachelors degree
1.59 (1-5)
Yes
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
Yes, The standards of the regulatory/licensing/registration authority
No
Private only
Yes
No
Yes
675 (100-1000)
0.25 (<1)
84% (>80%)
60% (40-60%)
Diploma
1.07 (1-5)
No
Ministry of Health or another government department (Government)
No
No
Private only
No
No
No
175 (100-1000)
0.16 (<1)
43% (40-60%)
43% (40-60%)
Bachelors degree
0.74 (<1)
Yes
A partnership between a regulation/licensing/registration body and your organisation (Partnership)
No
Yes, Some programmes (Some)
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
World Physiotherapy is a global hub for information and resources about COVID-19 relevant to the physiotherapy profession.