Advanced practice physiotherapists have existed in Australia for nearly 20 years and exist in almost all areas of physiotherapy. From women’s and men’s health and paediatrics to cardiothoracic surgery, neurology and pain, their high levels of clinical expertise and experience are applied to assessing and independently managing a specific cohort of patients, often with complex presentations.

Due to the high-level decision making and risk management required and the unique environments in which advanced practice physiotherapists typically work, they are distinct from standard physiotherapy practice.

Wendy Milway APAM, Rowena Charteris APAM, Piers Truter APAM, Mark Cruickshank APAM, and Caitlin Farmer APAM, MACP, present five discussion points about advanced practice physiotherapy.

The Physiotherapy Research Foundation (PRF) has highlighted key messages from the 5 facts article featured in the April edition of InMotion and produced this infographic. Click on the image below to access a printable A3 file. 

About the authors:

Wendy Milway APAM is an emergency physiotherapy practitioner at Caboolture Hospital in Queensland and the Queensland Chair of the Advanced Practice (including Emergency Department) national group.

Rowena Charteris APAM is the senior physiotherapist working in the emergency department at Concord Repatriation General Hospital in Sydney.

Piers Truter APAM is an advanced scope physiotherapist and data analyst working at Fiona Stanley Hospital in Perth. He is the team lead of the virtual fracture clinic and is currently completing his PhD in the area.

Mark Cruickshank APAM is a senior physiotherapist working in the emergency department at Flinders Medical Centre in Adelaide and an APA Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist.

Caitlin Farmer APAM MACP is the National Chair of the Advanced Practice (including Emergency Department) group, the Clinical Lead for Advanced Practice at Royal Melbourne Hospital and an APA Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist.

This infographic is a Physiotherapy Research Foundation (PRF) initiative supported by FlexEze – partner of the PRF.