The ‘new normal’ continues with isolated lockdowns, border closures throughout the country, amended travel plans, Zoom calls, telehealth, mask wearing, COVID-19 testing, vaccinations and social distancing.

But for the majority of physiotherapy practice, the profession has pivoted and adapted to this new way of being.

When I meet with physiotherapists and business owners Australia wide, I am hearing that staffing is becoming very difficult, not only in rural or remote areas but in the majority of metropolitan areas.

The strain on the profession is rising and we have had multiple discussions with policymakers from the Physiotherapy Board of Australia and the Australian Physiotherapy Council, with the aim of providing some short-term relief to this pressing issue for the profession.

We are awaiting some significant workforce data from our regulator, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, which I hope will identify where the shortfalls are.

Physiotherapists looking to return to the profession from extended leave should begin preparing their registration requirements early to reduce the burden on themselves and the profession.

Your recency of practice requirements can be met by any practitioner over a three-year period.

The Physiotherapy Board of Australia has a Q&A information section on its website which outlines your requirements, opportunities, suggested pathways and methods to gain your recency of practice and registration after some form of break from practice.

Eligible overseas candidates, with qualifications from approved countries, can now access the Australian Physiotherapy Council’s FLYR stream.

The FLYR stream offers a streamlined assessment journey to becoming a physiotherapist in Australia.

Eligible candidates bypass the clinical assessment stage, while the cultural safety training and written assessment can be completed without travelling to Australia.

All this saves candidates time and money, and prospective employers get quicker access to staff.

I would recommend seeking further information such as which countries qualify for the FLYR program by accessing the Council’s webpage.

Recently, the APA Business group posted on its Facebook page about the Department of Home Affairs and the priority migration skilled occupation list.

Although physiotherapy is not listed as a priority occupation, it is an eligible occupation.

If you would like to assess the opportunities available under this program, visit the Business group’s Facebook page and follow the link.

The APA policy team is continuing to assess workforce issues for physiotherapy as part of its targeted advocacy work.

We are continually in contact with our regulators, government departments, universities and physiotherapy boards to assess what more can be done.

Along with other profession leaders, the APA will be represented at a think tank this month hosted by the Australian Physiotherapy Council, where workforce issues will be high on the agenda.

Discussions will centre on the profession’s strategies to ease the workforce shortage.

Some other issues to be covered include new graduate readiness, student placements, career longevity/pathways, physiotherapy retention, physiotherapy assistants, first contact practitioners, scope of practice, prescribing rights and data collection.

I hope you all take care and stay safe over the coming months.