It is important that the Physiotherapy Board of Australia (the Board) works with the Australian Physiotherapy Council (the Council) to ensure physiotherapists are competent in their skills and knowledge.

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) and the National Boards, including The Board, work within a complex regulatory environment and the regulation of these practitioners is a shared responsibility.

The Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (the National Law) provides a regulatory framework for the accreditation and registration of health practitioners.

One of the Board’s key roles under the law is to ensure access to an appropriately skilled workforce.

The Council is the accreditation authority responsible for accrediting education providers and programs of study for the physiotherapy profession.

The Council is appointed under an agreement with Ahpra, and reports regularly to the Board.

As the accreditation authority, one of the Council’s key priorities is to ensure that graduates are competent and safe to practice.

This is done by accrediting the physiotherapy programs of study that are offered by higher education providers to ensure that all students graduate with the same competencies to enable them to practise as a physiotherapist.

‘The role of the Council is to ensure that Australia has the safest, most ethical physiotherapy practitioners,’ says Physiotherapy Board of Australia Chair, Kim Gibson.

Together, the Board and the Council review and accredit the programs.

The Council has the authority to conduct the accreditation on behalf of the Board and provides regular reporting and updates.

The Council and the Board work together to ensure the competency standards are maintained and endorsed.

Other aspects of the Council’s role are to assess the qualifications and skills of overseas-trained physiotherapists for registration and migration in Australia, and to provide recommendations and advice to the Board in relation to assessment and accreditation.

As part of its strategic objectives, the Board continues to work with and strengthen its relationships with the Council, as well as the Council of Physiotherapy Deans of Australia and New Zealand (CPDANZ), which is made up of all the universities that offer an accredited physiotherapy program across Australia and New Zealand.

‘These partnerships have been particularly valuable during the COVID-19 preparedness response as we worked together to consider the workforce, public safety and clinical education implications,’ says Kim.

‘The strong working relationship the Board has with the Council has enabled us to collaborate, identify and respond to the continually changing professional environment in which we currently operate, particularly in the past 12 months.’

The activities of the Council include:

• accreditation of entry-level physiotherapy education programs offered by higher education providers


• assessment of qualifications and skills of overseas-qualified physiotherapists for registration and migration purposes


• provision of advice, recommendations and consulting services to the Board and other relevant organisations, in relation to accreditation and assessment


• national and international liaison with other professional bodies, regulators and educators on matters related to standards of education and practice and global recognition of physiotherapy qualifications


• maintenance and regular review of the Accreditation Standard.

The functions of the Board include:

• registering physiotherapists and students


• developing standards, codes and guidelines for the physiotherapy profession


• handling notifications, complaints, investigations and disciplinary hearings


• assessing overseas-trained practitioners who wish to practise in Australia


• approving accreditation standards and accredited courses of study.

>> Click here for more information on the Board or here for more information about the Council.