After two decades of a busy career, Dr Matt Whalan MACP was ready for his next challenge—achieving the Titling credential through the Australian College of Physiotherapists.

With qualifications in physiotherapy and sports science and a PhD already to his name, Matt opted to undertake the Titling Evidence Portfolio Pathway in the sports and exercise field of practice to have his knowledge and skills formally recognised.

‘Following discussions with the APA, the evidence portfolio pathway sounded quite sensible and appropriate. 

'It gave me an option other than undertaking another master’s degree, which didn’t make a lot of sense to me,’ he says, completing the Titling credential as part of the evidence portfolio pathway pilot in 2024.

The physiotherapy competence framework enables APA members to reflect on their practice and career goals, identify areas for development and evaluate their continuing educational needs. 

The Australian College of Physiotherapists offers credentialing pathways at Titling (Milestone 3) and Specialisation (Milestone 4).

There are two pathways to Titling: academic, which involves undertaking an APA-recognised master’s coursework degree; and the evidence portfolio pathway. 

The latter pathway requires physiotherapists to demonstrate highly developed experience, knowledge and skills in their chosen field of practice via submission of a portfolio of evidence and clinical examination.

The assessment is both rigorous and thorough Matt says, and has the potential to give the pathway equivalence with a master’s degree; ensuring physiotherapists have options when wanting to advance to Titling.

‘I think the new direction of the pathway is good as it is putting a lot more emphasis on the importance of the credential and having the experience—not to earn the title, but to be awarded that title.

‘Yes, you are being acknowledged for your experience, but you are not automatically getting the title.

'However, [in having the evidence portfolio pathway] the profession needs to be careful that we don’t undermine the importance of having a postgraduate education or knowledge base.’

Sport has always been a part of Matt’s life, from playing myriad sports at a young age to providing physiotherapy care to some of today’s world-class elite athletes. 

He has gained global respect as a physiotherapist, sports scientist and clinical researcher.

Matt has worked in private practice for 20 years and is a principal partner at Figtree Physiotherapy in Wollongong. 

He has conducted research at the University of Wollongong and consulted with La Trobe University. 

Dr Matt Whalan MACP.

On top of it all, Matt is also the Player Availability & Perform+ Coordinator with Football Australia and has worked across both the male and female national teams—including the Socceroos, the Matildas and the Olyroos. 

More recently, Matt has taken on an expert advisor role with the FIFA Women’s Division and Washington Spirit (USA).

Matt is an advocate of lifelong learning. He graduated with an honours degree in exercise science and rehabilitation in 2001 and a master’s in physiotherapy in 2003 before completing his PhD in 2020, researching injury prevention in football. 

He has published numerous articles on athlete monitoring and risk reduction, and presented and lectured on injury and illness in sport nationally and internationally.

Producing the best outcomes for people is a core focus of his career, supporting players and patients to overcome or prevent injury, and ensuring his clinic staff offer the best physiotherapy care to patients.

In demonstrating his competency within the framework, Matt identified that components within the model could be used in a clinical setting to structure career pathways for up-and-coming physiotherapists and provide a foundation for ongoing performance management.

‘We’ve now started to put the seven roles [physiotherapy practitioner, communicator, collaborator, leader, health advocate, scholar and professional] that you need to reach within the evidence portfolio into the KPIs of our staff at Figtree Physiotherapy,’ he says.

‘They’ll do short presentations, nothing too onerous, to reflect on what they have done in the past year that may have included professional development, communication or advocacy, and so forth.

‘The whole process has meant we now have a framework within our system to help our physios to progress and move beyond just the common financial aspect of how many patients they are seeing per week.’

Staff have embraced the change, he says, with the business seeing a positive shift in culture. 

‘It’s enabled us to broaden our conversations with the team. 

'We can better evaluate each physiotherapist for their work in the clinical space and give them an opportunity towards the title. 

'It starts to put a bit of value around what we say rather than just what we do.’

The Titling process is challenging, he says, with participants needing to have good time management skills to ‘pull information 
together’ and possess a willingness to self-reflect. 

Community engagement and/or understanding public processes was also beneficial.

‘It’s probably less of a learning process, and more of an organisational process, I guess. 

'Bringing your career history together, showing that you’ve got that level of expertise, knowledge and skills to meet the requirements of a titled physiotherapist. 

'I found that having done research was beneficial as I have publications and other “bits and pieces” that I’ve been involved in that fits all the Milestone categories.

‘I think if you just worked in a clinic and had minimal exposure engaging the community or being involved in public processes,
then you may have difficulty meeting all the requirements’ he says, highlighting the importance of introducing young physiotherapists to the physiotherapy career pathway and credentialing early in their careers.

‘Employers taking an active role in their physios’ career progression has the potential to slow the attrition rate in our industry and sow the seeds for success in Titling and Specialisation.

‘The earlier young physios understand the benefits of self-reflection, collaboration, communication and community engagement, they can build well-rounded careers, have confidence to engage in remuneration discussions and advocate for physiotherapy in the community. 

'It’s all beneficial for the profession’.

Find out more at here or email acp@australian.physio