Physiotherapists are familiar with the Physiotherapy Board of Australia (the Board)—after all, you have to renew your registration through the Board and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) every year. 

However, the Board has a much wider role that goes beyond registration, working across a range of areas to keep the public safe and promoting confidence in the quality of services provided by physiotherapists and students. 

As part of the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme and guided by the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, the Board is responsible for: 

• 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. 

Development of standards, codes and guidelines

The Board supports safe practice by publishing regulatory standards, codes, guidelines, updates and other resources for physiotherapists, students and the public. 

Before developing or changing these resources, the Board conducts extensive consultation to make sure that everyone affected has the opportunity to contribute. 

There are six stages of the consultation process for a National Board: development, preliminary consultation, review, public consultation, revision and finalisation, and publishing and implementation. 

During the consultation stages, the Board will engage with government organisations, peak bodies such as the APA, consumer organisations, practitioners and the public as well as internal stakeholders within Ahpra. 

The Board then collaborates with Ahpra to implement any changes and there is a review into the effect of those changes. 

Compliance with standards 

Physiotherapists need to comply with the Board’s registration standards. 

When you apply to renew your registration, you will make a declaration that you have (or have not) met the registration standards for the physiotherapy profession and Ahpra may audit your compliance with these standards. 

Registration and Notifications Committee 

The Board has established a National Registration and Notifications Committee that is responsible for the management of registration and notification (complaints) matters. 

The committee is involved in decision-making, review and assessment, oversight of monitoring of restrictions or conditions and undertakings imposed, and advising the Board about emerging trends in registration and notifications. 

Accreditation 

The Australian Physiotherapy Council is the accreditation authority of the Board. It accredits education providers and programs of study for the physiotherapy profession. 

Under the National Law, the Board and the Australian Physiotherapy Council have distinct yet complementary responsibilities that support the safe and effective practice of physiotherapy in Australia. 

The Physiotherapy Board is proud to support the safe and effective care delivered to the public by physiotherapists across Australia. 

The Board would like to acknowledge and thank physiotherapists for their commitment to high-quality care and collaboration across the healthcare system. 

The healthcare system is strengthened by the dedication and professionalism of practitioners. 

Visit ahpra.gov.au/Resources/Procedures.aspx to find out more about the development of National Boards standards, codes and guidelines; physiotherapyboard.gov. au/Registration-Standards.aspx for more information on registration standards; physiotherapyboard.gov.au to find out more about accreditation; and tinyurl.com/ S28JNW1 for more on declarations and the audit process.