In April 2025, a national women’s rugby league program advertised an unpaid role for a physiotherapist.

The advertisement was soon amended but it had already sparked an important discussion about volunteerism and other unpaid work in Australian sporting environments. 

In response, the APA Sports and Exercise national group released a document that physiotherapists at all stages of their career could refer to, Member guidance: physiotherapists working for sporting teams and at sports events.

Nicola Mepstead MACP

Although the women’s rugby league club advertisement galvanised the APA into action, Nicola Mepstead MACP says the guidelines have been decades in the making. 

Nicola, who chairs the Sports and Exercise group, says, ‘Sadly, examples of these types of roles are commonplace across professional and semi-professional organisations, fuelling a growing discontent from APA members and strong appetite for this information.’ 

That appetite reflects a broader economic and cultural shift. For one, physiotherapists are increasingly recognising their professional worth. 

‘We have done so much to help people understand the positive value of physiotherapy in regard to sports teams and athletes.’ 

The guidelines ask physiotherapists and their prospective employers to acknowledge that value. 

The economic reality has also changed. 

‘In 2025, society is generally less accepting of working for free and work-life balance is weaker than it was 20, 30 or 50 years ago. 

Physiotherapists don’t have the ability to volunteer as much of their time because their work capacity is taking up 40–60 hours a week. Cost of living has also risen, especially in the past five years.’ 

Nicola adds, ‘We’re not working for fun; it’s not just because we like to play the sport—we’re actually working in a professional capacity.’

Advertisements for volunteer positions with high workloads continue to appear for several reasons.

Most simply, they work—these advertisements attract applicants willing to take unpaid roles to get their foot in the door. 

Also, an outdated mindset persists among some in the profession, Nicola says. 

‘Some older or more senior physios see it as part of the experience of being a young physiotherapist. “That’s what I did in my time,” they say.’ 

This stance normalises unpaid work as a rite of passage but that model is no longer sustainable. Funding issues compound the problem. 

‘Olympic sports like volleyball and softball, for example, aren’t particularly well funded.’ 

This disparity in what different sports can offer means that smaller or lesser-known sports may struggle to remunerate staff appropriately. 

Unpaid work is particularly prevalent in women’s sport. 

‘Women’s sport has been growing exponentially—it’s amazing to see where it will go—but a lot of women are still not able to work as full-time professional athletes. 

If the athlete is not working full-time, then staff aren’t going to be contracted to work full-time. 

Part-time arrangements aren’t the issue; inadequate remuneration is. 

‘Some clubs don’t always see the commercial value and they don’t see the value in investing the money. They are willing to accept a less experienced or qualified physiotherapist. 

For example, a club would advertise a role for the male team and a minimum requirement will be titled sports and exercise physiotherapist. 

The same role for the women’s team will not have this requirement, as the club does not perceive they have the funds.’ 

To this attitude, Nicola says, ‘Money will always be found when a position is valued.’ 

For clubs that may not recognise the value of physiotherapy services, the guidelines aim to educate and advocate. 

‘The guidelines will reinforce the professional value of physiotherapists; the value of our skills, knowledge and expertise; and the benefit we provide to the teams.’ 

The APA is not alone in its belief that clinicians deserve fair compensation. 

Exercise and Sports Science Australia, Dietitians Australia and the Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians all publicly supported the APA’s response in April in calling out the issue of volunteering in sport. 

For physiotherapists, the guidelines primarily serve as a tool to help them navigate difficult conversations. ‘It comes down to phrasing and language. 

If an internship is being offered, is it paid or on a volunteer basis? Do you have a responsibility to be there every day? 

Know your rights under Fair Work and set boundaries before you accept.’ 

Clarity in these conversations is key. Crucially, the guidelines don’t discourage members from volunteering. 

Nicola herself volunteers a significant amount of her time to the APA but the capacity in which she volunteers matters. 

‘I volunteer my experience, my expertise and my time but I don’t volunteer professional services.’ 

When working in a professional capacity, physiotherapists have a right to ask for remuneration for their services. 

‘Everyone has the right to volunteer. It’s not illegal at all and we support that entirely. 

What the member guidelines are trying to say is that you need to look at your own values and ethics. 

If you are engaging in an ongoing commitment with regular time, regular reporting and regular responsibilities, then we would classify that as a job, as work. 

We want to work with these teams and display our value but we expect to be paid for doing a job.’ 

Nicola would like to see fair remuneration become the norm for physiotherapists working in sporting environments. 

To support this vision, she has a simple message for members. 

‘Talk about these guidelines. Make yourself aware. Talk about them within your clubs and teams. Show them to your HR department; show them to your managers.’ 

The new guidelines represent more than a policy document—they’re a tool for cultural change in Australian sport. 

By providing physiotherapists with clear language and frameworks for negotiating fair compensation, the APA is helping the profession move beyond outdated expectations of unfair, unpaid labour. 

Click here to read the guidelines.