To work as a physiotherapist in Australia, practitioners must be registered with the Physiotherapy Board of Australia, which is also responsible for setting guidelines for the physiotherapy profession.

Some members of the community and even the profession may feel confused about the board’s role and how it differs from the Australian Physiotherapy Council (APC) and the APA.

To put it very simply, the board is the regulator of the physiotherapy profession.

It works with stakeholders including the APC and the APA to ensure that physiotherapists are competent in their skills and knowledge and that Australians have access to safe and quality physiotherapy care.

The Physiotherapy Board of Australia

The board’s key roles are to regulate physiotherapists; to develop standards, codes and guidelines for the profession; and to consider and make decisions on any complaints about individual practitioners (except in New South Wales and Queensland*).

The functions of the Physiotherapy Board of Australia 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.

The Australian Physiotherapy Council

The APC is the accreditation authority for the physiotherapy profession in Australia, which means that it accredits the physiotherapy programs of study offered by higher education providers.

Its chief role is to ensure that all students graduate with the same competencies to enable them to practise as physiotherapists.

On behalf of the board, the APC develops accreditation standards, accredits and monitors physiotherapy programs of study and assesses overseas-trained physiotherapists who want to practise in Australia.

Together, the board and the APC review and accredit the programs of study and work to ensure that the competency standards are maintained and endorsed.

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

Another role of the APC is to assess the qualifications and skills of overseas-trained physiotherapists for registration in and migration to Australia and to provide recommendations and advice to the board in relation to assessment and accreditation.

The Australian Physiotherapy Association

As a professional membership association that provides its members with support, advocacy and training, the APA is one of the board’s key stakeholders.

The APA also offers physiotherapists continuing professional development, which is an annual requirement set by the board to ensure that practitioners remain up to date and safe to practise.

The bigger picture

The board works with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to ensure that Australians have access to an appropriately skilled workforce.

It is one of 15 National Boards working with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency to protect the public and to set standards and policies that all registered health practitioners must meet.

Head to the Physiotherapy Board of Australia’s website here for a diagram that helps explain the role of regulators and stakeholders in the physiotherapy profession in Australia.

*In New South Wales and Queensland, complaints about practitioners are managed by the Health Care Complaints Commission, the Health Professional Councils Authority and the 15 health professional councils (New South Wales) and the Office of the Health Ombudsman (Queensland).