Modern awards set out minimum pay rates but also include higher rates for work performed in less desirable or more demanding conditions. Knowing when these rates apply, and when they may not, is essential to ensure compliance and avoid costly underpayments.

Co-design is an important aspect of physiotherapy research and affects all stages of the research process. In a mini keynote session at APASC25, a panel of physiotherapy researchers and their co-investigators with lived experience discussed how co-design can and should be implemented and its impact on research.

The Australian physiotherapy profession is rightly proud of its research achievements. Here we take a look at two aspects of Australian research—funding and clinical trials—to see how the sector is tracking.

In a career that spanned continents, disciplines and decades, Professor Emeritus Ruth Grant left an indelible mark on the physiotherapy profession and health science education in Australia and beyond. Known for her intellect, integrity and unwavering commitment to advancing her field, Ruth transformed clinical practice, inspired countless students and elevated the status of physiotherapy in academic and professional arenas worldwide.

A randomised controlled trial led by researchers at the University of Sydney found that remotely delivered physiotherapy—involving a single in-person session followed by app-based exercises, phone calls and text messages—is significantly less expensive than traditional face-to-face outpatient physiotherapy. One of the authors, Hannah Withers, answers some questions about the trial.

Physiotherapist and researcher Dr Ruth Hardman has forged a remarkable path, from theatre tours to trailblazing pain care in Mildura in north-west Victoria. With a deep commitment to health equity, Ruth is shaping how community-based services support people living with chronic pain and complex health challenges in regional Australia.

Rural physiotherapists are recognised for their diverse skill set, their ingenuity and their rarity. Melissa Trudinger and Brendan Bugeja explore how to increase both the number of physiotherapists in the regions and the opportunities for them to thrive there.