APA Welcome new members

We are excited to have you on board as a member of Australia’s Peak body for physiotherapy.

We are committed to professional excellence and career success for our members, which translates into better patient outcomes and improved health conditions for all Australians.

Who we are and why we're here:

  • It's our mission to advance the profession of physiotherapy through lifelong learning,
  • Professional excellence, 
  • Community engagement and health sector leadership for the benefit of our members.
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Membership FAQs

  • Have a question? Search through our FAQs for any common enquiries that you might have.
 

The Australian Physiotherapy Association is Australia’s Peak body for physiotherapy. Being an APA member means you are part of, and support, the collective voice that strengthens the physiotherapy profession and its critical role in the health and wellbeing of all Australians. As a member, you get access to exclusive benefits, support and resources to help you along your own career journey as a physiotherapist.

Your membership subscription is an annual fee that can either be paid up front or through monthly instalments. Your subscription is based on the calendar year, so regardless of your join month, your membership will expire each year on 31 December. Renewals usually open up in November, and we recommend you get in early to secure your next year’s membership to ensure it and your insurance (if applicable) is continuous.

National Groups are networks devoted to specific areas of practice that provide you with an opportunity to connect with like minded colleagues and access a wide range of tailored educational and research resources. There are no eligibility criteria for joining a National Group. You can easily join a National Group by navigating to australian.physio/joinnationalgroup and following the prompts. Alternatively, you’re welcome to contact our friendly Member Support Team on 1300 306 622, so we can help you sign up over the phone.

Your career as a physiotherapist might see you treating a variety of patients across different areas of physiotherapy or workplace settings. As part of your professional journey you might also decide to develop your clinical skills or knowledge in a specific area of practice. APA gives you the tools to make up skilling easy with more than 800 PD activities to choose from (at a discounted price for members). You can also strive to obtain formal recognition of your level of competence with APA Titling and Specialisation. Available to physiotherapists in selected practice areas, Titling and Specialisation is reserved for physiotherapists at the top of their game. You can read more about APA’s career pathway framework at australian.physio/pd/career-pathway

The APA believes that all Australians deserve equal access to safe, high quality, evidence based care. We are the only organisation in Australia that advocates exclusively for the interests of physiotherapists and physiotherapy clients. We advocate for service efficiency, research informed treatment modalities and practitioner scope of practice. Our advocacy covers direct lobbying with members of federal and state parliaments and key stakeholders. We actively participate in education forums and develop strategic discussion papers, position statements and formal submissions, prepared in collaboration with our membership.

The APA believes that all Australians deserve equal access to safe, high quality, evidence based care. We are the only organisation in Australia that advocates exclusively for the interests of physiotherapists and physiotherapy clients. We advocate for service efficiency, research informed treatment modalities and practitioner scope of practice. Our advocacy covers direct lobbying with members of federal and state parliaments and key stakeholders. We actively participate in education forums and develop strategic discussion papers, position statements and formal submissions, prepared in collaboration with our membership.

The APA develops and delivers campaigns that aim to increase awareness of the breadth and depth of physiotherapy amongst consumers, create lasting partnerships with key stakeholders and improve health outcomes. As an APA member you have an important role to play in amplifying our messages and sharing the information among your networks, patients and local communities. We create member only toolkits, fact sheets and social media tiles you can use to help spread the word.

As a registered health professional in Australia, you have certain obligations. These include (but are not limited to):

  1. Ensuring you have professional indemnity insurance (PII) coverage for all aspects of your professional practice; and
  2. Completing a minimum of 20 hours of continuing professional development each year

APA helps you meet these obligations by providing you with options.

Select APA membership types include professional indemnity insurance that complies with (and in some areas surpasses) the standards set by the Physio Board of Australia. Choosing a membership category with insurance included means we do all the work to ensure you get the best PII in the market every year.

The APA library of professional development provides members with access to internationally acclaimed and discounted CPD options. Face to face and online courses are available to help you meet your minimum yearly obligations and both maintain and improve your competence in your chosen scope of practice. Plus, your member exclusive CPD diary takes care of all your record keeping needs.

When you first joined or renewed your membership, a copy of your Evidence of Insurance document was emailed to you. If you can’t locate this, you’re welcome to contact our friendly Member Support Team on 1300 306 622 or info@australian.physio so we can arrange for another copy to be emailed to you.

You can find your CPD hours in your CPD Diary at australian.physio/pd/cpd-diary

Your online CPD Diary records the CPD hours you accrue through participation in the APA’s face to face PD events. You can also manually record other types of CPD you’ve completed in your CPD Diary.

You can change your password in your Member Dashboard at australian.physio/dashboard or reset it without logging in at australian.physio/forget-password

You will need to contact our friendly Member Support Team on 1300 306 622 or info@australian.physio so we can facilitate this for you.

You will need to contact our friendly Member Support Team on 1300 306 622 or info@australian.physio so we can facilitate this for you.

 

 

Take advantage of your member benefits

Explore the benefits

News and publications

Receive regular updates through our publications and eNews.

Professional development

Expand your knowledge and skills through discounted face-to-face and online courses, conferences and events.

Insurance

Be protected by one of the best covers in the market at a highly competitive rate.

APA member extras

Access exclusive offers and discounts through Member Benefits Australia.

Physiotherapy Research Foundation (PRF)

The PRF makes research accessible through infographics, animations, blogs and podcasts, to develop your knowledge and practice.

Find a physio

Boost your presence and referrals through inclusion in the Find a Physio directory.

Classifieds4physios

Buy, sell and search for all your private practice needs.

National groups

Network with peers and stay up-to-date with what’s happening in your field.

Partner services

Benefit from exclusive discounts and offers from APA partner organisations.

Jobs4Physios

Discover jobs in your area or post a listing of your own at a discounted rate.

Resources and support:

Feel supported with member-only resources, the member support team and state branches.

Research

Explore the latest evidence with access to EBSCO and PEDro research databases.

Shop4physios

Purchase a wide range of quality physiotherapy products and resources.

 

Connect and network

Events and conferences

The APA facilitates a number of different ways for you to make new connections and start networking within your professional community. Events and conferences are available to attend in both face-to-face and virtual formats, providing flexibility in an ever-busy world. Learn new skills at a discounted rate and network to your heart’s content at these events.  

National groups

Joining a special interest group gives you access to all regular e-communications, group-specific publications and/or events, and peer-run Facebook groups.

 

Stay up-to-date

Industry news

Give yourself the competitive edge by staying informed through publications and research. Regular updates through our newsletter Flagship, are delivered straight to your inbox, providing details on professional development, APA and industry news and partner offers. 

Publications

Our monthly InMotion publication explores the latest and greatest in the profession, and is available in both print and online formats at no additional cost to you. Don’t forget that if you’ve signed up as part of the Sports and Exercise or Musculoskeletal National Groups, you can also subscribe to our SportsPhysio and InTouch magazines to read the latest in these clinical areas.

Research

The APA is dedicated to a strong and scientific evidence base, which enables practising APA physiotherapists to adopt the latest, safest and most effective techniques when providing care and treatment. The APA helps you make evidence-based practice the core of what you do.

The Journal of Physiotherapy’s research papers and editorials are made freely available online from the day of publication, complementing the incredible Research Portal. The portal gives you access to more than 3000 full-text resources, including our innovative infographics, animations, blogs and podcasts, from world-class medical and allied health research databases, including the complete MEDLINE and CINAHL indexes, to best treat your patient

The Physiotherapy Research Foundation (PRF)

Through member support, the PRF can continue to fund innovative research that contributes to the evidence base of the profession, informs policy, education and clinical practice. As an APA member, the PRF provides you with research translation across all platforms from infographics and animations, to blogs and podcasts. The PRF also fosters innovation through the Pitchfest, allocates grants to develop new and early career researchers, and supports strategy-led research to strengthen APA advocacy efforts. 

 

Enhance your skills

Lifelong learning

The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) is committed to professional excellence and career success for all physiotherapists, which translates into better outcomes and improved health for all. The APA gives its members the tools to make up skilling easy – with more than 800 PD activities to choose from at a discounted price.

Cpd4physios.com gives you access to more than 500 offerings, it’s your home of online learning. With tailored education and learning resources in excess of 20+ special interest areas, there is plenty to explore. Content is developed and delivered by leading physiotherapists, learn and discover through peer-reviewed, high-quality evidence-based courses wherever you are.

The APA Conferences offer a unique opportunity to expand your knowledge and network with like-minded group of individuals who share your passion. This is also where you will have the possibility of presenting your ideas to others and getting new insight. Dive into our all-encompassing clinical conference held every second year, or the Business, Educators, Leadership and Practice focused conference every alternate year.

Career pathways and certification

APA Physiotherapist Titling is a measure of career progress. In addition to a National Group subscription in the related area, APA members must meet a range of eligibility requirements to achieve an APA Physiotherapist Title. Titling opens the doorway to membership of the Australian College of Physiotherapists and, eventually, the prestigious Specialist and Fellow certifications of the Australian College of Physiotherapists.

 

Support throughout your career

Insurance

Professional Indemnity insurance is required by all registered physiotherapists in Australia, and the APA insurance program is not just compliant with registration requirements, but also includes some significantly valuable add ons for you. 

Jobs opportunities near and far

Jobs4physios is a dedicated platform for physiotherapists to find and post available job opportunities across Australia. Jobseekers can search for listings in their local area or upload their résumé in the resume bank for employers to view. You can also sign up for tailored job alerts to notify you of any new opportunities that match your chosen criteria.

Professional recognition

The APAM post-nominals are exclusive to APA members who are also registered physiotherapists. Use the post-nominals on your CV and in your email signature to show your prospective employers, peers and patients that you have aligned yourself with Australia’s peak professional body for physiotherapists.

Big brand perks

The APA has partnered with Member Benefits Australia and various other partners to provide exclusive member access to discounts on a wide range of products such as ASICS runners, JB Hi-Fi gift cards and SleepMaker mattresses.

“I recently purchased a washer and dryer for my business through MBA. The process was easy and it was delivered directly to the clinic in a timely manner. Purchasing the items online was convenient, saved me the time of having to go looking in-store and I saved hundreds of dollars. I highly recommend this service and will continue to use it for future purchases.” - Frank Romeo (July 2021)

Resources

The APA website has a number of other tools and resources available exclusively to you via member-only content on the website. Examples of these include guidelines for practices and clinics, online classifieds and a shop for physios, and a webpage devoted to supporting rural physios including connections to SARRAH resources (the allied health body for rural practitioners).

You also have full member access to an extensive library of best-practice articles and timesaving tips, tools and training resources for those engaged in improving outcomes for injured or ill employees through RTW Matters, and a regularly updated section devoted to COVID-19 guidance for physios.

 

Support for your profession

Advocacy

APA advocacy covers direct lobbying with members of parliament and key stakeholders. We actively participate in education forums and develop strategic discussion papers, position statements and formal submissions, prepared in collaboration with our membership.

Consumer Campaigns

The APA runs various consumer campaigns aimed at increasing awareness of the breadth and depth of physiotherapy among consumers, creating lasting partnerships with key stakeholders and improving health outcomes. For larger campaigns, your membership gives you access to a suite of member only assets, available for your download and redistribution.