working in australia pd032

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THE CHARTERED SOCIETY OF PHYSIOTHERAPY14 Bedford Row, London WC1R 4ED, UK www.csp.org.uk Tel +44 (0)20 7306 6666 Email [email protected]

Document type INFORMATION PAPER

Reference PD032

Issuing function PRACTICE AND DEVELOPMENT

Date of issue DECEMBER 2010

Working in AustraliaWhat a CSP member needs to know


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Working in Australia PD032 December 2010

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Working in AustraliaWhat a CSP member needs to know

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 5Disclaimer ................................................................................................................................. 5Version information ................................................................................................................... 5

2. The National Physiotherapy Professional Body ........................................................................ 6Associate Membership of the APA ............................................................................................ 6

3. Registering to work as a Physiotherapist in Australia ............................................................... 6a) Australian Physiotherapy Council (APC) ........................................................................... 6b) Physiotherapy Registration Board ..................................................................................... 6Registration procedure .............................................................................................................. 7

Eligibility ................................................................................................................................ 7Registration ........................................................................................................................... 7Limited registration ................................................................................................................ 7

Recognition via Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition process .................................................... 74. Migration / Work Permits / Visas ............................................................................................... 8

Australia Visa Requirements ..................................................................................................... 8Further information on visas .................................................................................................. 8

5. Miscellaneous information ........................................................................................................ 8Getting Work ............................................................................................................................. 8

Government recruiting ............................................................................................................... 9Recruiting Agencies/Australian Employers ............................................................................... 9Australian Masters Courses .................................................................................................. 9

Expat Exchange ........................................................................................................................ 97. Your Professional Liability Insurance ...................................................................................... 108. ERUS International Information .............................................................................................. 109. Communicate with physiotherapists around the world ............................................................ 1010. CSP Member Services .......................................................................................................... 1011. International Links ................................................................................................................. 11

World Confederation for Physical Therapy ............................................................................. 11World Health Organisation ...................................................................................................... 11European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies ........................................................ 11

12. CSP Member names and contact details .............................................................................. 11


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Working in Australia

What a CSP member needs to know

1. INTRODUCTION

The following is the information we currently have on practising physiotherapy in Australia.In addition, we have listed useful websites and any other information we feel you shouldknow.

Please note that the information in this document is intended primarily for CSP memberswho are British citizens.Non-UK nationals may be subject to different immigration controls and recognition

procedures when entering other countries to practise as physiotherapists.If you are not a UK national, please take advice from the visa department of the Embassyor Consulate office, and from the relevant physiotherapy association or registration body.

We have included a list of CSP members believed to be currently resident in the country (ifthere are any). These people have volunteered to be a point of contact and help, so feelfree to get in touch with them if you have any questions.They have not volunteered to help you with anything other than advice, which they givefree and in their own time. So please do not overload them with questions andexpectations, or ask them to assist you in finding work or solving any other problems youencounter.If you intend to telephone them, please be sensitive to time differences. A midnight callerwont get as much help as hoped!

It would also be of help if you could add your name to our "Willing to be contacted" list.Don't think your inexperience of the country will be a handicap; the fact that you haverecently addressed the issues of going to work there often makes your experience morerelevant.

Disclaimer

This paper is updated regularly but the CSP cannot guarantee that the information or advice givenin it remains current.You are advised to check all information yourself for accuracy and completeness before making

any decision based upon it.Your input is valuable to us. If you discover any errors or outdated information in this document,please let us know.

Version information

PD032 Version 2Authors: Birgit Mueller-Winkler MCSP and Pat Olver.Last updated: December 2010.Revision date: December 2012.


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2. THE NATIONAL PHYSIOTHERAPY PROFESSIONAL BODY

Australian Physiotherapy Associationhttp://www.physiotherapy.asn.au

The role of the Australian Physiotherapy Association is to assist registered andregisterable physiotherapists with employment, education, lobbying, inter- and intra-professional relationships, insurance, standards of care etc.

Contact the APA for information on standards and codes of ethics, and for moreinformation about practice.Associate Membership of the APA

The Australian Physiotherapy Association has introduced an Associate Membershipcategory for overseas physiotherapists not working in Australia.

Benefits include a selection of APA publications, resources and member access to theAPA website.

For more information visit

http://apa.advsol.com.au/join/associate.cfm

3. REGISTERING TO WORK AS A PHYSIOTHERAPIST IN AUSTRALIA

Unlike the UK, there are two organisations you will need to contact during the registration

process, each with different responsibilities.

a) Australian Physiotherapy Council (APC)

http://www.physiocouncil.com.au/

This is a national standards advisory body which, amongst other things, oversees theassessment of the qualifications of overseas-qualified physiotherapists seeking registrationto practise in Australia. It also oversees the Australian Physiotherapy CompetencyStandards.

It is not responsible for registering physiotherapists. This is the function of the

Physiotherapy Registration Board.The Members of the Australian Physiotherapy Council are the PhysiotherapistsRegistration Board, the Australian Physiotherapy Association and a representative of theSchools of Physiotherapy in Australian Universities.

b) Physiotherapy Registration Board

http://www.physiotherapyboard.gov.au/

The Board is roughly analogous to the Health Professions Council in the United Kingdom.

Registration is handled only by the Registration Board.


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As in the United Kingdom (where the CSP cannot assist with State Registrationapplications, which are the responsibility of the entirely separate, government administeredHealth Professions Council) so in Australia the Australian Physiotherapy Association

cannot intervene or assist in the Australian registration process.

Registration procedure

This comprises four stages:

1. Submission of documentation to APC demonstrating your eligibility to sitthe professional examinations

2. The written exam

3. The clinical exam

4. Registration with the Registration Board.

Successfully going through this process allows you to practise physiotherapy on apermanent basis.

Eligibility

To take the exams, applicants must be deemed eligible by APC, with qualifying educationof no less than three years.

Registration

Members are reminded that registration to practise as a physiotherapist is a legalrequirement in all States and Territories.

All registered physiotherapists pay an annual fee.

Limited registration

Physiotherapists wishing to work in Australia for a defined period of time can apply forlimited registration in the public interest. For this form of registration, which will be issuedfor a maximum of 12 months, an employer has to be named who is willing to supervise theapplicants practice.

The application form can be found on the Physiotherapy Councils website. Applicationsare processed on a case-by-case basis. You should expect this process to take at leastfour weeks from the time your application is received by the Australian PhysiotherapyCouncil.

Recognition via Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition process

Physiotherapists registered in New Zealand automatically have full rights to work inAustralia via the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition process. Therefore, if an overseastrained physiotherapist has already been granted registration to work in New Zealand, theywill not need to go through the Australian registration procedure.


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4. MIGRATION / WORK PERMITS / VISAS

Australia Visa Requirements

There are three main categories of visa permitting you to work - emigrant, temporaryresident or working holiday visa.

Visit the Australian Governments official immigration website for details:

http://www.immi.gov.auThere are websites which charge a fee to assist you with your visa application. It is notnecessary to use an intermediary to obtain a visa and the CSP cannot endorse any ofthe commercial sites.

Further information on visas

For further information on migration and visa issues, application forms, and any otherqueries, you should contact the Australian High Commission in London:

http://www.australia.org.uk

5. MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

Getting Work

UK physiotherapists seem to have an excellent reputation for knowledge, hard work andenthusiasm, and clinical aptitude is rarely questioned. If the jobs are there, they will beoffered.

There are usually many vacancies, especially in the more rural areas. Demand for stafffluctuates in the big cities; in the Australian summer (Jan/Feb) newly qualified staff arecoming on to the job market, and private practices might reduce their workload at this time.

Some points to bear in mind:

Many people who start out as locums will be offered longer term work

At the end of their financial year in May/June, hospitals may not have funding to filllocum posts. If you have trouble, try again in July when the new financial year starts.The best months for jobs are September to November

Work is easier to find if you have two years' experience Hospital jobs are keenly sought after

The private sector is large and lucrative but the corporate nature could present achallenge to those who have not worked in these settings before

Rewarding jobs can be found in rural areas, where you will be exposed to a morevaried caseload. Locums in rural areas are often helped to settle into the community

Finding accommodation may be difficult in larger cities, especially furnishedaccommodation. Regional hospitals may be able to offer accommodation to locums


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If you are in Australia as a temporary resident, superannuation can be reclaimed fromthe State Government when you leave the country. Rebates are, of course, taxed.

Government recruitingThe individual State Health Boards display physiotherapy job vacancies on their websites:

Australian Capital Territory: http://www.health.act.gov.au/c/health

New South Wales: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/

Northern Territory: http://www.health.nt.gov.au/

Queensland: http://www.health.qld.gov.au/

South Australia:http://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/Public+Content/SA+Health+Internet/

Tasmania: http://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/new_home

Victoria: http://www.health.vic.gov.au/jobs

Western Australia: http://www.health.wa.gov.au/home/

Recruiting Agencies/Australian Employers

Global Health Source: http://www.globalhealth.com.au/

Reed Healthcare: http://www.reedhealthcare.com.au/content_static/home.asp

These agencies are particularly helpful in finding an employer when you have limitedregistration.

Australian Masters Courses

Not all Masters courses in Australia require you to complete a research component, butthis is a requirement of UK Masters programmes. You may therefore want to ensure youchoose a Masters programme which does include a research component, so that you havecomparable research skills with UK Masters students.

If manual therapy is your area of interest, you should note that the manual therapy Masterscourses in Australia do not give you automatic eligibility for membership of the CSP

Manipulation Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (MACP) interest group, whereassome UK Masters courses do. Check with the MACP where you would stand if youcompleted the Australian manual therapy Masters.

Expat Exchange

Information exchange and advice from ex-pat residents in many countries around theworld:

http:// www.expatexchange.com


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7. YOUR PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY INSURANCE

The CSPs PLI cover ceased in Australia on 30th June 2005 as a result of a change in

Australian law.CSP members working in Australia for an employer will be covered by their employers PLIinsurance.

Members working in the private sector should arrange separate cover from an Australianinsurance provider such as:

http://www.guildinsurance.com.au

http://www.aon.com

8. ERUS INTERNATIONAL INFORMATION

The CSP Employment Relations and Union Services (ERUS) has links to, and contactswith, a number of organisations with an interest in international employment, human rightsand campaigning issues.

Contact ERUS for further information on +44(0)20 7306 6666.9. COMMUNICATE WITH PHYSIOTHERAPISTS AROUND THE WORLD

If you have internet access, you can communicate online with other physiotherapists fromanywhere in the world.

Discussion forums for physiotherapists in education and practice enable members to shareexperiences, enhance collaboration, make new contacts, aid research, announce eventsand keep up to date with advancements in physiotherapy.

Interactive CSP (current CSP members only):

http://www.csp.org.uk/

JISC Physio discussion list:

http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/physio.html

and the WCPT International Work and Study forum :

http://www.wcpt.org/smfforum/index.php

You may also benefit from keeping in contact via the CSPs Professional Networks andAlliances (formerly the clinical and occupational interest groups):

http://www.csp.org.uk/

of which one group with relevant experience of international working is ADAPT, theChartered Physiotherapists in International Health and Development.

10. CSP MEMBER SERVICES

For all queries, please contact the CSP Enquiry Handling Unit:


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Tel: +44(0)20 7306 6666Fax: +44(0)20 7314 7890Email: [email protected]

Replacement CSP Membership Certificate:If you have lost your original you may obtain a replacement, for a small charge, from theCSP Membership Officer.

CSP Qualifying Certificate:If you qualified by the Diploma route, certified copies are available from the Development& Research Unit Administrator (Education).

Course transcripts:Transcripts giving details of your course content should normally be available from your

University. In case of difficulty, please contact the Development & Research UnitAdministrator (Education).

If you qualified by the Diploma route and your school is now closed, the Development &Research Unit Administrator (Education) will supply a transcript on request.

11. INTERNATIONAL LINKS

World Confederation for Physical Therapy

http://www.wcpt.org

For information about Australia go to the webpage

http://www.wcpt.org/node/24558

World Health Organisation

Country information pages:

http://www.who.int/countries/en/

European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies

Country health system information pages:

http://www.euro.who.int/observatory/ctryinfo/ctryinfo

12. CSP MEMBER NAMES AND CONTACT DETAILS

The following CSP Members are either currently working in Australia or have worked thererecently, and have said they are happy to answer some of your questions.

Please respect their time and the voluntary nature of this service.


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Carol Parker

Email: [email protected]

Victoria

Harriet Tully


South Australia

Pete Hall


If you are, or have recently been, involved in applying to work in Australia, please offer toshare your experiences. Email the CSP Enquiry Handling Unit at [email protected],with the subject Attention: Professional Adviser: International Development.

working in australia pd032

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