Physiotherapy
What is Physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy helps get people moving. Physiotherapists provide assessment and treatment to those who are suffering from impaired movement for any number of reasons. UQ Health Sciences are committed to equipping and releasing students into this vital career to help make the world better.
What Will I Do?
A Physiotherapist will find themselves involved in a range of tasks and activities in any given week, depending on the patient they are working with and the context they are providing services within. Physiotherapists may choose to focus in a particular specialty or field of work such as working with children, the elderly or athletes, or they may decide to take a more general approach. This is a career that provides great flexibility.
With such a wide range of roles available for physiotherapists, they can enjoy a great variety of tasks. In a clinical setting, physiotherapists assess and treat patients by observing movement, such as how a patient moves their arm or how an athlete runs. They are also able to assess position, such as how someone sits at their desk and the subsequent effect of their posture.
Physiotherapists will also measure patient’s abilities such as strength, mobility and general function by timing how long someone takes to walk a set distance, observing how far they can bend their knee or listen to chest sounds with a stethoscope. Perhaps one of the most commonly associated tasks of a physiotherapist is tissue mobilisation though massage, joint movement and muscle stretching by manual handling of the area.
Physiotherapists have an important role in educating clients and their carers regarding the injury diagnosis and how to best manage their condition. This will include a management regime including general and specific exercises for the affected areas or retraining a person to function well after an injury.
A range of administrative duties will also form a part of a physiotherapists role, dependant on the work situation, but can include paperwork, practice management, and personnel management. For those in largely non-clinical contexts, meetings, presentations and management will usually be tasks associated with your role.
Who Will I Work With?
Healthcare is a team activity, and the physiotherapist is a key member of a health care team. Depending on their position, Physiotherapists can expect to frequently be working with other health care team members. They will assist with the overall patient care strategy by providing assessment and advice regarding treatment and management of disorders relating to body movement and pain.
Where Will I Work?
One of the benefits of a career as a physiotherapist is the wide variety of role and work environments available to graduates. Clinical physiotherapists will work in public and private hospitals, clinics or practices. They can also work in community organisations, businesses and government departments. Physiotherapists can also work in non-clinical areas such as case management for health insurance providers, in academia, research or management positions.
If you pursue a career as a physiotherapist, one of the benefits you’ll find is the wide variety of workplace options available for you.
Government and non-government hospitals and health care services are large employers of physiotherapists but there are also many other workplaces in which you will find people involved in this profession.
Is it a Good Career?
Physiotherapists are in high demand in all sectors including rural, regional and metropolitan areas and graduates are well-placed to find employment. Working with patients, and managing their unique needs ensures an interesting and fulfilling day. With the opportunity to specialise in a field of work, to work part-time or full-time, or even start a business, there are a wide range of choices and lifestyles available for graduates.
How Much Will I Earn?
With such a wide variety of workplaces and areas of employment, salary levels vary. The salary range for graduates, depending on a variety of factors, can be between $45,000 and $65,000.
What Qualifications and Skills Do I Need?
People considering a career in physiotherapy will need good communication skills, flexibility and be interested in helping people. An interest in the human body, dedication and the ability to work with a wide variety of people is also important.
The necessary qualifications can be obtained via two program options:
- The first option is a 4 year undergraduate Bachelor of Physiotherapy. Entry requirements include Year 12 or equivalent English and one of Biological Science, Chemistry or Physics. In recent years, the OP level for entry has ranged from 3 - 6.
- The second option is a post-graduate degree in Physiotherapy. This requires prior completion of a bachelor degree in a relevant field. Pre-requisite courses for the program and the entry GPA and can be obtained from the UQ website.
Why Study at UQ?
UQ is proud to offer students excellence, innovation and best practice. You will be taught by world-class researchers, academics and clinicians to ensure you receive a comprehensive education that is of a high international standard. They have developed a comprehensive theoretical and practical Bachelor of Physiotherapy which thoroughly equips its graduates in their chosen career. UQ’s broad foundation of training is enhanced through it’s coverage of sub-specialties including women’s heath, tele-rehabilitation and pediatrics. A variety of clinical placements offered in the final year means you are equipped to help get people moving. UQ provides its graduates with the greatest platform for future success.
Future Pathways
A UQ Degree in Physiotherapy opens up the door to exciting post-graduate studies including the opportunity to pursue specialisation in musculoskeletal, pediatric, neurological or gerontological physiotherapy.
Physiotherapy is an exciting, challenging and rewarding career. The University of Queensland’s study programs for physiotherapy are an excellent choice for students who want to pursue this exciting career.
