Updated physiotherapy practice thresholds released

15 Nov 2023

Today the Physiotherapy Board of Australia has released its updated Physiotherapy practice thresholds in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

The updated document has been jointly developed by the Physiotherapy Board of Australia and the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand and it describes in detail the level of competence required for initial and continuing registration as a physiotherapist in both countries.

The thresholds were last published in 2015 and the updated version released today includes new references to cultural safety, digital competence and interprofessional collaboration.

The new version has undergone extensive consultation over the past two years that included wide engagement with the profession and the public in both Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
Physiotherapy Board of Australia chair, Kim Gibson, welcomed the updated Physiotherapy practice thresholds document.

‘It has been excellent to work closely with our New Zealand colleagues on this project and the document has been written to meet the specific needs of both Boards to describe the entry-level practice for our profession in both countries,’ she said.

‘Both the Australian and New Zealand Boards recognize the benefits of professional mobility made possible by the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Agreement (the TTMRA) and the threshold document is designed to maintain consistent physiotherapy standards and practice across both countries.

‘I encourage all physiotherapists, but particularly our new practitioners, to read the document and familiarize themselves with the expectations of our profession.’

The updated thresholds can be seen in the Accreditation Section of the Physiotherapy Board of Australia’s website.