Pathway To Australia For Pakistani Physiotherapists
A Pakistani physiotherapist is eligible to apply for a license in Australia. Typical pathway for overseas-qualified physiotherapists, including Pakistani physiotherapists, to gain registration in Australia:
1. Assessment by the Australian Physiotherapy Council (APC):
The Australian Physiotherapy Council (APC) is the assessing authority for overseas-qualified physiotherapists in Australia. Their role is to ensure that your qualifications and skills meet Australian standards. Most overseas-qualified physiotherapists will follow the Standard Assessment Pathway, which typically involves several stages:
Eligibility Assessment: This is a document-based assessment to confirm that you hold an appropriate entry-level physiotherapy qualification. You will need to submit certified copies of your qualifications, academic transcripts, and other relevant documents. As part of this, you will also need to complete Cultural Safety Training.
1.Written Assessment: If your eligibility is approved, you will proceed to a written assessment. This assesses your knowledge, problem-solving, and decision-making skills against the Physiotherapy Practice Thresholds in Australia.
2.Clinical Assessment: Upon successful completion of the written assessment, you will undertake a clinical assessment. This practical assessment evaluates your clinical competency.
3.Final Certificate: Once you successfully complete all stages of the APC assessment, the APC will issue you a Final Certificate. This certificate is crucial for applying for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
2. Registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA):
After receiving your Final Certificate from the APC, you can apply for registration with the Physiotherapy Board of Australia, which is part of AHPRA. AHPRA is the national regulatory body for health professionals in Australia.
Provisional Registration (Limited Registration for Supervised Practice):
Provisional registration is available and is often a necessary step for many overseas-qualified physiotherapists, including those from Pakistan.
Interim Certificate: After successfully completing the Eligibility Assessment and Cultural Safety Training with the APC, they will issue an Interim Certificate.
Supervised Practice: This limited registration allows you to work as a physiotherapist in Australia under supervision. The period and requirements for supervision will be determined by the Physiotherapy Board of Australia, based on your individual assessment and the Australian practice standards. This supervised practice helps you gain clinical experience in the Australian healthcare system before you can apply for full General Registration.
Good News For Pakistani Physiotherapist
The Cultural Safety Training for international physiotherapists in Australia is conducted online. It’s a self-paced online course that you complete as part of your assessment process with the Australian
Physiotherapy Council (APC).
Details about the online training:
Format: It’s an online course typically consisting of 6 learning modules.
Duration: It’s estimated to take approximately 5 hours to complete, but you can work through it at your own pace.
Assessment: You must successfully complete the entire course and achieve a pass mark of 80% on the accompanying exam. You are usually allowed to repeat the exam until you achieve the required pass mark at no additional fee.
Access: Once you apply and pay for your Eligibility Assessment with the APC, you will gain access to the Cultural Safety Training course through your candidate dashboard.
Authorship: The course is developed in partnership with Indigenous physiotherapists and educators, often in collaboration with institutions like the University of Melbourne.
Fee for Cultural Safety Training:
The fee for the Cultural Safety Training is AUD $228.
So the Sequence is:
Eligibility Assessment(APC) + Cultural Safety Training (APC) = Interim Certificate (APC) other AHPRA requirements (English language, criminal history check, supervision plan, etc.) = Limited Registration for Supervised Practice (AHPRA)
Step After Completion of Supervised Practice:
- Pathway to Full Registration: To obtain full (general) registration as a physiotherapist in Australia, you will need to complete additional assessments with the Australian Physiotherapy Council (APC). This typically involves:
- Written Assessment (APC Test): This theoretical exam assesses your knowledge of physiotherapy practice in alignment with Australian standards.
- Clinical Assessment: This is a practical, hands-on examination to evaluate your clinical skills and ability to apply your knowledge in real-world scenarios.
CONTACT
MAHMOOD SALEEM
Advocate High Court
Immigration Consultant
Call 0321-4314001
WhatsApp 0333-5769655