Subject focus: Physiotherapy in Australia and New Zealand

AUT offers one of the largest physiotherapy programmes in the Southern Hemisphere, and the only one in the North Island of New Zealand. AUT's physiotherapy degree develops physiotherapists who are recognised throughout the world for their knowledge and leadership in health care. Graduates from AUT are at the forefront of a profession that maintains and improves people’s health and wellbeing.

Physiotherapists help people improve their quality of life by working with them to overcome physical problems affecting their movement and function. This includes circumstances where movement and function are threatened by ageing, injury, diseases, disorders, conditions or environmental factors.

A lot of people come into physiotherapy training thinking that it's all about sports injuries. That's because most people learn about physiotherapy after they've had an injury of their own. As well as direct patient care, physiotherapy also covers public health strategies, advocating for patients and health, teaching and research and developing and implementing health policy. The profession is regulated by the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand and is a highly respected profession.

Over the course of the four-year physiotherapy degree you learn to apply the skills of assessment, diagnosis and treatment to almost any problem with the physical body, and will leave with a better idea of where you want to practise.

Bachelor of Health Science (Physiotherapy) Quick facts:

Duration: 4 years full-time


Venue: AUT North Shore Campus, Auckland

Start date: Semester 1 (March)

Application deadline: AUT encourages applications to be lodged by November 1^st the year before you wish to start the course. There are limited places available for this qualification.

Admission and entry requirements: In additional to academic requirements, students must be capable of meeting Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act (HPCA Act) requirements and must also have a suitable police clearance.

Selection criteria: Preference will be given to applicants with the highest rank scores and/or accomplishments in the relevant field. An interview may be required as part of the assessment procedure, though not necessarily in person.

Structure

Below is a summary only. For a comprehensive overview of this qualification, please contact Study Options for a link to further information about this programme.

Year 1

You do eight papers in Year 1, including four common core health science papers. In the second semester of your physiotherapy degree you explore fundamental approaches to assessment and therapeutic touch. You will also develop your understanding of some of the core theoretical dimensions of practice and physiotherapy's emerging role in primary health care.

Year 2

You will be introduced to the management of abnormal function and physiotherapy assessment, including clinical reasoning principles, evidence-based practice and a range of physiotherapeutic techniques. The focus of Year 2 is on developing an understanding of the rehabilitation of disorders of movement and function, exercise-based rehabilitation and clinical science reasoning. You will also be provided with a one-week observation of practice opportunity.

Year 3

You will be introduced to a wider range of complex acute and community health issues in Year 3 of your AUT physiotherapy degree. This requires more detailed assessment, clearer clinical decision-making skills and more advanced treatment strategies, together with an understanding of reflective, professional and ethical practice. You will also be provided with a two-week student assistantship.

Year 4 (includes clinical practice)

The majority of the year is spent in a clinical centre, completing approximately 1,000 hours of supervised physiotherapy practice experience required for registration, as well as a Research Project paper that is normally completed in pairs.

Career opportunities

In New Zealand, about 60% of physiotherapists work privately treating acute sport and accidental injuries, chronic pain, back and neck problems. Many other physiotherapists work in the public health system, and you will find a physiotherapist working on most hospital wards and in many general practices.

Physiotherapists specialise in some of these areas:

• Acupuncture
• Cardiothoracic illness (like asthma, chronic lung disease and heart failure)
• Hand therapy
• Health promotion and primary health care
• Manual therapy (including acute and chronic pain, injury, back and neck problems)
• Mental health
• Neurology (for conditions like spinal cord injury, stroke, Parkinson's Disease, multiple sclerosis)
• Occupational health (including ergonomics)
• Older adults
• Paediatric (including developmental, orthopaedic, neurological and respiratory problems)
• Research
• Sports (injury management, exercise prescription, prevention and promotion)
• Teaching
• Women's health