Physiotherapists

The Practice of Physiotherapy

The practice of physiotherapy is described as including:

• assessing, diagnosing, treating, reporting or giving advice in the capacity of a physiotherapist, using the knowledge, skills, attitudes and competence initially attained for registration as a physiotherapist in New Zealand and built upon in postgraduate and continuing physiotherapy education and wherever there could be an issue of public safety;
• advertising, holding out to the public, or representing in any manner that one is authorised to practice physiotherapy in New Zealand.

“Practice” in this context goes wider than clinical medicine to include teaching, research, medical or health management, in hospitals, clinics, general practices and community and institutional contexts, whether paid or voluntary, given that such roles influence clinical practice and public safety.

General Scope of Physiotherapy

“Physiotherapists are registered healthcare practitioners educated to apply scientific knowledge and clinical reasoning to assess, diagnose and manage human function. They promote mobility, health and independence; rehabilitate; and maximize potential for activity.”

Special Purpose Scopes of Practice

In addition to the general scope the Board also proposes to prescribe special purpose scopes for physiotherapists who wish to practice in New Zealand solely for the purpose of:
• teaching, as a visiting expert; or
• obtaining postgraduate training.

Qualifications

The Auckland University of Technology Bachelor of Health Science, BHSc (Physiotherapy)

The Otago University Bachelor of Physiotherapy, BPhty

Competencies

Please refer to Registration Requirements: competencies and learning objectives, The Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand, Wellington, March 1999.