The Bachelor of Physiotherapy degree at the University of Newcastle trains world-class physiotherapists. Their graduates work worldwide, helping individuals of all ages overcome movement disorders caused by injuries, disease and disability. In this rewarding career, you can help restore mobility and quality of life for countless patients.  In this program, you’ll learn to work in a hospital to develop exercise programs for older clients with movement disorders. You’ll study courses which will prepare you for work on a sports field, supporting athletes’ mobility and treating injuries. Or you could choose to specialise your degree in child development, helping children and adolescents reach important development milestones through individualised programs.

Why study at the University of Newcastle?

• Learn from research leaders – our University is a global leader in medical and health science research, keeping you on the forefront of breaking research discoveries.
• World-class facilities – hone your skills using our quality on-campus laboratories outfitted with modern physiotherapy equipment.
• Hands-on experience – gain 1,000+ hours of significant real-world experience through clinical placements in public and private centres. You may also have the opportunity to travel overseas for an international placement.
• Tick the boxes for professional registration with the Australian Practitioner Health Regulation Agency (APHRA).

What the course involves

Newcastle’s physiotherapy studies will teach you theoretical knowledge in biomedical and behavioural sciences. You will also have plenty of opportunities to hone your skills through hands-on professional placements. As part of your physiotherapy coursework you will:

• Learn about the movement and function of the human body, gaining the medical skills to help patients overcome movement disorders caused by injuries, disease or disability.
• Gain professional physiotherapy skills through case-based training and interactive team work activities designed to help you become a creative thinker and self-directed learner.
• Learn exceptional communication and interpersonal skills needed to work one-on-one with patients as a physiotherapist.
• Develop critical research skills that will set you in good stead for life-long learning in the field of physiotherapy.

The Bachelor of Physiotherapy at the University of Newcastle allows you to study courses in areas such as:

• Advanced anatomy and physiology
• Clinical physiotherapy studies
• Health promotion
• Community health
• Research methodology

All University of Newcastle physiotherapy students graduate with an Honours degree, giving you a distinct advantage when seeking employment. As part of the Honours component you can choose from two different pathways:

• Graded Honours – this stream develops your skills with a research project in your chosen area. At the end you will be given a grade based on your research thesis. You can use this qualification to move onto further research such as a PhD or Masters coursework.
• Ungraded Honours – this stream develops your expertise in your core studies and your chosen discipline area. You will successfully complete with honours based on placements and coursework.

Clinical Work Experience

All University of Newcastle physiotherapy students complete more than 1,000 hours of professional practice during their degree, starting in first year. During your placement, you are mentored and supervised by qualified physiotherapy professionals.

You can undertake your placement in a variety of settings, both locally and nationally, including mandatory rural placements.

Placement settings could include:

• community health centres
• hospital outpatient clinics
• hospital wards
• private practices
• rehabilitation units

You will also have access to quality physiotherapy educational facilities on-campus.

Entry Requirements

All students applying to University of Newcastle’s Physiotherapy program require a high school diploma with a minimum GPA of 89%.

Prerequisites: HSC Chemistry, either Physics or Biology and Advanced English or equivalent

Professional Recognition

University of Newcastle’s Bachelor of Physiotherapy program is accredited by the Australian Council of Physiotherapy.  Graduates are eligible for physiotherapy registration in any State or Territory of Australia through the Physiotherapy Board of Australia.  Graduates applying to licensing in Canada will be required to provide details of their program of studies to the relevant bodies and sit a licensing examination.

Students wishing to license as a physiotherapist in Canada should contact the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy for procedures and accreditation procedures. The CAP is the national federation of provincial/territorial regulators in Canada.

KOM Consultants understands the process and requirements needed to enter the Physiotherapy profession in Canada.  Contact KOM Consultants for more information.  All students applying directly through KOM Consultants will be supported with the latest information on the accreditation process.