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Useful experience for physiotherapists includes:

• work as a nurse aide or physiotherapy assistant
• occupational health nursing
• counselling
• work as a personal trainer
• other work in the health sector.

Physiotherapists may do some or all of the following:

• assess and diagnose patients' injuries or functional problems, and decide on treatment
• use a range of treatments to reduce pain and improve movement
• plan exercises for patients to improve their strength and fitness
• keep records of patients' progress
• educate people on how to prevent further injury
• help rehabilitate people who have suffered from strokes or accidents
• educate caregivers and family about the patient's physiotherapy programme.

Shortage of physiotherapists

Physiotherapists are in demand to treat a growing and ageing population.

As a result, physiotherapist appears on Immigration New Zealand's long-term skill shortage list. This means the government is actively encouraging skilled physiotherapists from overseas to work in New Zealand.

According to the Census, 4,482 physiotherapists worked in New Zealand in 2018.

Demand for physiotherapists across a range of areas

Many graduates find work in clinics specialising in sports and musculoskeletal injuries (which relate to bones and tissues such as muscles and tendons).

However, demand is also high for physiotherapists to treat patients with other health conditions such as cardiovascular (heart) and neurological (nervous system) conditions. Graduates who want to gain skills in treating these conditions should look for work in hospitals, or private businesses that offer a wide range of opportunities in community rehabilitation.

Physiotherapists work in public and private health organisations

Physiotherapists usually work for:

• private physiotherapy clinics
• district health boards at hospitals or in the community
• private hospitals and doctors' surgeries.

About a third of physiotherapists are self-employed and work in private practice. 

Physiotherapy New Zealand

(04) 801 6500 - pnz@physiotherapy.org.nz - www.physiotherapy.org.nz

Physiotherapists may progress to:

• work in managerial positions
• work in teaching and research roles
• set up their own clinics.

Physiotherapists may specialise in areas such as:

• cardiorespiratory – diseases of the heart and lungs
• hand therapy – elbow-to-fingertip injuries
• musculoskeletal – injuries to bones and connective tissues
• neurology – disorders of the nervous system such as autism
• occupational health – promoting health and wellbeing at work
• paediatrics – helping children with a physical disability
• working with older adults – helping to increase movement and prevent or fix injury
• helping people to manage chronic pain – for example, from arthritis 
• sports injuries. 

Physiotherapists need to be:

• supportive and positive
• able to gain people's trust
• able to work well in a team
• good listeners and communicators
• able to relate to people from a range of cultures and backgrounds
• good at planning and organising.