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The Australian Physiotherapy Council builds partnerships in India as Indian Curriculum reform takes shape

The Council has marked an important chapter in international collaboration with its recent visit to Hyderabad, India, arriving at a pivotal moment in the nation’s physiotherapy history. India’s National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) has introduced a groundbreaking Competency Based Curriculum for Physiotherapy, a reform widely regarded as historic for professional education and regulatory alignment across the country.

The newly developed curriculum, launched by India’s Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in partnership with NCAHP, aims to standardise physiotherapy training nationwide, elevate clinical competency, and ensure students graduate with skills aligned to modern health system demands. The States and education providers are preparing to transition to the national curriculum from September 2026. The initiative forms part of a wider overhaul covering ten allied and healthcare professions, reinforcing India’s vision of producing globally competent practitioners.

At the heart of the Indian physiotherapy reform is a strengthened professional identity for its estimated 52,000 physiotherapists. The national curriculum aims to produce physiotherapy graduates recognised as autonomous, first contact practitioners equipped for independent clinical decision making, comprehensive diagnosis, treatment, health promotion, and multidisciplinary collaboration, contact practitioners equipped for independent clinical decision-making, comprehensive diagnosis, treatment, health promotion, and multidisciplinary collaboration.

Against this backdrop of ambitious national reform, the Council’s leadership CEO Mr Anton Barnett-Harris, Deputy CEO Dr Tamsin Garrod and General Manager of Engagement, Ms Rachel Reichman attended the Society of Indian Physiotherapists (SIP) 10th annual conference, held in Hyderabad.

During the national conference, the Council learned more about the context of physiotherapy education and regulation and met with regulatory, academic and professional stakeholders. We were warmly welcomed and enjoyed the breadth and depth of the presentations given by speakers from across the Indian physiotherapy profession.

Anton was invited to present and share about the Council’s work in accrediting Australian entry-level university programs and assessing the competency and clinical capabilities of internationally trained physiotherapists.

Tamsin and Rachel joined educators and leaders at a local university, Malla Reddy Vishwavidyapeeth University, to explore emerging opportunities for knowledge exchange, particularly around accreditation systems, competency based education and workforce readiness.

Australia’s well-established accreditation and assessment systems, combined with India’s new standardised curriculum designed to raise national standards, revealed opportunities for collaboration during the discussions.

The Council’s visit underscored a shared commitment between Australia and India to advancing physiotherapy education grounded in safety, quality and innovation.

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