From research to reality …
In response to Australia’s healthcare workforce shortages and the ongoing need for skilled physiotherapists, the Australian Physiotherapy Council has launched a bold transformation in the assessment of internationally qualified physiotherapists.
The newly introduced Australian Physiotherapy Entry Pathway (APEP) marks a significant milestone in the Council’s commitment to innovation, accessibility, and workforce readiness.
Research-informed design
Several years ago, we invested in research to innovate and transform our current model of physiotherapy assessment. The research team of Brooke Flew, Lucy Chipchase, Darren Lee and Jodie A. McClelland looked at the Council’s use of clinical case-based assessments to assess internationally trained physiotherapists seeking registration in Australia.
Since 2018, clinical assessments using simulated (actor) patients were delivered in the purpose-built Simulation Lab at the Council’s Melbourne facility. It was against this background that the researchers considered future contemporary and innovative mechanisms for assessing physiotherapists clinical competency.
As lead researcher, Ms Brooke Flew stated in her research paper ‘the ongoing evolution of health professionals’ practice, education, and accreditation necessitates innovative approaches to clinical case-based assessments. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for flexible and adaptable assessment strategies, such as online assessments, to maintain a steady stream of health professionals entering the workforce.’
The research findings emphasised the need for:
- Competency-based assessment that reflects real-world clinical reasoning, safety, and communication.
- Mini case studies over generic MCQs to better assess scope of practice and ethical decision-making.
- Remote delivery to increase accessibility while maintaining rigor and reliability.
- Rubric clarity to distinguish between satisfactory and exemplary performance.
The research found that, although assessing clinical competence has traditionally been conducted via in-person assessments, the alternative online format options were both comparable and viable. This was valuable input into the research-informed design of our Australian Physiotherapy Entry Pathway (APEP).
Innovative physiotherapy assessments for health workforce
Darren Lee, General Manager of Innovation and Research, spoke about our recently launched new entry pathway.
APEP embodies our vision to transform assessment practices through innovation, accessibility, and responsiveness. Research-driven solutions help us ensure talented physiotherapists from around the world can seamlessly join the Australian healthcare workforce.
APEP offers internationally qualified physiotherapists the Capability Assessment, a virtual 1:1 oral viva exam with an experienced Australian physiotherapist, designed to evaluate clinical judgment, safety, and professional scope.
As identified by the research project, any future physiotherapy assessment model would also need to consider how to appropriate assess hands-on skills, recognising these could not be easily assessed via a remote assessment mode.
This recommendation informed the Council’s innovation and development of the new APEP pathway, with the inclusion of the face-to-face Clinical Workshop, a hands-on training and assessment full day which concludes the assessment pathway.
APEP is designed to deliver 80% of the assessment pathway via remote mode, reducing travel costs for candidate assessments, increasing accessibility and seeking to enable candidates to progress more quickly into the Australian healthcare workforce.
For internationally qualified physiotherapists actively engaged in APEP, they can complete their assessment journey from the eligibility stage to Final Certificate within 6 months.
A future-focused Council
The Council’s leadership in assessment innovation reflects its broader commitment to responsive regulation, cultural safety, and professional excellence. We are dedicated to enabling and upholding the standards of Australian physiotherapy, while welcoming global talent into a system that values safety, equity, and readiness.
The Council’s new APEP is not just an assessment pathway — it’s an evidence-based approach to innovating physiotherapy assessment for a stronger health workforce.
