Dr Brooke Conley is a proud Ngiyampaa woman, Physiotherapist and Senior Research Fellow based in Melbourne/Naarm, Australia. Brooke began working with the Australian Physiotherapy Council in September 2023, and brings her clinical and research expertise, which focuses on improving musculoskeletal health and wellbeing outcomes and care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
The Council aims to utilise its accreditation responsibilities to effectively shape and advance the quality of physiotherapy education and the next generation of physiotherapy graduates. We’ve recently refreshed our Accreditation Standards, which include greater emphasis on Cultural Safety with a stand-alone domain.
Given your involvement in the Council’s accreditation panels, could you provide examples of how education programs are addressing accreditation requirements regarding the integration of First Nations cultural perspectives within their curricula?
As part of the Professional Reference Group that informed the refresh of the standards, it was great to see the strong conversation this generated and that it led to Cultural Safety being recognised as a stand-alone domain, one of only six overall. I commend the APC and all contributors for this decision. It’s a significant step for the physiotherapy profession and reflects a clear commitment to doing things differently and better.
We’re already seeing the flow-on effects in universities, with the recent growth in both the amount and quality of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education across physiotherapy degrees. A number of universities are doing this well, whether that’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander physiotherapists and educators leading curriculum design and delivery or holding leadership roles that shape courses; offering experiences so students can connect with local Communities and learn about their histories and cultures; using simulated patients to build real-world skills; or developing strong clinical partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services. There’s a real sense that universities are becoming more inclusive and creative in how they approach this work, which aligns with our ways and is leading to some really exciting, Indigenous-led initiatives. Ultimately, I believe this will help graduate physiotherapists who are not only clinically capable, but who can also provide culturally safe, holistic care – something that benefits all patients, not just Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
Recently, the 2026 ‘Closing the Gap’ Report was released, and one of the important indicators is further education pathways. This year’s report showed that while progress has been made, the target is not on track to being met.
As a healthcare practitioner and researcher, you know firsthand the value of education pathways and encouraging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people to enter university. In your view, what measures are necessary to increase the enrolment of physiotherapy students from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds?
There’s still a lot of work to be done in this space. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples currently make up just 0.7% of the physiotherapy workforce, which is well below population parity, and it’s something many of us are actively working to change.
Addressing this requires a multi-layered approach. We need to better promote physiotherapy as a career and the real impact it can have. It’s such a rewarding profession, and that message needs to reach Communities. Also, representation matters, you can’t be what you can’t see!
From there, schools and universities play a key role in providing strong support systems, not just academically, but also socially and financially. Physiotherapy degrees can be challenging and often involve long periods of study including placements, often away from home. From my own experience, I relied heavily on my physiotherapy cohort, Indigenous student support unit, the broader university environment, as well as my family and friends to get through.
I think a key issue is that while many universities have strategies to increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander physiotherapy students, that’s often where the focus stops. There needs to be a shift from simply getting students through the door to genuinely supporting their experiences, success and sense of belonging once they’re there.
Support beyond university is also critical. Organisations like Indigenous Allied Health Australia and the Australian Physiotherapy Association provide opportunities to attend conferences, connect with other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander physiotherapists, and stay engaged with the latest evidence. There is a need for broader and sustained financial investment in initiatives that are currently limited or lacking, such as professional development and career opportunities, to strengthen and grow the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander physiotherapy workforce.
You’ve been recognised by Community and others across healthcare and education as a role model and leader for physiotherapy students coming from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds. From your experience, what have been some of the greatest supports and enablers to becoming a physiotherapist and what advice would you provide to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students considering a career in physiotherapy?
The greatest supports for me will always be my family and Community. Without my parents encouraging me and my sister to go to university, and being there every step of the way, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I also carry the work of those who came before me - people who opened doors so I could walk through them. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunities I’ve had, and I hope to open a few more doors for those who come after me.
From speaking with friends and colleagues, a lot has changed in the physiotherapy landscape over the past 10+ years. We’re seeing a growing cohort of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander physiotherapists stepping into every area of the profession whether it be musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiorespiratory, paediatrics and beyond. It’s really exciting to see the change that’s happening and the impact mob are having across physiotherapy, and that’s something that continues to motivate me.
My biggest advice to young people coming through school or university would be that anything is possible, and there is a deadly network of people who are in your corner. So, dream big and see where the world takes you, because in physiotherapy there are endless opportunities and pathways to explore, and you can make a real difference for mob.
For government, universities, schools and physiotherapy organisations, there is an urgent need to invest in future Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders. We bring invaluable, longstanding knowledge, experiences and ways of working to the profession that strengthen care for all. This expertise must be recognised, properly resourced and actively supported because it is central to shaping the future of physiotherapy.
You lead and contribute across different spaces—community, clinical practice, research and universities. How has your experience and leadership in these different contexts shaped your approach to accreditation work with the Council?
My leadership across community settings, physiotherapy practice, research, and education gives me a systems level view of the profession and a clear understanding of what high quality training must deliver. Experience across private practice and my current work within an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation keep me closely connected to clinical practice and responsive to community priorities, particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
Through extensive roles in national research and advisory processes, professional physiotherapy and musculoskeletal organisations, and university teaching, I remain engaged with current evidence and the evolving workforce landscape. These experiences shape my approach as an APC accreditor by enabling me to understand the full continuum of physiotherapy from research and education through to practice, and from policy to patient care. This allows me to focus on whether programs are genuinely equipping graduates to deliver care that is relevant, appropriate, and effective across diverse practice settings.
Conclusion:
Thank you, Brooke, for your work with the Council as an Accreditation Panel assessor, helping shape and inform accreditation of physiotherapy programs across Australia. We recognise the valuable perspectives you bring, including how universities need to deliver culturally safe environments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and students, and opportunities for all healthcare students to learn how they can become culturally responsive/safe practitioners.
If you would like to learn more about how the physiotherapy sector can advance Indigenous health and wellbeing globally, see the recently published “Moving Forward Together” series developed by Brooke and 31 collaborators.