30 Jul 2025

How to Become a Physiotherapy Assistant in Australia?

Physiotherapy Assistant roles get you right into the action of helping people recover and get stronger. You'll support patients through their recovery, working with Physiotherapists in hospitals, clinics and people’s homes.

And with plenty of demand for Physios in Australia, you’ll be starting a career in a booming industry. If you want to get into this line of work, read on to find out what you need to study and the experience you need to get a head start. 

What does a Physiotherapy Assistant do?

First things first, what is the role of a Physiotherapy Assistant? As a Physiotherapy Assistant, you'll spend your days working with Physiotherapists to help patients through their treatment. It's a mix of hands-on patient care and admin work that keeps clinics running.

Your day-to-day includes helping patients do their exercises, setting up machines and keeping track of how people are going. You'll also help people move around, show them how to use walking aids and keep them motivated during their recovery.

You could work in a number of settings, like hospitals, private practices and aged care homes.

How to become a Physiotherapy Assistant: Step-by-step

Getting qualified is pretty straightforward. You need formal education plus practical experience to get job-ready.

1. Study allied health assistance

Start with the HLT33021 Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance, which covers the fundamentals for physiotherapy support roles. This nationally recognised qualification teaches you medical terminology, infection control and patient communication.

If you want to specialise, go for the HLT43021 Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy Focus. This qualification gives you more training to work in physiotherapy.

2. Get practical experience

Both qualifications include mandatory placement in real physiotherapy settings. You'll apply classroom learning in actual clinics, build confidence with patients and get some job contacts through your placement provider. 

3. Apply for jobs

Once you've got your qualification and prac hours, you can start applying for Physiotherapy Assistant positions. Use your placement contacts, check hospital websites and look at job boards like SEEK for opportunities.

Physio-Assistant2

Physiotherapy Allied Health Assistant key skills

Physio Assistants are very well-rounded people with a mix of people skills and technical know-how. Here are the top things you’ll need to master in this role:

  • Communication: You'll work with patients who might be in pain, frustrated or anxious. You need to explain exercises clearly and relay information clearly.

  • Empathy: You need to understand how to be sensitive around patients going through difficult recoveries. Your support can make a real difference to them.

  • Organisation: You should be able to keep track of patients and appointments. This keeps everything running smoothly.

  • Teamwork: You'll work under a Physiotherapist's supervision, so being able to take direction well and contribute positively makes everyone's job easier.

You’ll obviously also need job-specific skills you’ll learn in your course. To see the full list of units — which are the skills you’ll learn — see our allied health course page.

What is a Physiotherapy Assistant’s salary and progression?

According to SEEK, the average Physiotherapy Assistant salary is $77,143 per year. This changes depending on where you live and your level of experience.

Career outlook is strong, driven by Australia's ageing population and increased focus on rehabilitation services. Regional areas sometimes offer more competitive salaries and extra benefits to attract skilled staff.

As far as career progression goes, many assistants use their experience as a pathway to study physiotherapy at uni, or get into other allied health professions.

Why study with Foundation Education?

Foundation Education's physiotherapy assistant training combines flexible online learning with hands-on experience that employers want. Our expert team bring real-world experience, and our physiotherapy-specific course material means you're learning what practices actually need. With dedicated support, flexible payment options and placement assistance, getting qualified is within reach.

Ready to start your physiotherapy assistant career? Call our Careers Advisors at 1300 616 197 or enquire online to discuss which qualification suits your goals.