Physiotherapist
As a Physiotherapist, you’ll work in an Army health unit or Joint Health Command garrison medical centres providing healthcare to members to enhance and maintain the ADF’s operational and support capabilities. You’ll deliver effective and appropriate assessment, diagnosis and therapeutic treatment of disease and injury in the promotion and maintenance of health and wellness, both on operations and in non-operational environments.
What you'll do
You’ll provide physiotherapy services in a range of environments to wounded or injured patients, and pre and postoperative care to aid rehabilitation. There may also be opportunities for you to deploy on operations and exercises.
Your duties may include:
- performing physiotherapy functions through intervention, prevention, examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, education and plan the care of ADF members in a variety of environments
- assisting in the planning, coordination, assembly, deployment and function within an ADF rehabilitation section within a deployed health facility using relevant doctrine and siting principles
- advising members on the operation and maintenance of rehabilitation equipment
- conducting clinical professional development sessions amongst peers and other health care professionals to introduce select basic musculoskeletal principles and physiotherapy skills
- collaborating with other members of the health care team
- developing and maintaining individual technical skills, including familiarisation with other health care professionals to enhance the holistic approach to health care for ADF members.
Opportunities for progression and upskilling continue throughout your career as an officer. As you progress, the Army will provide you with leadership, management, and specialist skills training to develop your ability to effectively manage your teams. You’ll also be provided with training opportunities to further develop your role-related expertise. This world-class training will strengthen your skillset and enable you to become an influential leader in the Army. You’ll have the opportunity to attend update/refresher courses and may also be sponsored for postgraduate courses (as part time or external students) if a service requirement exists.
As an officer in the Army, you may also undertake a posting to an Any Officer role during your career, such as instructor/training roles and staff officer roles. This experience helps you broaden your skill set and prepare for more senior roles.
Following training, you could be posted to one of the many Army bases across Australia, or to a specialist facility for specific roles. You may also be deployed to temporary facilities on combat, disaster relief, peacekeeping and aid provision operations.
On appointment as a Physiotherapist, you’ll usually be posted to a Health Battalion or large medical centre in the commissioned rank of Lieutenant. You can expect to remain in this posting for 1-3 years.
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My role combines my interest in Army with my love of physio.
Requirements and training
You must be an Australian citizen to serve in the ADF. However, Australian permanent residents may be eligible. For more details, visit the "Citizenship" tab on the Eligibility Requirements page.
You can apply for a role in the ADF from 16.5 years of age and must be at least 17 to join. The maximum age to join is 57 years.
You don’t need a driver’s licence for this role but if you have one, it can’t be suspended or cancelled.
All ADF members require a security clearance. As an ADF member, you’ll need to obtain the appropriate level of security clearance for your role. You’ll need a collection of relevant information including background checks and/or interviews so the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) can make an informed assessment to ensure the protection of Government resources and information. Your Careers Coach will explain what level of clearance is required for the career you are considering.
For more information or to learn about how security clearance will apply to you, view the eligibility requirements page.
The minimum requirement for entry into this role is a degree in physiotherapy from a recognised tertiary institution and registration as a Physiotherapist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
Some degree-qualified officers will start their careers at one rank higher than non-graduate officers. Please speak to your Careers Coach for further information.
To join the ADF, you must be healthy and physically fit. This is partially assessed from the completion of an extensive questionnaire covering your medical history, followed by a physical examination.
You’ll also be required to successfully pass a physical fitness assessment.
Male
- Push-ups: 8
- Sit-ups: 20
- Beep Test: 6.1.
Female
- Push-ups: 4
- Sit-ups: 20
- Beep Test: 6.1.
For further details on medical and physical fitness standards, refer to physical fitness standards for entry into the ADF and medical process for entry into the ADF.
You’ll be appointed for an Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS) of 4 years. Subsequent periods of service may be offered subject to the requirements of the ADF and your suitability for further service. You’ll have a Careers Coach who can advise on how IMPS will relate to your chosen occupation and personal situation.
You may request discharge at any time provided you do not have an outstanding IMPS obligation and provide a minimum of 3 months’ notice.
Course: Specialist Service Officer First Appointment Course (SSO FAC)
Duration: 25 days
Location: Royal Military College – Duntroon, Canberra, ACT
You’ll learn fundamental knowledge of:
- leadership and military justice
- weapons handling
- command and control
- unit and personnel administration
- basic military skills
- the ideals of officer behaviour
- attitudes necessary for future employment.
This course is delivered in 2 parts for both full-time and part-time (Reserve) Officers.
- Part 1 – 10 days
- Part 2 – 15 days.
Course: Logistic Officers Basic Course (LOBC) – Health
Duration: 20 days
Location: Army Logistic Training Centre (ALTC), Albury/Wodonga region
You’ll undertake this course in the first 12 months of your appointment, where you’ll learn the fundamental skills required to operate in a deployed environment. The course includes theory, practical and simulated activities.
The LOBC aims to provide Logistic and Health Officers with corps and integrated skills and knowledge to fulfil a range of command and health specialised appointments at the rank of Lieutenant in a foundation warfighting environment.
You’ll have the opportunity to attend update/refresher courses whilst employed by the Army. You may also be sponsored for postgraduate courses (as part time or external students) if a service requirement exists.