I’ve been a physiotherapist for six years in Australia. In Australia, physiotherapy is extremely challenging to get into via a university. For instance, the TER score (score following you finish your high school certificate) was 93 in 2000. That was the third highest score to apply for via university. Now, you may possibly assume that the greater the difficulty to apply, the greater the prestige, revenue and satisfaction the job will be. You feel so suitable? Incorrect!
Let me inform you, physiotherapy or physical therapist as a career decision is not what you assume. I came to believe when carrying out the course I anticipate a higher income and high levels of satisfaction, but from my knowledge and other folks this is completely incorrect. I have good friends who have been performing physiotherapy for a lot more than 5 years who have changed careers due to the fact they thought physiotherapy will get them nowhere. I’ve been told by a single of the board members of the physiotherapy association that there is no physiotherapist functioning complete time in a private practice above 45. So it appears several physiotherapists are not happy with their profession.
So why is it that many physiotherapists are not satisfied with their careers? I can give you 3 very good causes.
1st is the revenue. Our revenue is around $60-70k year on typical, but the ceiling for physiotherapist to get is about $one hundred-110k a year (which is rare) if operating for someone or in the public sector. Now in the private sector (functioning in your personal practice) you can make significantly additional, about $100k or greater. But setting up and functioning in the private sector cost income and it is extremely costly. You have to pay rent, equipment, labor and numerous other expenses. So in the finish, you could not make much because of all the costs.
Second is the level of satisfaction. You may well feel helping men and women get superior makes you happier, it does. But there are numerous a lot more folks who do not get better. Also, the job that you do in physiotherapy is extremely monotonous it is either performing assessment, electrotherapy, exercises or hands on work (which I essentially call massage). Men and women who operate as a physiotherapist will most most likely have hand, wrist or back discomfort since the job demands you to do repetitive movements or awkward postures most of the time. For instance bending down to treat a patient on a bed,
Third is safety. If you do added courses or have masters degree to specialize in physiotherapy, most most likely that will not assure you additional income or status. There is a lack of differentiation involving an experienced physiotherapist or an inexperienced physiotherapist in terms of pay. Also, the future of physiotherapy as a profession is overtaken by other health pros such as chiropractors and even nurses.
This is due to incompetence of the physiotherapy board and association of pushing our status in government and common public opinion into insignificance. It seems that the physiotherapy association has no lobbyist in the government or insurance sector thereby cutting our status as a well being specialist. For instance, insurances are cutting physiotherapist rates and solutions (for instance HBA in the UK) as they see physiotherapy as not crucial. In autism doctor , physiotherapy as a profession will die out and overtaken by other overall health pros.
So is physiotherapy a fantastic or negative profession choice? I say most surely not a superior career option. But this is my opinion. If you want to get an additional person’s opinion, see your physiotherapist or a particular person who is working in your career.