Physio Abroad – Australia
Australia: full of beaches, national parks and some of the most liveable cities in the world – there is something for everyone!

We have lots of opportunities available throughout Australia for physios!
Our team will support you every step of the way—from guiding you through the registration process and advising on popular locations and visas, to organising interviews, connecting you with others, and assisting you throughout your move.
Physio Roles
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MSK – Private Practice/Gym-based
MSK Physiotherapy – High Demand for Overseas Physiotherapists in Australia
Caseload:
Varied musculoskeletal (MSK) caseloads are available in well-established private clinics or gym-based settings (commercial or strength & conditioning). Opportunities also exist in women’s health and Pilates.
Experience Level Recommended: We recommend 2+ years of post-graduate experience. Employers are particularly interested in candidates with private practice experience (even part-time), or those with senior MSK backgrounds. For specialised roles such as women’s health, Pilates, or hand therapy, relevant prior experience is essential.
For applicants with a strong private practice background, the experience requirements may be more flexible
Locations:
We have opportunities all across Australia (except Sydney). We have the most positions in Brisbane, but we have partnerships nationwide.
Community
Caseload:
General Community Roles: Mixed caseload of neuro, elderly, and MSK – often tailored to the physio’s area of interest.
NDIS/Disability Roles: Clients aged 0–65 with a range of needs, including neurological, mental health, and intellectual disabilities – includes paeds
Experience Level Recommended:
Minimum of 2+ years’ experience, preferably senior physiotherapists with relevant experience for the role
Locations:
These roles are less common than MSK, but positions are available throughout Australia in select locations.
Car Requirement:
These roles often require physios to have their own car. In some cases, a pool car may be provided.
Neuro
Caseload:
Private practice neuro positions.
Suggested Experience Level:
3+ years’ experience or senior neuro physios who are looking to commit long-term. Ideally, physios have their own visa (e.g., Skilled or Permanent Visa).
Locations:
Select few locations, mainly Melbourne.
Car Requirement:
Driving license and car usually required for home visits.
Steps To Working With Healthcare Abroad
Where We Recruit
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Physio FAQs
See General FAQs-
Under 30/35’s – The Working Holiday/Work and Holiday Visa is a popular initial visa option for certain age groups/passport holders. This visa allows you to work for 12 months and costs AUD $635 (plus proof of AUD $5000 in savings).
From July 2024, UK passport holders are eligible for x3 WHV, without needing to complete specified/farm work
Looking to stay long-term/bring family/not eligible for the WHV – the most popular options are gaining a Sponsorship or Skilled visa
Sponsorship/482 – visa linked to an employer. Sponsorship requires you to have 2 years of physiotherapy experience and once you have your Australian physio registration approved, we can introduce you to our partners who can offer this. The fees are: $3035 (adult) and $760 (child). This visa has a pathway to permanent residency after 2 years (conditions apply).
Skilled Visa – If you want to gain a permanent residency visa which is not employer supported, you can look at applying for your own Skilled Visa (189/190/491). -
The main fees you need to be aware of are for your Visa (above) and gaining your Australian physio licence (ranges from AUD $1850- $3800 depending on which route you are eligible for)
– We will secure you a full-time role for when you arrive, the salaries are usually between AUD $60-95k
– If you are working in a community role, you will likely need to buy your own car
– The service we provide is completely free for those that would like to be placed in a role with one of our partners -
WHV – We work with employers who are happy for you to start on the WHV, ideally with the plan to then change to a more long-term visa after e.g. Sponsorship or Skilled visa
Sponsorship – the sponsorship visa is expensive for employers so the availability of roles/companies who can offer these visas, depend on the job market at the time. Currently, it is difficult (but not impossible to gain sponsorship offshore), if you can gain your own visa, that would be better!
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Once you have read through the role/visa eligibility information (available on the website/booklets) – please let us know which role/visa you are interested in and the university you attended/graduation year, we will then send through more information about the registration process
We will support you throughout the registration process including free guides and unlimited phone/email support, we are experts and here to help!
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– Allowing for around 7 months would be ideal!
– The registration process timeframe can vary depending on how long it takes to source the documents required, we would suggest you allow for at least 4 months
– Once your registration has been approved, we find 3-4 months is an ideal timeframe for the next steps (securing a role + visa/handing in your notice/getting organised, etc!).
– SA trained physios applying for additional checks e.g. police and medical checks may need to allow to additional time -
We will arrange interviews once your registration has been approved and ideally, maximum 3-4 months before your planned start date – this gives you enough time to hand in your notice/get organised to leave/apply for your visa etc. and also means that the role is not left open for too long for the employer.
We can also organise interviews nearer to your start date depending on which visa you hold/are looking to apply for.
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We do not currently work with hospitals in Australia, as they are typically unwilling to offer full-time roles to Working Holiday Visa holders or provide visa sponsorship in high-demand locations
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We have partnerships with employers all across Australia!
Once you have your Australian physio registration approved, we can help you choose a location which is a good fit for you – we can also provide you with location guides
Our team is from the UK and have lived in Australia so we can provide you with honest feedback and help you find the best fit!
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Experience Levels:
Our suggested experience levels are based on employer feedback and are intended as a guide, so that you have the best chance of securing a role.We do not currently have roles available for new graduates. However, if you don’t meet the full recommended experience level, we’re still happy to see what may be available once your Australian registration is approved.
For junior physios, we strongly recommend having your registration approved and being ready to interview during the Australian winter (May–August), as this is when the highest number of roles are typically available.
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If you are applying for a sponsorship or skilled visa, children/partners can be added to your visa/they can apply for subsequent visas based on your successful application – conditions apply.
If you are applying for a Working Holiday Visa – these are individual visas.
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If possible, try to have your registration approved and be interviewing in the Australian winter (May-August) as this is when the most jobs are available.
We would highly recommend that you do not interview or arrive at the start of the year (January/February) as it gets very competitive for roles and also finding accommodation.
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We work with employers who can offer a relocation allowance (e.g. upfront amount which can be used for flights/accommodation) for those who are moving on a long-term visa e.g. Sponsorship/Skilled Visa.
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Community Support:
Healthcare Abroad has growing communities across Australia.Our strongest community is currently in Brisbane, but we also regularly connect healthcare professionals in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and along the East Coast.
Once we’ve secured you a role, we’ll be happy to connect you with other healthcare professionals we’ve supported in your area. It’s a great way to build a network and feel settled more quickly.
Latest News
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The Working Holiday Visa has a 6 month limitation but there are exemptions to this rule – please see below for the January 2024 update!
Australia Working Holiday Visa Update – Jan 2024
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There is a reason this city until last year was voted the most livable city for six consecutive years running.
Living Down Under: Melbourne