About the Discipline of Physiotherapy

Welcome to the Discipline of Physiotherapy, The University of Sydney.

As one of the foundation schools of the Faculty of Health Sciences (formerly Cumberland College of Health Sciences) at the College's inception in 1975, the School of Physiotherapy has played an important role in the development of the Faculty and its academic programs. Prior to 1975, there was a physiotherapy program conducted through the Australian Physiotherapy Association in New South Wales, which had been offered since its inception in 1907.

Physiotherapy is a health profession which deals with the prevention and treatment of human movement disorders. Physiotherapy services are used in a wide variety of areas such as health care organisations, community, sports and workplace settings, schools and private practices. The physiotherapy profession is committed to effective communication with members of the health team, the community at large and the continuing education of its graduates. Staff and students of the School are actively in a number of research projects which range over several areas including the investigation of human motor performance, musculoskeletal, neurological and cardiopulmonary physiotherapy, occupational health and clinical reasoning.

In common with other Departments at the University Of Sydney, the Discipline promotes students' development of generic (i.e communication and teamwork skills) as well as discipline-specific knowledge and skills. The course is designed to promote self-direction and encourages the graduates to have a sense of their own individuality and creativity.

Graduates of the undergraduate and postgraduate programs in physiotherapy will be prepared for a range of career opportunities. These include physiotherapy clinical practice, clinical education, administration, research, and consultancy within the public and private health care sectors.