What does a Physiotherapy Assistant do overseas?

Typical responsibilities

• Set up equipment and treatment areas
• Guide patients through prescribed exercises
• Record patient progress for the therapist
• Help patients move and transfer safely
• Clean and maintain equipment

What employers usually look for

• Training or experience in rehabilitation support
• Caring, motivating manner
• Good physical fitness

Typical experience

1+ years assisting in therapy or rehab

Helpful extras

• Relevant assistant qualification
• Sports or fitness background

Physical demands

Physical handling of patients and equipment.

Licences and certification

Check destination requirements for any licence, trade test or medical clearance.

A typical day

You prepare the treatment area, help patients carry out the exercises set by the physiotherapist, set up equipment and watch for pain or fatigue. You encourage the patient, record what was done and tidy up afterwards.

Questions you may be asked

Employers and recruiters often ask questions like these. There is no single right answer: be honest, give a real example from your own work and say plainly when you have not done something yet.

• How do you encourage a patient who finds exercises difficult?
• What would you do if a patient reports pain during an exercise?
• How do you keep equipment clean between patients?

Staying safe on the job

Use correct handling, follow the physiotherapist's plan exactly and stop and report if a patient is in pain or unwell.

Where this role can lead

Assistants can progress to senior assistant roles or study to become a physiotherapist.

How EMIGRATLY works with this role

This page describes the role in general. Duties, pay and requirements are set by each employer and differ between destinations. EMIGRATLY is not a job board: after you register, a dedicated specialist reviews your profile and matches you against the exclusive employer contracts we hold, including ones that are not listed publicly.