Can anyone explain the grade system used in Australia? I'm just having a look at some of the job adverts for instance which are advertising for a grade 2 physio. Does quantify to years of experience?
Thanks
Laura
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Can anyone explain the grade system used in Australia? I'm just having a look at some of the job adverts for instance which are advertising for a grade 2 physio. Does quantify to years of experience?
Thanks
Laura
Hi Laura
Like many things in Australia, the Grades differ between States/Territories. You would get the most accurate and correct information by asking the employer what "Grade 2" means.
It seems that this is an ever changing structure within Australia, and differs between states as well. The Australian Physiotherapy Association did publish a draft review on where it sees this structure going. A link to it is here: http://www.physiotherapy.asn.au/Docu...2013_FINAL.pdf
The summary within that document suggests the following notion.
The 2013 the Australian Physiotherapy Association proposed a 7 stage career progression for clinical practice, as follows:
- Stage 1 - Entry Level/Graduate Physiotherapist
- Stage 2 - Rotating Junior Physiotherapist
- Stage 3 - Commencing Specialising Physiotherapist
- Stage 4 - Established Specialising Physiotherapist
- Stage 5 - Titled Physiotherapist
- Stage 6 - Specialist Physiotherapist
- Stage 7 - Consultant Physiotherapist
The number of physiotherapy employment “levels/grades” differs between states:
- NSW: 8 levels with increments
- VIC: 4 levels with increments
- QLD: 8 levels with increments (physiotherapist commences at level 3)
- WA: 9 levels with increments (+ Classes 1-4, above level 9)
- SA: 6 levels with increments
- TAS: 6 levels with increments
- ACT: 6 levels with increments
- NT: 5 levels with increments
There are different guidelines for how a practitioner should progress from one level to another in each jurisdiction. Some grades are hardly used at all in some states (especially some higher grades). In most jurisdictions, a practitioner progresses up an increment on an annual basis however to move up a grade requires that person to successfully apply for a higher position. There are guidelines for the roles and responsibilities for each grade in many state agreements.
Accordingly, 7 criteria have been identified by the APA for each career stage:
– Professional Characteristics
- Professional Development – refers to PD education and seminars provided to others
- Education Level – refers to level of education/training attained by physiotherapist
- Specialisation Profile – e.g. level 1, 2, 3, Titled, Specialist
- Scope of practice – complexity of clients a therapist can manage independently
- Breadth of Skill Development – expected competencies of a physiotherapist working at a particular level
- Standard Caseload
- Leadership Status