Redefining rural and remote physiotherapy practice

Rural and remote Australia lacks an adequate number and distribution of allied health professionals. Non-metropolitan communities suffer as a result, enduring limited accessibility and availability of health services. Physiotherapy services are the third-most sought after health professionals within these communities, following medical practitioners and nurses.1 Despite this, however, in 1998 the remote areas of Australia had a rate of only 30 physiotherapists per 100 000 population, and rural Australia had a rate of 47, as compared to the metropolitan areas which had a rate of 60 physiotherapists per 100 000 population.2 As a result of this shortage, it is often the new graduates with limited experience, who are the most vulnerable and most in need of support, who gain employment in the most remote locations.