UTAS ponders physio course

THE University of Tasmania says it is investigating the possibility of offering new courses, including physiotherapy, to help the state address critical skills shortages.

The federal jobs department has reported a regional shortage of physiotherapists in Tasmania and employers have attributed their difficulties finding qualified staff to the lack of an undergraduate physiotherapy course in the state.

A Federal Government survey of Tasmanian employers that had recently advertised for physiotherapists last year found all employers in re-gional areas were unable to fill vacancies, while metropolitan employers were able to fill 60 per cent of vacancies.

The employers surveyed suggested graduates tended too stay in bigger cities on thehe mainland at the start of theireir careers to build networks andnd gain experience.

Tasmanians wanting to become physiotherapists must move to the mainland to study.

While UTAS does offer a health sciences degree, graduates must still complete postgraduate courses in physiotherapy interstate to become accredited.

“We are examining our course offerings to ensure we are delivering on our placebased mission, which drives us to teach and research in areas that are distinctively Tasmanian and that meet the needs of our communities,” Professor Nuala Byrne, head of the University of Tasmania’s School of Health Sciences, said.

“As well as balancing student and workforce demand, we must ensure there is an appropriate size and mix of clinical experience and teaching placements with industry as well as pathways into practice.

“We have done considerable work on this to date and hope to start external stakeholder consultation later this year. “

Last month, Michael Sylvester Dempsey, the director of a company that had contracts to provide physiotherapy services to several Tasmanian aged care homes pleaded guilty to employing several unqualified staff — including a taxi driver and a chef.