The University of South Australia Discontinues Post Graduate Physiotherapy Programs

[caption id="attachment_6065" align="alignright" width="110"] APA President Marcus Dripps[/caption]
The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) is strongly urging The University of South Australia  to reverse its decision to discontinue its post graduate programs in musculoskeletal and sports physiotherapy.
The university will no longer include the Masters of Musculoskeletal and Sports Physiotherapy course in its post-graduate program.
"Closing this program seriously limits options for and prospective numbers of South Australian physiotherapists seeking to develop their clinical skills to the highest level," ‘APA National President Marcus Dripps said.
"There is already a shortage of sports and musculoskeletal postgraduate physiotherapy programs in Australia, particularly so in South Australia, despite there being a significant proportion of physiotherapists practising in those two interest areas," Mr Dripps added.
The discontinuation of the course will have  n impact beyond local South Australian boundaries.
The qualifications conferred by the Australian College of Physiotherapists provide the pinnacle to a three tiered career pathway in which appropriately accredited post-graduate academic programs, such as that provided at The University of South Australia, form a vital second step and are a mandatory pre-requisite for entry to the training program and final examination leading to Fellowship by Specialisation.
‘This decision derails that link and disadvantages physiotherapy graduates of The University of South Australia and other Universities both domestically and internationally,’ Mr Dripps said