Physiotherapy Job Roles New Zealand
Aotearoa | New Zealand has roles across Te Whatu Ora (public health), ACC-funded private practice, community services, and specialised rehab. Here are common role types plus quick links to jobs and registration.
Types of Physiotherapy Roles
Public Hospital Physiotherapist
Acute wards, orthopaedics, ED, respiratory/ICU, and inpatient rehabilitation with MDT pathways. Browse hospital physio jobs.
Private Practice / MSK (ACC)
MSK and sports caseloads supported by ACC, with exercise rehab and return-to-function programs. See private practice roles.
Community & Home-Based Rehab
Community rehab, falls programs, and supported discharge in homes, clinics, and outreach centres. View community roles.
Aged Care / Older Adults
Mobility, strength, falls prevention, and pain management in residential care and community services. Explore aged care openings.
Paediatric Physiotherapist
Developmental, neuro, and MSK services in hospitals, early intervention, schools, and private clinics. Find paediatric roles.
Neurological Rehabilitation
Stroke, TBI, SCI, and progressive neuro conditions across inpatient and community rehab pathways. Search neuro rehab jobs.
Cardiorespiratory / ICU
Airways, ventilation, pulmonary rehab, and respiratory outpatients, including hospital-in-the-home models. Cardiorespiratory positions.
Women’s & Pelvic Health
Pelvic floor, continence, obstetric/postnatal, and pelvic pain services in public and private settings. Women’s health opportunities.
Sports & Exercise Physiotherapist
Clubs, schools, academies, and clinics supporting injury prevention and performance. Sports physio roles.
Hand Therapy / Upper Limb
Post-op and conservative upper limb rehab, splinting, and protocols with orthopaedics/plastics. Hand therapy jobs.
Occupational Health & Return-to-Work
Worksite assessments, early intervention, and RTW planning under ACC and employer programs. Occ health & RTW roles.
Rural & Provincial Physiotherapist
Broad-scope clinicians across smaller centres with diverse caseloads and strong community impact. Rural & provincial positions.
Research, Teaching & Academia
University roles, clinical education, and research for those building evidence and training the next generation. Academic & research jobs.
Team Lead, Clinical Educator & Service Manager
Leadership posts across hospital and private providers overseeing teams, quality, and service design. Leadership opportunities.
Helpful Resources for New Zealand

Registration guide: PBNZ & APC
Grading & career stages (overview)
All NZ physiotherapy jobs

Read experiences and ask questions: Physio Forum: Working in New Zealand.

For specialty topics (MSK, neuro, sports, paeds), browse: Physiotherapy Discussion Areas.