Physiotherapist (Canberra, ACT, AU) presso None

Job Details

EMPLOYMENT TYPE - Temporary Full time for a period of up to 12 months with the possibility of a 12 month extension

LOCATION - ACT; NSW; QLD; SA; VIC; WA

AFP BAND & SALARY - Band 07 ($118,673.00 - $127,101.00)

JOB REFERENCE NUMBER - 15204

This advertisement is to create a merit list for future ongoing or non-ongoing vacancies arising over the next 12 months.

Did you know?

The mission of the Australian Federal Police is to provide dynamic and effective law enforcement to the people of Australia. It provides policing throughout Australia in relation to the prevention and detection of crimes against the Commonwealth, its laws and integrity, and community police services to the Community of the ACT.

Working for the AFP provides you with a diverse and rewarding career. Whether you immerse yourself in a position on the frontline, or provide critical operational or professional support, the work you do makes a big impact on the people of Australia. 

We recognise your contribution to our workforce and offer generous remuneration and conditions including:

• Six weeks (30 days) of paid annual leave per year + additional paid Christmas stand down 
• 4 extra days of mandatory rest leave per year
• 18 days of paid personal leave per year
• Generous superannuation of 15.4%
• 18 weeks paid Parental Leave for Primary Caregiver (and 11 weeks for Secondary Caregiver) + additional unpaid leave entitlements for up until 24 months from the child’s date of birth or placement
• Generous salaries and incremental salary progression governed by the AFP Enterprise Agreement 
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangement that provides work/life balance
• Health & wellbeing services – with a focus on early intervention, education and prevention
• Access to ongoing training and professional development opportunities

What is the role?

Applications are sought from suitably qualified applicants wishing to be considered for the role of Physiotherapist – Shield. Shield provides health and wellbeing services to AFP members. You will be working within a team of experienced and passionate clinicians, health and safety advisors, and case managers, where you can use your expertise to improve the health, fitness, and operational readiness of your colleagues.

The Physiotherapist role in Shield focuses on empowering AFP members to take an active role in their recovery, health, and performance through exercise, load management, and functional movement-based interventions.

The Shield Physiotherapist will act in an advisory and consultancy capacity, assisting members to prevent and recover from injury, manage pain, and improve physical capacity. The role contributes to embedding a culture of prevention, capability, and self-management across the workforce, with a focus on physical exercise, preparation, recovery, healthy eating, and fatigue management in the law enforcement context.

What will you do?

Duties of the role include, but are not limited to:

• Collaborating with exercise physiologists and health & fitness advisors to improve employee health, fitness, and physical capability.
• Conducting functional and musculoskeletal assessments to inform operational readiness, injury prevention, and return-to-duty planning.
• Designing and monitoring evidence-based treatment and rehabilitation plans with an emphasis on exercise and progressive load, based
• Facilitating individual and group-based education and movement sessions to uplift health literacy across the AFP.
• Providing advice and support on physical preparation, recovery strategies, sleep, and fatigue management relevant to law enforcement demands.
• Offering guidance on healthy eating and nutrition practices to complement dietetic services and reinforce sustainable lifestyle behaviours.
• Liaising with multidisciplinary teams, including healthcare professionals, rehab case managers, and WHS advisors, to provide holistic and integrated care.
• Contributing to programs and initiatives that enhance musculoskeletal health, reduce preventable injury, and promote sustainable performance across the AFP population.
• Collecting and interpreting health and performance data to provide evidence-based recommendations that inform AFP policy and human performance strategies.
• Preparing technical reports, briefs, and presentations for key stakeholders.
• Providing scope-specific input to SHIELD’s early intervention, preventative health, and workforce capability-building programs.
• Supporting SHIELD’s broader efforts to embed a culture of health, safety, and performance within the AFP.
• Referring clients appropriately to external medical or allied health practitioners as required.

Essential Requirements

• Must be an Australian citizen at the time of application.
• Must hold, or have the ability to obtain, an NV1 Negative Vetting Level 1 Security Clearance.
• A degree in Physiotherapy and current unrestricted registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
• Minimum of five years postgraduate contemporary experience as a Physiotherapist.
• Demonstrated ability to design and deliver safe, effective, and evidence-based physiotherapy interventions, with an emphasis on exercise, load, and movement-based practice.
• Ability to apply manual therapy appropriately within an active, prevention-first treatment philosophy.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development to maintain currency and subject matter expertise.
• Ability to quickly establish effective and authentic rapport with AFP members.
• High-level emotional intelligence, interpersonal skills, and a collaborative team approach.
• Strong administration, record-keeping, and digital literacy skills.

Desirable Requirements

• A current valid Australian driver’s licence.
• Experience working in a multidisciplinary team within a large organisational setting.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and digital health platforms.
• Ability to undertake domestic travel if required.
• Postgraduate qualifications or specialist certifications relevant to human performance, rehabilitation, or occupational health.
• Australian Strength and Conditioning Association (ASCA) accreditation (Level 1, Level 2, TOPA) or equivalent experience
• Experience in organisational or population-level health and wellbeing programs (e.g., workplace health promotion, tactical performance, injury prevention, or behavioural health literacy initiatives).

Selection Criteria

• Achieve results
• Communicates with influence
• Contributes to strategic thinking
• Cultivates productive working relationships
• Shows personal drive and integrity

Application

Please submit the following documents via our Jobs portal prior to the closing date and time:

• Resume/CV - This will form the basis for determining your suitability against the position requirements and give the panel a clear outline of your current knowledge and qualifications along with previous experiences. Please include your work history, responsibilities and achievements.
• Applicant pitch (maximum two pages). Ensure your pitch tells us why you are the best fit for the role, with examples that demonstrate your capabilities addressing the selection criteria, role requirements and work level standards for the role. 

Only complete applications will be considered. Please review and ensure the uploaded documents are correct for this application after submitting your application.

Employment Suitability

Should you successfully progress from the application stage all applicants must:

• Complete an Employment Suitability Questionnaire (ESQ) and provide a traffic history check and proof of Australian citizenship. This aids in the assessment of your character and your ability to comply with the AFP's professional standards both in an official and private capacity. Please review our AFP Character Standards to ensure that you meet our requirements before you submit your application. Applicants will not receive feedback if they are unsuccessful at this gateway.
• Have your fingerprints taken if an offer of employment is made.
• Undertake mandatory drug testing for illicit drugs. This sample could include; urine, saliva or hair.
• Satisfactorily undertake a security clearance to the level specified for the position.

Recruitment Process

Applicants who have demonstrated their suitability for employment through their resume and application, may be asked to complete additional assessments or activities to determine suitability for the role. This may also include a formal interview. Using the relevant AFP work level standards as a guide, you may be asked a range of questions to demonstrate your skills and abilities. These could include behavioural based scenario questions. Read our guides for applicants to find out how to prepare for your interview.

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

At the AFP we value the different perspectives, approaches and lived experiences of our people, and recognise that our collective intelligence and diversity is what makes us stronger. As such, we encourage applications from people from all walks of life, including people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, First Nations people, women, the LGBTQIA+ community and people with disability.

Contacts and Closing Information

Contact Officer:  Brett Sparnon,

Contact Officer Phone:  02 5126 1356, ​

Contact Officer Email:  [email protected]

Applications Close: 11:59pm (AEST) 09/10/2025

To view our other employment opportunities, please visit our career site.

www.afp.gov.au