Work Readiness of New Graduate Physical Therapists for Private Practice in Australia: Academic Faculty, Employer, and Graduate Perspectives
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to explore academic faculty, employer, and recent graduate perspectives of the work readiness of Australian new graduate physical therapists for private practice and factors that influence new graduate preparation and transition to private practice. METHOD...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2021
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/87529 |
| _version_ | 1848764924577185792 |
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| author | Wells, C. Olson, R. Bialocerkowski, A. Carroll, Sara Chipchase, L. Reubenson, Alan Scarvell, J.M. Kent, F. |
| author_facet | Wells, C. Olson, R. Bialocerkowski, A. Carroll, Sara Chipchase, L. Reubenson, Alan Scarvell, J.M. Kent, F. |
| author_sort | Wells, C. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to explore academic faculty, employer, and recent graduate perspectives of the work readiness of Australian new graduate physical therapists for private practice and factors that influence new graduate preparation and transition to private practice.
METHODS: This study used a mixed-methods design with 3 surveys and 12 focus groups. A total of 112 participants completed a survey, and 52 participated in focus groups. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the quantitative data, and thematic analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data. Triangulation across participant groups and data sources was undertaken.
RESULTS: Australian new graduate physical therapists were perceived to be "somewhat ready" for private practice and "ready" by their third year of employment. Participants proposed that new graduates bring enthusiasm, readiness to learn, and contemporary, research-informed knowledge. New graduates were also perceived to find autonomous clinical reasoning and timely caseload management difficult; to have limited business, marketing, and administration knowledge and skills; and to present with underdeveloped confidence, communication, and interpersonal skills. Factors perceived to influence graduate transition included private practice experience, such as clinical placements and employment; employer and client expectations of graduate capabilities; workplace support; university academic preparation and continuing education; and individual graduate attributes and skills.
CONCLUSION: Australian new graduate physical therapists have strengths and limitations in relation to clinical, business, and employability knowledge and skills. New graduate work readiness and transition may be enhanced by additional private practice experience, employer and client expectation management, provision of workplace support, and tailored university and continuing education.
IMPACT: The number of new graduate physical therapists employed in private practice in Australia is increasing; however, until this study, their work readiness for this setting was unknown. This exploration of new graduate performance in private practice and transition can help to increase understanding and enhancement of work-readiness. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:27:05Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-87529 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:27:05Z |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-875292022-03-21T03:39:50Z Work Readiness of New Graduate Physical Therapists for Private Practice in Australia: Academic Faculty, Employer, and Graduate Perspectives Wells, C. Olson, R. Bialocerkowski, A. Carroll, Sara Chipchase, L. Reubenson, Alan Scarvell, J.M. Kent, F. Clinical Clinical Competence Education: Physical Therapist Students Employment Private Practice Workplace Adult Attitude of Health Personnel Australia Clinical Competence Education, Continuing Employment Faculty Female Humans Male Middle Aged Personnel Selection Physical Therapists Private Practice Surveys and Questionnaires OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to explore academic faculty, employer, and recent graduate perspectives of the work readiness of Australian new graduate physical therapists for private practice and factors that influence new graduate preparation and transition to private practice. METHODS: This study used a mixed-methods design with 3 surveys and 12 focus groups. A total of 112 participants completed a survey, and 52 participated in focus groups. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the quantitative data, and thematic analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data. Triangulation across participant groups and data sources was undertaken. RESULTS: Australian new graduate physical therapists were perceived to be "somewhat ready" for private practice and "ready" by their third year of employment. Participants proposed that new graduates bring enthusiasm, readiness to learn, and contemporary, research-informed knowledge. New graduates were also perceived to find autonomous clinical reasoning and timely caseload management difficult; to have limited business, marketing, and administration knowledge and skills; and to present with underdeveloped confidence, communication, and interpersonal skills. Factors perceived to influence graduate transition included private practice experience, such as clinical placements and employment; employer and client expectations of graduate capabilities; workplace support; university academic preparation and continuing education; and individual graduate attributes and skills. CONCLUSION: Australian new graduate physical therapists have strengths and limitations in relation to clinical, business, and employability knowledge and skills. New graduate work readiness and transition may be enhanced by additional private practice experience, employer and client expectation management, provision of workplace support, and tailored university and continuing education. IMPACT: The number of new graduate physical therapists employed in private practice in Australia is increasing; however, until this study, their work readiness for this setting was unknown. This exploration of new graduate performance in private practice and transition can help to increase understanding and enhancement of work-readiness. 2021 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/87529 10.1093/ptj/pzab078 eng fulltext |
| spellingShingle | Clinical Clinical Competence Education: Physical Therapist Students Employment Private Practice Workplace Adult Attitude of Health Personnel Australia Clinical Competence Education, Continuing Employment Faculty Female Humans Male Middle Aged Personnel Selection Physical Therapists Private Practice Surveys and Questionnaires Wells, C. Olson, R. Bialocerkowski, A. Carroll, Sara Chipchase, L. Reubenson, Alan Scarvell, J.M. Kent, F. Work Readiness of New Graduate Physical Therapists for Private Practice in Australia: Academic Faculty, Employer, and Graduate Perspectives |
| title | Work Readiness of New Graduate Physical Therapists for Private Practice in Australia: Academic Faculty, Employer, and Graduate Perspectives |
| title_full | Work Readiness of New Graduate Physical Therapists for Private Practice in Australia: Academic Faculty, Employer, and Graduate Perspectives |
| title_fullStr | Work Readiness of New Graduate Physical Therapists for Private Practice in Australia: Academic Faculty, Employer, and Graduate Perspectives |
| title_full_unstemmed | Work Readiness of New Graduate Physical Therapists for Private Practice in Australia: Academic Faculty, Employer, and Graduate Perspectives |
| title_short | Work Readiness of New Graduate Physical Therapists for Private Practice in Australia: Academic Faculty, Employer, and Graduate Perspectives |
| title_sort | work readiness of new graduate physical therapists for private practice in australia: academic faculty, employer, and graduate perspectives |
| topic | Clinical Clinical Competence Education: Physical Therapist Students Employment Private Practice Workplace Adult Attitude of Health Personnel Australia Clinical Competence Education, Continuing Employment Faculty Female Humans Male Middle Aged Personnel Selection Physical Therapists Private Practice Surveys and Questionnaires |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/87529 |