We are writing as post-graduate Physiotherapy students (Masters and Doctors), and on behalf of many of my peers who are facing an escalating and unsustainable financial crisis, one that threatens the future of our profession and the integrity of Australia’s healthcare education system.

Postgraduate Physiotherapy students (both Master’s and Doctorate level) are currently classified as full fee-paying students, with only a handful of Commonwealth Supported Places available nationwide. In contrast, undergraduate Physiotherapy students are almost entirely Commonwealth supported, paying roughly one-third of the total cost for their degrees. For those of us in postgraduate programs, this disparity has created an impossible financial burden that no student should have to bear simply for pursuing the same qualification.

By the end of our third and final year, the total cost of the Doctor of Physiotherapy program approaches $150,000. With the HECS-HELP debt cap currently sitting at approximately $126,000, and many of us already entering the program with $40,000–$60,000 in undergraduate debt, we are forced to pay $20,000–$50,000 upfront just to complete our studies.

To make matters worse, our mandatory clinical placements, four 5-week full-time blocks, cost approximately $5,800 each. This means we are paying nearly $24,000 to work unpaid full-time for 20 weeks in hospitals and clinics across the state. That equates to paying $1,160 per week for the privilege of providing free labour to the very public health system that our taxes already support.

What makes this situation even more alarming is that we are paying tuition fees for the time we are on placement, even though we are not attending classes or receiving formal teaching during those periods. In effect, we are being charged tuition to work full-time for free, in facilities like public hospitals that are themselves funded by the same taxes we pay from the part-time jobs we try to maintain around our placements. The system has created a paradox where we are funding both our own unpaid labour and the hospitals that benefit from it, a double financial hit that no other group of health workers or students would be expected to tolerate.

As for the students placed in private practice settings, the inequity continues. Our free labour directly supports these businesses to generate income, from which they pay tax to the government. That means our unpaid work is not only producing revenue for private businesses, but is also generating tax income for the government, all while we continue to pay tuition fees and struggle to stay financially afloat. Once again, everyone, the businesses, the government, the patients, benefits financially from our work, except the students who make that work possible.

This situation has become so severe that it is referred to as “placement poverty.” Students on mandatory placements are being sent to placements anywhere in New South Wales, often far from home, without any say in location or access to impactful financial support. We are expected to cover accommodation, travel, and living expenses while working more than 40 hours per week, unpaid, all while paying tuition fees for that placement. Many students are working early mornings, late nights, and weekends just to afford to continue their studies.

Beyond the financial devastation, this constant stress is eroding our mental health, wellbeing, and academic performance. It is not uncommon to see students burning out, experiencing anxiety and exhaustion, or even questioning whether they can afford to continue. Some have deferred or withdrawn entirely due to financial pressure.

This is not only an issue affecting us now; it is an issue that threatens the future of Physiotherapy practice in Australia. Graduates burdened by this level of debt will be forced to charge higher out-of-pocket fees and larger Medicare gaps just to stay financially afloat, directly reducing affordability and accessibility for patients. The lifelong financial strain will deter talented students from pursuing Physiotherapy altogether, leading to a shrinking domestic workforce and an increasing reliance on overseas-trained practitioners. Many domestic graduates will be driven to leave Australia in search of better-paid roles and financial relief overseas, further exacerbating local shortages.

The long-term consequences of this are profound. Fewer physiotherapists will mean longer public waitlists, reduced rural and regional coverage, and poorer health outcomes for patients recovering from surgery, injury, and chronic conditions. The irony is that while Australia urgently needs more allied health professionals, the current system is pushing future physiotherapists away before they even graduate.

Meanwhile, Physiotherapy is not a high-paying profession. Most graduates earn modest entry-level salaries in the public sector, meaning their HECS debts will continue to grow each year through 3–4% indexation rather than shrink. This is not just a student issue; it is a workforce pipeline and healthcare access issue. Australia urgently needs skilled physiotherapists, yet the current structure discourages talented individuals from entering or completing these programs.

We understand we are not employees, but we are humans with bills, mortgages, and rent. We are not asking to be paid the same as an accredited physiotherapist. We are simply asking to not be put in such a financial hole by seeking an education in a much-needed profession.

I urge you to take immediate action to address this crisis. Several measures could make a significant difference:

1. Introduce Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) for all domestic postgraduate Physiotherapy programs, bringing fee equity with undergraduate pathways.
2. At minimum, make placement units Commonwealth Supported, reflecting the unpaid clinical labour students contribute to the public health system.
3. Provide stipends, accommodation support, or rural placement allowances that are easily accessible and impactful to assist students who are placed far from home (a one-off $750 payment does not compare to the $5,800 we have to pay to be there).
4. Review and raise the HECS-HELP debt cap to reflect the true cost of essential health professional programs.
5. Explore placement pay models or financial relief schemes similar to those available in nursing and teaching, to support students undertaking mandatory clinical hours.

The 20% HECS reduction that was introduced was a welcome start, but it only applied to a single point in time, long before most of us had even accrued half of our current student debt. It provided short-term relief for a limited cohort, but does nothing for those currently studying or future physiotherapy students. What about the cohort beginning in 2026? They will receive no benefit from this reduction and will be left to face the same escalating fees, capped HECS debt, and crushing placement costs. Without sustained policy change, this problem will continue to compound with every new intake of students.

Without reform, the next generation of physiotherapists will graduate under crushing debt, or worse, never graduate at all.

As a proud Australian and future health professional, I find it deeply concerning that in a country as fortunate as ours, students who dedicate their lives to helping others are being financially crippled in the process. We are not asking for special treatment, only fairness, sustainability, and recognition of the value we contribute to our healthcare system.