Physiotherapy students graduating in 2017 are being urged to wait until after October 9 before registering with the Physiotherapy Board of Australia, as the Board simplifies and streamlines its online registration process.

The Board has also released an animated video for graduates, to explain the process and importance of registration.

Before a physiotherapy graduate enters the workforce they are required to register with the Board - the new video is designed to help graduates understand what they need to know about becoming a registered physiotherapist.

The video also talks about the codes, policies and guidelines graduates will need to know throughout their career, helping them provide safer care to future patients.

The animation aims to explain their obligations when becoming registered physiotherapist, why though they have completed their education and training that they still need to participate in continuous professional development and meet other registration standards. It sets out what it means to be part of a regulated profession which abides by a Code of Conduct.

Students due to complete approved programs of study at the end of 2017 are invited to apply for registration online four to six weeks before finishing their course, but after Monday 9 October.

Physiotherapy Board of Australia Chair, Charles Flynn said the video sets out the role that registered physios play in providing care and meeting their obligations when they first register, and when they register year on year after that.

"The video is short and easy viewing; we didn’t want to overwhelm new graduates with lots of information. We wanted to guide them through some of the requirements they will need to meet when they start work, such as continuing professional development and that they need to register with the Board every year," he said.

"Stepping out of the lecture room and into your first job as a physiotherapist is a big deal. I can remember doing it myself. We want to help graduates to understand how to apply their physiotherapy knowledge, that they need to continue to learn and develop their skills and also know and apply the national standards they will be held accountable against as they transition to registered and competent professionals."

‘I would encourage all physiotherapists and education providers to share this video and with physiotherapy final year students and new graduates so that they can find out more about the profession and understand how crucial it is that we the profession is regulated to help keep the public safer," he said.