Physiotherapist (international humanitarian register)

Physiotherapist (international humanitarian register)

Applications close 18 May 2025

Australian Red Cross is seeking skilled Physiotherapists to join our International Delegate (aid worker) Register. From the Delegate Register, Physiotherapists can be deployed internationally by the Red Cross to support operations and provide professional assistance to individuals and communities impacted by humanitarian disasters or conflicts.  Deployments typically range from six to twelve months and are salaried.

Please note that recruitment to the Delegate Register does not guarantee employment with Red Cross. It does however place the individual on standby to deploy, and enables suitable preparation and training for deployment, should the need arise.   

If you are interested in working internationally with Red Cross as Physiotherapist, we encourage you to read the below role profile which provides additional information on the requirements of this position, to consider your suitability. Please note that we are only able to consider applications from candidates who are citizens or permanent residents of Australia. 

Australian Red Cross’ International Delegate Register 

The Red Cross and Red Crescent (RCRC) Movement is the largest humanitarian network in the world. It comprises the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (Federation) and 192 National Societies. The RCRC mandate is to protect and support populations experiencing conflicts, disasters and other vulnerabilities. 

ARC maintains an active register of highly screened and trained humanitarian workers (referred to as delegates within the Red Cross) who are deployed to international crises when local capacity is overwhelmed or where additional specialist resources are required. Deployments take place through fixed-term contracts, with delegates seconded into the operations of the ICRC or Federation. 

In all activities, Australian Red Cross’ delegates, staff, volunteers and members are guided by the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.  

Humanity • Neutrality • Impartiality • Independence • Voluntary Service • Unity • Universality.  

To read more on these principles, visit https://www.redcross.org.au/about/fundamental-principles/  

Physiotherapist Position Summary 

The Physiotherapist is a member of the interdisciplinary team providing client-centered care to patients needing rehabilitation support in hospital and/or rehabilitation centres. The Physiotherapist is responsible for all physiotherapy-related activities at the field level from acute to rehabilitation and re-integration stages. The physiotherapist assesses and provides physiotherapy services to a population needing physical rehabilitation within a Red Cross-run or a Red Cross-supported structure during emergency and non-emergency situations. Physiotherapists also work to build local staff capacity in rehabilitative care, often in limited resources settings and challenging security environments. Since 1979, the ICRC has worked to open access to appropriate physical rehabilitation services, and its physical rehabilitation activities have diversified and expanded throughout the world. 

Essential Qualifications and professional registrations 

• Bachelor’s degree or greater in Physiotherapy.
• Current professional registration with the Physiotherapy Board of Australia and AHPRA.

• Significant and recent clinical experience in a hospital and/or rehabilitation centre providing direct clinical physiotherapy as well as supervising and mentoring developing physiotherapists.

Other Essential Requirements 

• Citizen or permanent resident of Australia.
• Fluent spoken and written English. 

• Level B2 (CEFR standard) in a second language (Russian, French, Arabic, Spanish) strongly preferred. 

• Extensive (2 years or greater) professional experience as aligned with the technical and behavioural competencies (outlined below). 

• Previous international humanitarian and/or development experience in low-income countries (non-government organisations, international organisations or charity).  

• Digital Literacy, including ability navigate digital devices (laptops, smartphones), analyse web-based information and work effectively with the Microsoft Office suite of applications. 

• Ability to drive a manual car. 

• Personal motivation to provide humanitarian assistance to individuals and communities impacted by disasters or armed conflict. 

• Ability to adapt to and function effectively in challenging living conditions and potentially unstable security environments. 

• Ability to work effectively while under pressure and within multicultural teams. 

• Excellent organisational skills. 

Technical competencies 

Clinical physiotherapy

• Deliver physiotherapy services that are timely and sustainable for the context, using an interdisciplinary approach. 
• Assess and manage complex, difficult or critical physiotherapy client presentations, including but not limited to cases involving amputation, cerebral palsy, clubfoot, and spinal cord injuries.
• Analyse and interpret available assessment results for the purpose of understanding the client, the clients’ contexts, and problems to inform diagnosis, management, prognosis and prevention, and health promotion.
• Perform interventions in a skilful and safe manner, adapting to changing practice or environmental circumstances.
• Integrate all relevant sources of information to select optimal interventions that are safe, culturally appropriate and client-centred, to address client priorities and consider the risks and benefits of all methods.
• Utilise experiential knowledge and skills and consider clinical acuity, where appropriate, and potential for exacerbation or deterioration when tailoring the sequencing and execution of interventions for the client

Client management

• Establish optimally planned goals in collaboration with the client addressing the clients’ needs and expectations and considering challenging and complex requirements and resource availability.
• Communicate using a client–centred approach that encourages client trust and autonomy and is characterised by empathy, respect, and compassion.
• Optimise the physical environment for client comfort, dignity, privacy, engagement and safety
• In coordination with the hospital / Physical Rehabilitation Program teams, identify, address, and relay the health concerns of individuals and communities 
• Ensure the continuum of care by referring individuals to the appropriate services or structures after discharge 

Capacity development

• Provide direction in the practice area, mentor and supervise colleagues as required.
• Support the development or maintenance of professional community of practice, advocate for ongoing learning based on good practice, develop professional networking, and advocate health promotion activities.
• Implement and improve appropriate professional standards and organize training programs based on reflective practice. 

Information Management 

• Document client interactions in an accurate, complete, timely, and accessible manner, in compliance with institutional and local regulatory and legal requirements
• Ensures statistical data is collated, using the relevant health monitoring system.  

Behavioural Competencies 

Cultural Awareness 

• Design solutions and plan operations that consider local cultural factors 

• Respect cultural diversity within the team 

• Adapt programs and operations in line with socio-political and cultural context, with specific focus on addressing the needs of vulnerable groups 

Interpersonal communications 

• Deliver accurate, clear and concise messages, orally and in writing, to inform a range of audiences 

• Actively listen to and encourage feedback from peers, communities, volunteers and other stakeholders 

• Convey complex ideas and plans based on inputs from different audiences in an engaging, appropriate and clear manner 

Judgement and Decision-making 

• Make informed, timely, balanced decisions at an individual and team level through consultation, research and consideration 

• Find solutions to problems in a resourceful and creative manner 

• Explain decisions to those who implement or are affected by them 

Motivating others 

• Provide regular formal and informal feedback and recognises contributions of others to maintain team productivity 

• Positively support others to maintain motivation by clearly articulating the purpose of the program

Personal Resilience  

• Appropriately cope with stressful situations by remaining constructive and positive under stress and remaining focused on objectives as the operation evolves 

 Integrity  

• Act in accordance with Movement principles and values.  

• Model ethical behaviour and uses the power of their position with integrity and accountability  

• Refer reports of violations onwards using appropriate channels.  

• Develop concise, consolidated reports that analyse progress, challenges and plan for follow-up action across the sectors.  

Candidate Assessment  

All candidates will be assessed based on technical and core competencies specific to this role. Candidates may be further invited to take part in a competency-based interview, assessment centre and psychological assessment. 

Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse & Harassment (PSEAH) & Child Protection 

Australian Red Cross reserves the right to conduct background checks on all candidates, including police, working with children checks, personal reference checks and other checks Australian Red Cross considers necessary. Candidates who do not pass a work with children check, or whose backgrounds checks suggest they may pose a risk to the safety and wellbeing of others will not be considered for this position. 

Operational Constraints 

In line with the principle of neutrality, please note that staff seconded to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) cannot be deployed to any country of origin. Delegates must be in good health and agree to participate in health clearance processes prior to any assignment. 

Applications close 18 May 2025

For more information on the Physiotherapist profile, and working internationally with Australian Red Cross, contact Andree Girardau on arc_health@redcross.org.au