Ep 2 - Exercise Science and Physiotherapy

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This week I’m talking to Jess about her pathway through Health Science and Exercise Science on her way to a career in Physiotherapy.

What we’re talking about:

In this episode, Jess and I discuss how pursuing your interests will lead to a career you love, the difference between Exercise Physiology and Physiotherapy, reasons for taking a gap year and what you actually do in a Bachelor of Physiotherapy.

Pursuing your interests:

Although Jess didn’t always know exactly what she wanted to do when she finished school, she used her interests and strengths to help make each decision she had to make along the way. She enjoyed PE at school and had always been involved in a lot of sport, and even after she went into Health Science and then Exercise Science, she recognised that Physiotherapy would give her a career that allowed her to do more of the tasks she enjoyed doing.

Difference between Exercise Physiology and Physiotherapy:

Jess admits that the line between Exercise Physiology and Physiotherapy is a bit blurry, but she gives some examples of some of the different tasks that you would do in each role. One of the main differences is that as a Physiotherapist you’re more likely to make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment or exercises for a patient, whereas an Exercise Physiologist might be more likely to treat a patient further along the track.

Reasons for taking a gap year:

Jess took multiple gap years between finishing school and beginning her career, and discusses the reasons behind each of them, including wanting to give herself a break to recharge after Year 12 and taking some time to plan her next move and research her options (including eligibility for particular courses) before starting her Bachelor of Physiotherapy.