24/07/2026
Why are so many international physiotherapists struggling to get job offers in New Zealand?
Over the past few weeks, I've seen more and more posts from overseas physiotherapists saying they've applied for dozens of jobs but aren't getting interviews or job offers.
As the Director of LigamentNZ, we've spent years recruiting physiotherapists into New Zealand clinics. Every single week we speak with clinic owners about what they're looking for—and unfortunately, we're hearing the same concerns over and over again.
One thing has become very clear.
Many internationally trained physiotherapists have been trained in healthcare systems that differ significantly from New Zealand. As a result, clinic owners often find there is a gap between overseas training and the expectations of private practice in New Zealand.
Clinic owners regularly tell us they are looking for physiotherapists who understand:
- Manual therapy and hands-on treatment expectations
- Clinical reasoning (not just following protocols)
- Being able to communicate with patients
- Building patient rapport quickly
- Understand Kiwi culture
- Private practise expectations
- Computer skills and confidence
- Working knowledge of ACC and Gensolve
- New Zealand Workplace Culture
- Referral pathways and multidisciplinary communication
- Professional communication (phone, email, colleagues)
- Confidence and independence in managing a caseload
- Patient-centred care and shared decision making
Some of these gaps are relatively easy to teach and develop. Others take a lot of time, experience and ongoing support.
Unfortunately, these differences have become increasingly evident—not only to clinic owners, but also to patients. In New Zealand private practice, success isn't just about your clinical knowledge and your desire to work here. If you can’t relate to your patient and build trust with them within 3 minutes, then it is a slippery slope to not being successful here. Patient expectations in NZ are extremely high and word of mouth travels quickly. Patient experience plays a significant role in both your success and the success of the clinic you work for.
Clinic owners are operating in an incredibly challenging environment. Margins are tight, employment obligations are significant, and supporting a physiotherapist who isn't yet ready for New Zealand practice requires a substantial investment of time, training and supervision. As a result, many employers have become much more cautious when recruiting from overseas when physios have been arriving unknowingly under prepared.
It's often not what you know that holds you back—it's what you don't yet know about working in New Zealand.
Having your registration and APC is obviously needed, but it's only the tip of the starting point. Registration proves you meet the minimum professional standard to practise in New Zealand—it does not prepare you for the day-to-day realities of working in a New Zealand private practice.
For many physiotherapists, this is the first time they would be working outside their home country. Adjusting to a different healthcare system, workplace culture, patient expectations and, for many, a second language is incredibly challenging.
Another challenge that is often overlooked is relocating as a family or couple. Many international physiotherapists arrive with every intention of putting down roots in the community that gave them their first opportunity. However, regional New Zealand doesn't always have employment opportunities for partners or spouses. Living on a single income is often not financially sustainable, particularly while you're establishing yourselves in a new country.
As a result, many families find themselves having to relocate to larger centres where both partners can find work. We see this time and time again. It's rarely because they didn't want to stay—it's because the practical realities of life meant they had little choice. This too creates uncertainty for the clinic owner.
Financial planning is another area that catches many people by surprise. We regularly see physiotherapists arrive in New Zealand without enough savings to comfortably get established. The upfront costs can be significant—bond and rent in advance, buying a reliable car, furnishing a home, setting up utilities, paying for food, fuel, insurance and day-to-day living expenses before your first few pay cheques arrive.
Starting a new life in a new country is stressful enough without the added pressure of financial hardship.
On the positive side, I see incredible determination every single day.
International physiotherapists make enormous sacrifices to build a life in New Zealand. Many leave behind their families, friends, careers and everything familiar to pursue an opportunity on the other side of the world. Some spend years working towards registration, invest tens of thousands of dollars in exams, visas and relocation costs, and put their lives on hold to achieve their goal.
That level of commitment is genuinely admirable. It tells us that these physios are resilient, motivated and willing to work hard to build a future here.
But determination alone is not enough. The physiotherapists who are most successful are the ones who are prepared and willing to invest in learning and training before they apply for jobs here.
This is exactly why we created NZ Private Practice Ready.
For years, LigamentNZ has provided its own induction and preparation training to the international physiotherapists we have recruited and employed. Our training is based on years of listening to both sides of the conversation—the frustrations of international physiotherapists trying to secure work, and the concerns of New Zealand clinic owners trying to find the right people.
This training has only been available to physiotherapists working directly through LigamentNZ.
Until Now! We have decided to open up our unique induction courses to ANY international physiotherapist who is serious about working successfully in New Zealand.
NZ Private Practice Ready brings together our induction training, practical courses, resources and community support in one place, so you can begin preparing before you apply for jobs, before you arrive, and before you step into a New Zealand clinic. It is up to you to show NZ clinic owners you actually understand and have the ability to work in NZ Private Practise.
Our first courses, The Beginners Guide to ACC, Moving to New Zealand: The Complete Guide and Starting Work as a Physiotherapist in New Zealand are now live, with courses on communication, clinical reasoning, New Zealand workplace culture, Gensolve, documentation and private practice already in development.
Our goal is simple: to help international physiotherapists arrive in New Zealand truly practice ready, giving clinics greater confidence to employ them and giving patients the care they expect.
You can check out our NZ Private Practise Ready Program inside our learning hub here:
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