If you’re a registered physiotherapist, this major provides an opportunity for you to become an expert clinician in women's, men’s and pelvic health physiotherapy and its related areas of practice.

The program is designed to develop and advance your clinical expertise through evidence based practice, clinical reasoning and sound diagnostic and therapeutic skills.

You will develop knowledge and skills in the management of male and female pelvic floor dysfunction, including urinary and bowel dysfunction, pelvic organ and pelvic girdle support, sexual dysfunction and pelvic pain. In addition, you will learn how to manage specific women’s health conditions that are unique to women, more prevalent in women, have different risk factors in women and require different interventions in women.

In particular, the major will develop your clinical skills in assessing and managing continence and pelvic floor dysfunction in men, women and children. You will also become an expert evaluator and consumer of research, developing a high level of competence in conducting clinical research that will contribute to the body of knowledge in this emerging area of physiotherapy. 

Why study

• These courses can help you integrate evidence-based practice with contemporary methods of clinical practice
• Ensure competency in assessment and treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction that is not addressed in entry-to-practice physiotherapy education
• Courses are taught by experts in the field using a variety of advanced teaching methods and assessments
• Courses provide flexibility in studying while managing work/life/family commitments, including studying online with some pre-set contact time throughout the year.

How this course will make you industry ready

• Over the past 60 years the School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science has established an international reputation for the quality of its graduates and its research.
• It is the only masters course of its kind in Australia.

The Continence and Women’s Health Major:

• can help you integrate evidence-based practice with contemporary methods of clinical practice
• ensures advanced clinical practice in assessment and treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction
• is taught by experts in the field using a variety of advanced teaching methods and assessments
• provides flexibility in studying while managing work/life/family commitments, including studying online with some pre-set contact time throughout the year.

Professional recognition

Upon completion of this course, students who are members of the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) can apply for the APA Titled Membership (APA Titled Member).

Continence and Women’s Health physiotherapists work as a primary care clinicians in private practice and/or public hospitals, with men, women and children. Career opportunities include working within multidisciplinary team in specialities such as urology, gynaecology, oncology, general surgery, sexual health, pain medicine and gerontology.

Health promotion, research opportunities, teaching and clinical tutoring jobs, flexible private practice, hospital or community-based jobs are some of the opportunities available following completion of this course.