“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”: Eleanor Roosevelt
That future increasingly points toward Australia for internationally trained physiotherapists. With physiotherapists featuring on Australia’s critical skills shortage list, and demand expected to rise further, especially across regional areas, the Australian government is actively inviting overseas-trained physiotherapists to build their careers in the country. Adding to this opportunity is the updated Australian Physiotherapist Entry Pathway (APEP), a more streamlined and accessible assessment process that allows international candidates to appear for the written examination from the comfort of their home. Yet, opportunity alone does not guarantee success. One of our students, Dr. Jayasri, turned this opportunity into reality. While settling into life in a new country, working part-time at a petrol pump, managing household responsibilities, and preparing for the APEP exam, she achieved what many aspire to, but few persevere through. Clearing the APEP exam was not just an academic milestone for her; it was proof that setbacks are not the end, but often the beginning of a stronger comeback.
This is Dr. Jayasri’s inspiring journey. Keep reading.
Why Choose Australia for Your Physiotherapy Career?
Hailing from India, Dr. Jayasri chose Australia primarily because her husband was already working there. Like many healthcare professionals migrating for family reasons, she soon realised that continuing her physiotherapy career in Australia would require clearing the registration exam of the Australian Physiotherapy Council (APC).
Starting afresh in a new country comes with its own challenges. From adapting to a different healthcare system to managing finances and daily life, the pressure can be overwhelming. To support herself, Dr. Jayasri took up a part-time job at a petrol pump, all while preparing for the APEP exam. It was extremely difficult managing several duties, but she did it.
Her story reflects the reality of many international healthcare professionals in Australia, juggling survival jobs with ambitious professional goals.
How to Handle Failures during Preparation Time?
Dr. Jayasri’s first attempt at the written assessment of APC was both encouraging and heartbreaking. She missed the passing score by just 20 marks. Such a narrow margin can break confidence. For many candidates, missing by a small number often raises painful questions:
- Was I good enough?
- Should I try again?
- Is this exam even achievable?
Dr. Jayasri openly shared that she felt deeply sad after her first result. However, instead of letting disappointment define her journey, she made a crucial decision: to give herself another chance.
How did an Aspiring Physiotherapist Manage Studying While Working at a Petrol Pump
Preparing for the APEP exam while working part-time is not easy. Petrol pump jobs often involve long hours, physical fatigue, and irregular shifts. Yet, Dr. Jayasri managed her time with discipline. She began her preparation in March, carefully balancing work commitments, household responsibilities and dedicated study hours. Her story proves that success is not about having ideal conditions, but about making the most of imperfect ones.
The Turning Point: Confidence, Clarity, and Strategy
One of the most important insights from Dr. Jayasri’s journey is that the APEP exam does not require starting from scratch after a failed attempt. It requires refinement.
What Changed in Her Second Attempt?
Targeted Resource Use
In her first attempt, she did not thoroughly study Brukner & Khan, a key reference for musculoskeletal physiotherapy. She also utilised all our APEP study handouts, self-paced content, recorded lectures and recalls for her preparation. In her second attempt, she ensured focused coverage of this resource, strengthening her Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy’s foundation. According to Dr. Jayasri, revising PPTs before the exam was far more effective than attempting to go through bulky textbooks.
Stronger Focus on Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy (MSK)
MSK was her most challenging area. This time, she concentrated heavily on clinical reasoning in MSK, understanding how APC frames questions and how answer choices can be very similar. Thanks to our AI-based mock test practice set, which taught her time management skills and the kind of questions she can expect in the exam.
Improved Confidence
Fear played a significant role in her first attempt. During her second attempt, she approached the exam with confidence, clarity, and familiarity with question patterns.
Clinical Thinking Over Memorisation
She learned to identify which option was more clinical rather than just theoretically correct, a crucial skill for APEP success.
How to Find the Right Guidance for APEP Preparation?
Dr. Jayasri came across Academically through Instagram, a moment that would significantly influence her preparation journey. She credits her success to the structured guidance provided by the Academically’s faculty, particularly Dr. Mansi, Dr. Dilpreet, Dr. Kushangi and Dr. Prachi.
How to Tackle Difficult Questions Under Exam Pressure
APEP questions are designed to test applied knowledge under pressure. Dr. Jayasri shared that MSK questions, in particular, can be tricky because multiple options may seem correct. Her strategy was simple. Staying calm during the exam, carefully analysing clinical scenarios. Choosing answers that best reflected real-world physiotherapy practice. This shift in mindset played a crucial role in her improved performance.
The Result: Clearing APEP and Moving Closer to Her Dream
In her second attempt, Dr. Jayasri cleared the APEP written assessment with a strong score, marking a major milestone in her Australian physiotherapy journey. More than just an exam result, this achievement symbolised:
- Validation of her professional competence
- Reward for her perseverance
- A step closer to practising as a recognised physiotherapist in Australia
Her success also contributed to Academically’s outstanding success rate in APEP’s remote written assessment, reflecting the effectiveness of guided preparation.
A Message of Hope for APEP Aspirants
Dr. Jayasri’s journey holds a powerful message for aspirants who may have narrowly missed passing or are preparing for their first attempt. In her words, the exam is doable, both in the first and second attempt, provided candidates:
- Sincerely follow structured guidance
- Revise PPTs thoroughly
- Attend lectures attentively
- Practise mock questions consistently
Her story reassures aspirants that missing by a small margin does not define capability. Persistence does.
To Conclude with…
When determination meets direction, success follows. From standing at a petrol pump in Australia to clearing one of the most demanding physiotherapy exams, Dr. Jayasri’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. It highlights the realities faced by international healthcare professionals and the extraordinary resilience required to overcome them.
Her success reinforces one critical truth: with discipline, confidence, and the right mentorship, even the toughest exams can be conquered. As Dr. Jayasri steps forward into the next phase of her professional journey, her story will continue to motivate countless physiotherapists dreaming of recognition in Australia.
