The Physiotherapy Board (the Board) is the regulatory authority for physiotherapists, established under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (HPCA Act).

The principal purpose of this Act is to protect the health and safety of members of the public by providing for mechanisms to ensure that health practitioners are competent and fit to practise their professions.

The Board has a number of functions prescribed by the HPCA Act (section 118) in order to achieve the principle purpose of the Act.
Key functions are

• registration of practitioners
  
• setting of competence to practise standards and ethical conduct
  
• recertification of practitioners and promotion of lifelong learning
  
• reviewing of practitioners when health, competence or professional conduct concerns are raised

The Physiotherapy Board's first strategic plan was developed in 2001 under the previous legislation and amended in 2003 to reflect the new HPCA Act.

The strategic document was further amended in 2006 when priorities changed as experience was gained by the Board and governing under the Act became more established. The Board has since moved into a clear governance role, further enhancing and refining its strategic thinking and subsequently developing this strategic document.

This latest document sets out the strategic direction for the Physiotherapy Board for the next five years. It states the Board's focus and objectives against which progress toward outcomes can be measured. The planned operating performance for 2010/11, including the risk management perspective, is incorporated within the document and reported on to Board at intervals throughout the year.

It is intended that the objectives be reviewed on an annual basis and the plan itself be scrutinized in full before the end of the five year period covered by this Strategic Plan of the Physiotherapy Board.

Hilary Godsall
Chair

The Physiotherapy Board's activities are aligned with section 3 (Purpose of the Act) and section 118 (Functions of Authorities) of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003. Additionally the activities align with the recommendations made in the operational review of the Act completed in 2009. To meet its statutory obligations the Board needs a clear strategic plan.

Having illustrated the Physiotherapy Board's Outcomes Framework, this document will also cover the Physiotherapy Board's:

• Strategic principles
  
• Organisational structure
  
• Operating environment
  
• Impacts, outcomes and objectives
  
• Strategic direction

To protect the health and safety of the public of New Zealand by complying with the legislation as contemplated within section 3 of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act (HPCA Act) 2003 in a timely, fiscally responsible manner.

Vision:

An ordered profession in which all practising physiotherapists perform at an advancing level of competence to ensure that the public benefit from an excellent standard of physiotherapy practice.

Purpose:

The Physiotherapy Board is the body which sets, monitors and promotes competence, continuing professional development and proper conduct for the practice of physiotherapy in the interests of public health and safety.

Values:

• The Physiotherapy Board, in fulfilling its role of protecting the public, will at all times act ethically and within the law, with consideration of natural justice and awareness of cultural factors.
  
• In dealing with practitioners the Physiotherapy Board will make informed decisions fairly, equitably while maintaining confidentiality.
  
• It will manage its affairs efficiently, effectively, and with fiscal responsibility. It will communicate clearly.
  
• In standards of physiotherapy practice the public interest will always be paramount.

A full version of the Strategic Plan 2010-2015 can be downloaded here. Hard copies are available on request: Contact the Secretariat.