Physiotherapist — Strength, Rehab & Tennis Focus
This isn't a typical physiotherapy clinic job.
We're looking for a Physiotherapist who:
* Has at least 2 years of clinical experience
* Enjoys strength training and active rehabilitation
* Knows their way around a gym
* Wants to get out from behind the treatment table
* Wants to help clients become stronger, more resilient and less likely to be injured again
A strong background in tennis would be highly desirable — whether you played extensively when you were younger, still play now, have coached, or have worked with tennis players.
But first and foremost, we're looking for a Physiotherapist who genuinely understands strength training and wants to combine clinical work with gym-based rehabilitation and performance.
At Adaptive Strength, we bridge the gap between rehabilitation and performance. That means you won't just treat pain and send clients home with a sheet of exercises. You'll help them rebuild strength, confidence and physical capacity — from the treatment room to the gym floor and, where relevant, back to their sport.
The Opportunity
We're looking for an experienced, AHPRA-registered Physiotherapist to join our team in a part‐time role, with the opportunity to grow into a larger caseload.
You'll work across:
* Clinical physiotherapy
* Gym-based rehabilitation
* Strength and conditioning
* Supervised personal training
* Return-to-sport and performance development
You'll work with clients across the full rehabilitation journey — from assessment and treatment through to progressive strength training, return to activity and long‐term physical development.
There will also be opportunities to work with tennis and racket‐sport athletes, including junior players developing the physical qualities required for their sport.
What You'll Be Doing
You'll be:
* Assessing and treating clients one‐on‐one in the clinic
* Taking clients onto the gym floor for active rehabilitation and strength training
* Developing individualised rehabilitation and strength programs
* Running supervised small‐group personal training sessions
* Coaching strength exercises and fundamental movement patterns
* Progressing clients through return‐to‐running and return‐to‐sport programsManaging each client's progress from injury through to long‐term performance
* Helping reduce recurring injuries through better strength, movement and physical preparation
* Working closely with coaches, Exercise Physiologists, Physiotherapists and massage therapists
You're not just treating symptoms. You'll help clients complete the full journey from Pain → Rehabilitation → Strength → Performance.
Strength Training and Coaching Are Central to This Role
This role requires more than a general interest in exercise rehabilitation. We're looking for someone who genuinely values strength training and is confident coaching clients in a gym environment.
You should be comfortable with:
* Squats, hinges, presses, rows and loaded carries
* Barbells, dumbbells and kettlebells
* Single‐leg strength and control
* Progressive strength programming
* Return‐to‐running and return‐to‐sport preparation
* Plyometrics, landing and deceleration
* Power and athletic development
* Coaching and modifying exercise technique
* Progressing clients beyond basic rehabilitation exercises
You don't need to know everything on day one. But you do need to understand progressive overload, be comfortable on the gym floor and want to become a better coach as well as a better clinician.
We are not looking for someone who sees gym‐based rehabilitation as simply giving clients three sets of ten with a resistance band. We want someone who understands how to assess, coach, load and progressively develop people over time.
Your Caseload Will Include
* Musculoskeletal injuries
* Shoulder, elbow, back, hip, knee and ankle conditions
* Pre and post‐surgical rehabilitation
* Chronic pain and recurring injuries
* Active adults and recreational athletes
* Junior athletes
* General population clients wanting to become stronger
* Clients returning to sport, training or physically demanding activities
* Tennis and racket‐sport athletes
A Tennis Background Is Highly Desirable
Adaptive Strength is continuing to develop its tennis physiotherapy, strength and performance services. Because of this, a genuine background in tennis would be a major advantage.
You may have:
* Played competitive tennis
* Continued playing socially or competitively
* Coached tennis or worked alongside tennis coaches
* Treated tennis players
* Developed a strong understanding of tennis movement and the physical demands of the game
You don't need to be a professional player or qualified coach. But we would particularly like to hear from Physiotherapists who understand the sport and can communicate comfortably with players, parents and coaches.
The opportunity goes beyond treating tennis injuries. It includes helping players of all ages — particularly junior athletes — develop strength, power, movement, deceleration, balance, injury resilience and the capacity to tolerate training and competition.
Knowledge of badminton, padel, pickleball, squash or other racket sports would also be valuable.
What Makes This Role Different
Most clinics follow a model that looks like:
Assess → Treat → Reduce pain → Discharge
We take clients further:
Assess → Treat → Rebuild → Strengthen → Progress → Perform
You'll work inside a genuine strength‐training environment alongside:
* Strength and rehabilitation coaches
* Exercise Physiologists
* Other Physiotherapists
* Remedial massage therapists
The clinic and training facility operate together. This means you can assess a client in the treatment room, walk them onto the gym floor and coach the movements that form part of their rehabilitation. You can then continue progressing them well beyond the point where their pain settles.
We're Looking for Someone Who
* Is an AHPRA-registered Physiotherapist
* Has at least 2 years of clinical experience
* Has a strong interest or background in strength and conditioning
* Is confident working in a gym environment
* Understands progressive strength programming
* Can coach exercise technique effectively
* Enjoys active rehabilitation rather than relying heavily on passive treatment
* Communicates well and builds strong client relationships
* Takes responsibility for client progress
* Wants to develop as both a clinician and a coach
* Is interested in return-to-sport and performance rehabilitation
* Is not satisfied with temporary results or quick fixes
Highly Desirable
The strongest applicants will have several of the following:
* Strength and conditioning experience
* Personal training or exercise coaching experience
* Gym‐based rehabilitation programming experience
* A strong personal background in strength training
* Experience working with active adults, athletes or junior athletes
* Return‐to‐running or return‐to‐sport experience
* A significant personal background in tennis
* Current involvement in tennis as a player, coach or clinician
* Experience treating tennis or racket‐sport athletes
* Kettlebell training experience
* StrongFirst qualifications or familiarity with StrongFirst principles
* Private practice or sports physiotherapy experience
The Role Structure
* Part‐time, approximately 10–15 hours per week to start
* Opportunity to increase hours as your caseload grows
* Combination of clinical and gym‐floor work
* Some early morning coaching from 6:00am
* Daytime physiotherapy appointments
* Some evening availability
* Opportunity to contribute to our growing rehabilitation, performance and tennis services
The exact structure can be discussed based on the right applicant's experience and availability.
About Adaptive Strength
We operate across two connected businesses:
* Adaptive Strength — Training and Performance: https://adaptivestrength.com.au/
* Adaptive Physiotherapy & Massage — Clinical Rehabilitation: https://adaptive.clinic/
Together, we bridge the gap between rehabilitation and performance. This allows you to:
* Treat clients in a clinical setting
* Take them directly onto the gym floor
* Deliver progressive, strength‐based rehabilitation
* Continue working with them as they return to sport and long‐term training
We're based in Booragoon and are known for:
* Strength‐focused rehabilitation
* Active treatment rather than an overreliance on passive therapy
* Individualised rehabilitation and training programs
* Supervised personal training with a maximum of six clients per coach
* A team approach across physiotherapy, Exercise Physiology, coaching and massage
* Helping clients progress beyond simply becoming pain‐free
This is not a clinic‐only role. It is not a gym‐only role. It is a genuine combination of physiotherapy, rehabilitation, strength coaching and physical performance.
Why This Role Exists
Because most rehabilitation stops too early. A client's pain settles, they are given a few exercises and they are discharged. But they often haven't rebuilt the strength, capacity or confidence needed to return to training, sport or everyday life properly. They may be technically cleared to return, but they haven't developed the physical qualities needed to perform well or reduce the chance of the same problem returning. That is the gap we solve. We want a Physiotherapist who understands that getting someone out of pain is only the beginning.
How to Apply
Apply via Seek with:
* Your CV
* A short cover letter explaining why this role interests you
* An outline of your strength training, coaching or gym‐based rehabilitation experience
* Details of any sporting or return‐to‐sport background
* A brief outline of your tennis background, where applicable
You can also contact Kurt directly: Email: ****@adaptivestrength.com.au
Final Note
If you're looking for a standard treatment‐room physiotherapy job, this probably isn't the right role. But if you:
* Enjoy strength training
* Know your way around a gym
* Want to become a better coach
* Believe rehabilitation should continue beyond pain relief
* Want to help clients rebuild real strength and physical capacity
* Have a strong tennis background or an interest in developing in this area
This is worth a conversation.
#J-18808-Ljbffr