Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
The Australian Physiotherapy Association will write to the Australian Sports Commission with concerns of “systemic” issues across major codes, after Cronulla advertised a job with their NRLW team as a voluntary role.
The Sharks were on Wednesday forced to apologise for the job ad, insisting a clerical error was responsible for suggesting the assistant physio of their NRLW side would receive no pay.
Cronulla boss Dino Mezzatesta has since confirmed to AAP the position will receive pay at or above market rates, with the amended advertisement offering an “honorarium position”.
Regardless, the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) claim they were inundated with similar stories from physios across elite sport, who have been asked to work on a volunteer basis at professional clubs or with minimal pay.
That has prompted the APA to write to the Sports Commission and each of Australia’s major codes, concerned the issue is commonplace.
“This is a learning opportunity, but it has unearthed a wider systemic issue that has been going on for too long,” APA CEO Rob LoPresti told AAP.
“What we’re hearing from our membership that this is potentially indicative of a bigger, broader and more systemic issue.”
LoPresti said he was also concerned about possible gaps between pay for men’s and women’s sports, with funding and season length often a challenge for clubs.
He also believed a number of clubs across multiple sports attempted to trade off the experience of working in elite systems as a way to not pay medical staff appropriately.
“We’re not saying there is never a place for any volunteering ever, but not at elite levels,” LoPresti said.
“At elite levels we have high expectations of our athletes, and we should have high expectations around the medical support.
“We would also hope and expect that when talking about the medical treatment of women and men’s sporting codes, that there is equivalence there.”
Several NRL clubs spoken to by AAP on Wednesday insisted there was the highest standards for NRLW players, be it through dedicated staff leaning on men’s physios for assistance or external practices.
Mezzatesta also stressed his club were meeting standards, after a barrage of online abuse.
The Sharks chief executive said the issue was with the ad laid with the way it had been classified on an external website, with the posting requiring applicants to have an allied health degree and attend up to four training session a week plus games.
The Sharks chief executive said the issue was how the original ad had been classified on an external website, with applicants required to have an allied health degree and attend up to four training session a week plus games.
“It was never a volunteer role. It was always honorarium,” Mezzatesta said.
“I understand the backlash, because you are asking someone to complete a duty which is a specialised duty for free, which was never our intent.
“This is not about trying to rob people or bend rules.
“The way it is designed and the intent of the role, if we do break down to per hour, I can assure you it is better than market rates.”
