PNZ Member and Public Surveys

PNZ Remuneration Survey

Thank you to everyone who completed the 2023 PNZ Remuneration Survey managed by independent agency Research New Zealand. This was in-field between 19 April and 10 May, asking members their remuneration for the year ending 31 March 2023 and a small number of questions on PNZ performance.

There were 1,260 survey responses to the 2023 survey, representing a 29% response rate. This is comparable to member surveys in 2022 (903 responses), 2021 (992), 2020 (649), 2019 (825) and 2018 (692).

A brief summary of the 2023 remuneration survey is below. Please also read the full survey report. Reports from previous years' surveys and a table of survey responses over time are available at the bottom of this page.

Please note that as member perceptions have remained relatively unchanged in recent years, the PNZ Remuneration Survey including performance questions is being run every two years with the next scheuled for 2025.

Insights

  • The 2023 PNZ Remuneration Survey shows that while many respondents reported their gross earnings represented an increase compared to last year (particularly those working full time), overall average gross earnings represent only a 1.7% increase.
  • This includes a small increase in average gross earnings for respondents working full-time and a decrease for those working part-time, during a time when general costs of living have been on the increase.
  • Little difference is reported in remuneration between respondents working for Te Whatu Ora and private practice, with average gross earnings for members working full-time at Te Whatu Ora up slightly on private practice (identified as $82,970 and $81,397 respectively).
  • Although PNZ membership numbers continue to rise, perceptions of PNZ performance remain mostly unchanged. There is also an increasing proportion of respondents who feel neutrally about the value of their membership, with 57% agreeing they value this and 30% rating its value as neutral.

Action

  • In recent years we’ve worked to strengthen our performance for members, including an increased focus on advocacy and implementing our member-designed strategy. However, perceptions of our performance remain unchanged, and we’re committed to improving this.
  • With the survey highlighting that if neutral members felt positively about PNZ the vast majority of respondents would value their membership, there is an opportunity to better understand these members to improve our overall performance.
  • Given these findings, we are working with Research New Zealand to know more about members who feel indifferent about PNZ. Final questions in the 2023 remuneration survey asked if respondents would participate in further research, and this will form part of our approach to this activity.

PNZ Public Survey

Run by independent research agency Dynata in May 2023, this year’s public survey shows most people continue to seek a PNZ member when requiring a physiotherapist. However, they are also delaying treatment and, although physiotherapists are thought of first for many injuries, there remains an opportunity to increase awareness on the range of areas where physiotherapy helps.

Asking a representative sample of New Zealand adults, the survey shows patients are seeing healthcare professionals less including physiotherapists. With the cost of living rising, this may be due to financial considerations and pressure across the health system.

While our current PNZ Physio Me campaign is helping drive 100,000+ visitors to the Find a Physio website each year, and onto member practices, overall recall of physiotherapy marketing material and awareness of PNZ has returned to 2020/21 levels after an increase last year.

With ACC covering maternal birth injuries from October 2022 and the continued impact of COVID-19, the survey suggests there are particular opportunities to increase public awareness of members’ expertise in treating maternal birth injuries and breathing-related conditions.

Based on these insights, advocacy on behalf of members and raising the profile of the profession should remain priorities for PNZ. To achieve this ongoing engagement with key decision makers, work to get physiotherapy into the media, and campaign activity will continue to highlight members’ expertise and direct the public to members.

Please read the full survey report.

Key Measures

  • About one-quarter of survey respondents had heard of Physiotherapy New Zealand and over 60% continue to believe it’s important to seek a PNZ member if requiring a physiotherapist.
  • The proportion of people who had an appointment with a healthcare professional in the last 12 months has decreased, including with a physiotherapist which is now just over 20%.
  • Although public awareness of physiotherapists’ expertise in treating injuries has increased, recall of physiotherapy marketing material has decreased to 10% of respondents.

Actions

  • Marketing activity will also continue, prompting people to seek out members, with increased focus on the range of areas where physiotherapy helps including maternal birth injuries and breathing.
  • The Physio Me campaign will continue, increasing the prominence of the PNZ brand and highlighting that patients can go to a physiotherapist without a referral.
  • Overall, advocacy work and marketing will continue to highlight the expertise of PNZ members working across the profession and how physiotherapy improves health outcomes for all of Aotearoa.

Page updated January 2023