Peer Review

Peer Review

Peer Review

Peer review is a collegial process through which you seek review and input from a peer to assist you with ongoing professional development. It is voluntary, collaborative and non-judgmental, and is done for the purposes of reflection, learning, and growth.

You can use peer review to help enhance all aspects of your physiotherapy practice. Through it you gain focused and personalised feedback about aspects of your practice that you select, which provides you with powerful learning opportunities. It will help you to meet your ongoing professional development needs, in a safe and supportive environment.

Key steps of the peer review process:

  1. Choose a reviewer you trust and respect, and who is appropriate for the area of practice you wish to have reviewed (e.g., clinical, teaching, management, or research).
  2. Prepare for the review by having a briefing session with your reviewer. Decide on the specific aspects of practice you want to receive feedback on, and the method of review (e.g., direct observation, or review of teaching material or of patient notes). If it involves a clinical observation, ensure that appropriate patient consent is obtained.
  3. The review itself. This is conducted as agreed at the briefing.
  4. Debrief the review. Through this conversation, focus on the specific aspects of practice that you identified before the peer review.
  5. Reflect on your learning from the peer review. Develop an action plan for how you will implement your learning and enhance your practice.


To assist you with the process, PNZ has published a portfolio of peer review support material. This includes a peer review template, and a patient consent form for you to use. It also includes a Peer review information and guidance document, which gives you step-by-step instructions about the process, whether you are the reviewee or the reviewer. Take time to familiarise yourself with this information before you begin the peer review process.

Peer review is a type of professional relationship. You may also find the professional relationships resources to be useful when setting up a peer review. For example, the professional relationship contract template can be used to put in place a contract between yourself and your reviewer.

Peer review can support you to meet the Physiotherapy thresholds in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand (available from the Physiotherapy Board). It features explicitly in key competency 4 (Reflective practitioner and self-directed learner). To maintain your Annual Practicing Certificate, you are also required to have at least one peer review done every three years. Confirmation that this has occurred is required for re-certification audits by the Physiotherapy Board.

For information about competence reviews, which are different from peer reviews, please contact the Physiotherapy Board.