There are 48 students from across the country enrolled in the first year of the four-year full-time course, and all but 15 are mature age students or have transferred across from other degrees.

High-achieving students Flynn Jamieson, Abbey Cartledge and Emily Mewett, who completed year 12 at Damascus College in 2017, have this week started their university lives at ACU’s Aquinas campus.

There was strong demand to get in to the course and high standards to achieve, with a 2017 clearly-in ATAR score of 98.9.

ACU School of Physiotherapy national head Professor Suzanne Kuys said the Ballarat physio program had drawn strong interest from regional students.

“The calibre of students applying to study physiotherapy is extremely high. ACU School of Physiotherapy has established partnerships with key local stakeholders including hospitals and health services, private practitioners, aged care, sporting clubs and other community groups,” Professor Kuys said.

Abbey Cartledge said having two schoolmates by her side as she began a new stage in life was calming. “It’s really great to have two friends from school … it’s not as intimidating with them,” she said.

“I’m really interested in the human body and human movement and I hope to help rehabilitate patients in the future … and it’s great being able to stay home and study.”

Flynn Jamieson said the trio’s first few days of university had been a steep learning curve.

“It’s mainly been an introduction to what we’re going to do, what’s expected, and in the last couple of days we’ve done a bit of basic anatomy that will form the foundation for our future learning,” he said.

Professor Kuys said she expected many graduates of the course, which was first offered in Ballarat last year, would go on to service regional areas to help address the shortage of physios outside metropolitan areas.