KINGSTON, R.I. – Aug. 27, 2025 – Each undergraduate kinesiology student in the University of Rhode Island’s College of Health Sciences gains a hands-on learning experience during a one-semester internship in their junior or senior year. Though most of the internships take place in the Northeast United States, some take place abroad — including one based on the other side of the world.

Such was the case for URI senior Bella DeVivo, of Bethel, Maine, who will earn a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology this December. DeVivo conducted an internship with a private physiotherapy clinic based in Perth, Australia from February to May.

“I learned so many things from this life-changing experience,” said DeVivo. “I learned manual and exercise therapy techniques for multiple injuries, such as ACL rehabilitation, Achilles tendon tears, chronic low back pain, chronic migraines, arthritis pain rehabilitation and prevention, and more. I also learned strength and conditioning techniques, the benefits of dry needling, electrotherapy, and reformer and mat Pilates used for rehabilitation.”

URI began sending kinesiology students to Australia in 2014. The program was put on hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Offered for the first time since 2019, students studying in Australia gain a supervised field experience while becoming immersed in the Australian culture.

“We’re excited that internships in Australia have restarted and have plans to expand opportunities to additional cities, further enriching the student experience,” said Matthew Delmonico, professor and chair of URI’s Kinesiology Department. “A kinesiology internship in Australia provides vital professional training and rich cultural exposure through work in diverse settings, which broadens our students’ global perspectives and enhances their adaptability.”

DeVivo’s experience went beyond observing clinicians working with clients physically.

“I learned how to better communicate with clients, schedule appointments, and how insurance policies work in Australia for physiotherapy services,” she said.

Perhaps her greatest takeaway from the experience was studying and living so far away from home.

“Living away from everyone I knew forced me to be more independent and adaptable,” said DeVivo. “I became comfortable traveling alone and mastered public transportation in a city that was new to me.”

Because Australia was such a great experience for DeVivo, she’s decided to pursue a doctorate in physiotherapy at Curtin University in Perth after she graduates from URI.

While a physiotherapist and a physical therapist perform similar functions, the term physiotherapist is used more commonly outside of the United States. According to DeVivo, physiotherapists focus more on manual therapy.

To learn more about the kinesiology internship opportunity in Australia, contact Michelle Carrara, director of URI’s Education Abroad and Student Mobility Programs, at michelle_carrara@uri.edu.