The professional standards of physiotherapy practitioners—which are based on the expectations of the community and peers—form the cornerstone of quality patient care. Taking steps to ensure not only the quality but also the safety of patient care has been brought in to focus in light of the global Me Too Movement (#metoo).

The Department of Health (the department) has a strong program that protects Australia’s health payments system through the prevention, identification and treatment of incorrect claiming, inappropriate practice and fraud by healthcare providers and suppliers.

Over the past two years, Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH) emergency department has introduced an advanced practice physiotherapy service, utilising an evidence-based pathway to improve the clinical management of acute back pain.

After threats of closure, the Modbury Hospital underwent a stunning, state-of-the-art multi-million dollar upgrade as part of South Australia’s Transforming Health plan. The hospital now features a modern rehabilitation hub for people living in and around Adelaide’s north and north eastern suburbs, with the advancement of technology lifting the standard of care on offer.

Practitioners, health managers, academics, policymakers and survivors will meet in Melbourne this month for the two-day International Domestic Violence and Health Conference. Melissa Mitchell examines the role physiotherapists can play in helping patients impacted by family violence.

December is a month to reflect on the achievements of the past year, but also to begin focusing on the next year and beyond.

We have a federal election pending, by May next year at the latest, and part of our policy strategic plan is to demonstrate the worth of the profession and the APA within the health system.

Loneliness is associated with higher health risks than obesity and physical inactivity.