The APA’s 2025 election statement, Physiotherapy: putting patients at the centre of care, sets a clear direction for change. 

Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler’s call to mobilise the healthcare workforce through the Scope of Practice Review has signalled a pivotal moment in this government’s term—laying the foundation for transformative reform despite being late in the election cycle. 

The APA’s election campaign strategy is in full swing, driving physiotherapy to the forefront of healthcare reform. 

From pre-Budget discussions to Parliament House meetings and the launch of our election statement, we’ve hit the ground running—securing engagements with government ministers and shadow ministers while preparing to work constructively with any government configuration that may emerge. 

How can physiotherapy drive meaningful change in the evolving healthcare reform landscape? 

The March Budget, with its focus on cost-of-living relief and advancing universal access in primary care, delivered foundational reform that brings Medicare closer to its true aims. 

The $8.5 billion Medicare overhaul expands bulk-billing for all Australians, tripling the number of fully bulk-billing practices by 2030 and delivering $859 million in annual patient savings. 

However, while these measures offer much-needed progress for patients, they fall short of addressing deeper, systemic challenges within the healthcare system. 

Incremental steps such as new rebates, women’s health measures and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme co-payment cuts signal progress but leave gaps unaddressed. 

The absence of bold policy action to fully leverage the health workforce’s scope of practice remains a critical gap in achieving genuine reform. 

The focus is now expanding beyond general practice to include the broader healthcare team. 

The untapped potential for reform is undeniable and physiotherapy stands ready to play a key role in shaping the future of healthcare. 

How do you turn a vision into action at the highest levels of government? 

Building strong connections with policymakers and aligning proposals with their priorities is the driving force behind meaningful reform. 

The sheer volume of our engagements in the first few months of 2025 with ministers, shadow ministers and other decision-makers underscores a carefully executed long game—rooted in persistence, strategic planning and the strong relationships we’ve built over time. 

This approach reflects not only the groundwork laid for meaningful reform but also the alignment of our efforts with the priorities of an election-focused government. 

Each step, from the development to the execution of our 2025 election statement, has been designed to ensure that physiotherapy’s voice is heard at the highest levels. 

Structuring an election statement like this raises an important question: where do you begin and why is that structure effective?

The answer lies in years of strategic effort and an unwavering focus on value. 

The solutions we present today stem from deliberate, methodical action, grounded in foundational documents like the Future of Physiotherapy in Australia white paper, the Value of Physiotherapy in Australia analysis (Nous Group 2020) and targeted cost benefit studies on direct referral pathways. 

These efforts have been further shaped by our recent leadership in the Scope of Practice Review process. This structured approach works because it builds on a solid foundation of research, strategic planning and clear priorities. 

Every step has been designed to build credibility and earn trust. 

Funders back our submissions because they’re thorough, evidence-driven and transformative. We don’t just highlight challenges—we create pathways to solve them. 

Beginning with a deep understanding of budget realities and government priorities, we can address their pain points directly. 

This enables our proposals to align seamlessly with reform directions, filling critical gaps and positioning physiotherapy as a solution for maximum impact and efficiency. 

What role does evidence-driven strategy play in crafting pathways for reform that deliver better value for patients, create a stronger healthcare system and achieve real cost efficiencies? 

It’s at the heart of what we do. Transforming patient care goes beyond addressing existing gaps—it’s about proactively embracing opportunities to drive innovation and reshape the healthcare system. 

With a focus on streamlining systems and improving outcomes, we create meaningful change that not only delivers better value for patients but also strengthens and modernises healthcare for the future. 

A strong evidence base isn’t just our foundation—it’s our policy edge. This is why the message in our election statement lands so powerfully. 

As well as ensuring better, more direct pathways to health for patients, our interventions promise millions in potential savings for the government. 

The approach is built on a three-pathway design and 12 funding asks, strategically redirecting spending to priority areas. 

This strategy aims to deliver substantial long-term savings, improved patient outcomes and enhanced productivity. 

We address inefficiencies head-on, through:

• direct access pathways—breaking down barriers so patients can access care when they need it
• new musculoskeletal pathways—refining musculoskeletal care models for faster, more effective outcomes
• early intervention for prevention—stopping health problems before they start, which reduces the long-term burden. 

How do we unpack the untapped potential in these big-spend areas? We do this in the election statement by highlighting the opportunities reform can unlock and the immense cost of ignoring them. 

Our healthcare system is stuck in a costly cycle, defaulting to specialist referrals that lead to low evidence surgeries. 

Why? Because evidence-based first-line treatments remain chronically underfunded. Reform is overdue to close these gaps in non-operative management and prioritise physiotherapy-led care for complex conditions like back pain and shoulder pain. 

For example, surgery isn’t always the answer for knee osteoarthritis. New Australian research reveals a striking possibility: nine out of 10 Australians with knee osteoarthritis could avoid expensive surgeries through targeted physiotherapy programs (Fukui et al 2022). 

With knee and hip replacement costs set to surge to $5.32 billion by 2030 (Docking et al 2024), the case for physiotherapy-led interventions becomes even more compelling. 

The evidence is clear: physiotherapy-led programs are transforming the way osteoarthritis is managed. 

Beyond strong patient outcomes, these programs deliver financial wins—offering an average net benefit of $3772 per episode of care compared to surgical or medication alternatives (Nous Group 2020). 

Physiotherapy also plays a pivotal role in bridging the gap between primary care and hospitalisation, cutting unnecessary stays and reducing readmissions. 

Community-based physiotherapy-led care is transformative, helping to prevent falls, fractures and birth-related pelvic injuries; managing respiratory diseases; and slowing the progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. 

In 2022–23, Australia spent a staggering $5.1 billion on injuries from falls (AIHW 2024), underscoring the urgent need for investment in physiotherapy-led falls prevention strategies. 

Physical activity and sports prevented $1.7 billion in disease-related spending, with $488 million of that attributed to preventing falls (AIHW 2023). 

These proven approaches not only improve quality of life and physical function for older Australians but also keep people out of hospital—preventing injuries and prolonging independence. 

What will it take to put physiotherapy at the forefront of healthcare reform? This election marks a turning point. After years of hard work, we are now positioned to champion solutions that break down systemic barriers and deliver modern, coordinated care models. 

From preventing chronic disease to reducing unnecessary surgeries, physiotherapy is set to redefine healthcare for all Australians. 

Our election statement—backed by a solid evidence base and a proven track record—isn’t just a proposal. It’s a blueprint for transformative change.  

Quick links:

• The APA’s 2025 election statement, Physiotherapy: putting patients at the centre of care.
• References

Our solutions

1. Direct access pathways 

Physiotherapy should be a first-line treatment option in primary care, removing outdated referral barriers and reducing pressure on GPs and hospitals. 

Priority pathway reform 1 is set to redefine primary care by breaking down structural barriers that inflate costs and delay access to essential services. 

This approach underscores the untapped potential beyond traditional GP-led care, highlighting physiotherapy’s clinical leadership.

By addressing these barriers, we aim to pave the way for integration and collaboration, ensuring a more streamlined and cost-effective healthcare system. 

At its heart, this reform champions funded first contact physiotherapy and direct referral pathways, leveraging bipartisan-backed Scope of Practice Review recommendations. 

With a focus on Urgent Care Clinics, multidisciplinary spending and digital health advancements like My Health Record activation, it positions primary care for transformative change. 

Publicly funded first contact physiotherapy 

• New Medicare-rebated physiotherapy and blended funding models for primary care.
• Implementation of funding and payment policies from Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce—Scope of Practice Review Final Report.
• Expansion of the Urgent Care Clinic teams to improve access to physiotherapy. 

Direct referrals 

• Amendment to the Medicare Benefits Schedule to allow physiotherapists to directly refer patients with musculoskeletal conditions to orthopaedic surgeons.
• Medicare physiotherapy referral rights for musculoskeletal imaging items across various modalities including ultrasound, X-ray and MRI. 

Multidisciplinary collaborative care 

• New blended payments for access to multidisciplinary healthcare.
• Enhanced collaborative practice through a capacity building and implementation support program for Primary Health Networks (PHNs).
• Additional funding for physiotherapy-led PHN multidisciplinary models for chronic pain, osteoarthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, dementia and preventive measures.
• Extension of MyMedicare to include physiotherapists and activation of My Health Record for seamless allied health access. 

2. New musculoskeletal pathways

Funding physiotherapy-led programs for conditions like osteoarthritis, chronic pain and back pain will improve care efficiency and reduce unnecessary surgeries, benefiting all Australians. 

Priority pathway reform 2 tackles chronic disease and pain with a focused reform: the introduction of a new musculoskeletal pathway. 

This initiative bridges care gaps, cutting costs and reducing reliance on surgeries and opioids by emphasising physiotherapy-led non-surgical management. 

Ineffective management of musculoskeletal and chronic conditions in primary care often results in poorer health outcomes and higher costs. 

By prioritising physiotherapy for chronic conditions like back pain and osteoarthritis, this reform offers smarter, patient-centred solutions to meet rising demand and improve outcomes. 

Dedicated pathways for major musculoskeletal conditions 

• New first contact physiotherapy musculoskeletal pathway to address large unmet demand. 

More support for non-surgical interventions 

• Physiotherapy screening clinics for complex health needs via PHNs and Local Health Network commissioning.
• Medicare-funded management plans for non-operative management of osteoarthritic knee and hip to reduce unnecessary surgeries. 

Chronic conditions 

• Reform of Medicare Chronic Disease Management items beyond five sessions to create a dedicated physiotherapy pathway for musculoskeletal disorders and chronic conditions.
• Extension of physiotherapy musculoskeletal pathway to include block or blended funding options to expand access to programs like GLA:D. 

Pain strategies 

• Prioritising of physiotherapy for low back pain as a first-line treatment to reduce unnecessary spinal surgeries.
• Expansion of Medicare Benefits Schedule pain-related items to enable high-value care through multidisciplinary, patient-centred approaches to pain management. 

3. Early intervention for prevention 

Investment to embed prevention and early intervention into the health system is key to improving patient outcomes and meeting growing healthcare demands. 

In priority pathway 3, we call for funded programs to embed prevention and early intervention into the health system. 

Here, we outline how investment in prevention—putting physiotherapy at the core of early intervention initiatives—improves patient outcomes and addresses growing burden. 

These initiatives are crucial for improving patient outcomes and meeting increasing healthcare demands. This is reform to keep people well and out of hospital. 

Early intervention through physiotherapy-led care can significantly improve health outcomes. 

From a community-based falls prevention campaign to physiotherapy-led prenatal care and pulmonary rehabilitation, these reforms deliver high-impact solutions for vulnerable populations. 

Falls prevention 

• A funded, nationally consistent twice-weekly community group program delivered by physiotherapists via PHNs.
• A funded, scalable, evidence-based falls prevention program for aged care residents using face-to-face and telehealth delivery. 

Birth trauma prevention and treatment 

• Funded access to prenatal and postnatal physiotherapy for antenatal screening, education and early treatment of birth trauma.

Respiratory care in the community 

• One-on-one care for debilitated and acute chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients, delivered in-home or via telehealth.
• Funded community-based pulmonary rehabilitation programs, including online options, to reduce hospitalisation and deterioration.
• Funded preoperative and postoperative physiotherapy for lung cancer patients and those identified by the National Lung Cancer Screening Program. 

Prehabilitation as an investment 

• Funded out-of-hospital prehabilitation through new models and investment in physiotherapy pre-surgical rehab clinics in primary care.
• A funded PHN multidisciplinary pilot for a screening program to simplify treatment pathways for meniscal and rotator cuff injuries. 

4. Our care priorities

In priority reform 4, we focus on providing better care and outcomes for our care priorities. Improving population health and addressing health inequities must remain at the heart of Australia’s healthcare system. 

Physiotherapy led interventions hold great potential to make a significant impact, especially for priority populations. 

Our care priorities focus on addressing inequities across key populations, ensuring that reform delivers affordable, accessible care for First Nations peoples, rural Australians, ageing Australians, people with disabilities, veterans, culturally and linguistically diverse communities and LGBTQIA+ communities. 

As the care and support economy evolves, safeguarding clinical expertise is vital to achieving meaningful outcomes. 

This will require: 

• strengthened cultural competency, an increase in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander physiotherapy workforce and enhanced access to culturally safe services for First Nations peoples
• a comprehensive rural health strategy, including targeted funding via PHNs, reframing the Workforce Incentive Program and implementing discipline-specific measures to support rural physiotherapy practices
• evidence-based early interventions for older Australians, including a clinical needs-based assessment tool for care planning and ongoing physiotherapy reablement in respite and palliative care
• updated pricing mechanisms under the NDIS and sufficient access to physiotherapy for Australians with disabilities, including holistic, multidisciplinary early childhood programs to foster inclusion and tackle developmental delays
• immediate action to update the Department of Veterans’ Affairs fee schedule, which currently compensates physiotherapists at rates significantly below standard prices, to ensure that veterans have access to the care they need and deserve
• inclusive healthcare for culturally and linguistically diverse communities that fosters environments where all individuals feel respected and understood
• safe and affirming healthcare for LGBTQIA+ individuals, with active work to eliminate discrimination and ensure equitable access to services. 

5. Workforce and digital strategies 

How can we ensure that the physiotherapy workforce is ready to meet future healthcare challenges? 

Valuing skills and prioritising workforce development are key to addressing critical supply and distribution issues. 

The National Allied Health Workforce Strategy must better define allied health, assess needs and set clear growth targets.

Currently, it falls short—making it vital to advocate for a strategy that reflects physiotherapy’s skill depth and the broader sector’s expertise. Significantly more investment is required to secure the next generation of physiotherapists. 

Ensuring that our student and new graduate physiotherapists transition into confident, independent practitioners relies on building a sustainable training pathway from early career to advanced practice roles. 

There’s a pressing need to fund physiotherapy training similarly to general practice in order to build training capacity and provide varied exposure. 

Addressing these gaps is key to supporting the transition to work and positive early workplace experiences and the training pathway needs to encompass a vertically integrated undergraduate curriculum to support graduate readiness for practice. 

Primary healthcare training should be embedded in the undergraduate curriculum to ensure that future health professionals are well prepared to work to their full scope of practice in primary care settings as outlined in Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce—Scope of Practice Review Final Report. 

Priority reform 5 proposes flexible training pipelines, incentivised clinical placements and support for physiotherapists in aged care, disability and rural areas. 

Expanding advanced practice roles and integrating physiotherapy into digital infrastructure will create a future-ready workforce.

Optimising skills and scope of practice will strengthen care delivery, while needs-based planning, underpinned by robust data collection and analysis, will ensure effective workforce development.