But I do know this: if we want the APA to lead healthcare reform that puts the patient journey at the centre and if we want to see physiotherapy properly funded to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives, we must build advocacy alliances with urgency and intent.

For this federal election, the APA was more prepared than ever. 

Our election statement positions physiotherapy not as an optional extra, but as a core driver of health reform.

We’re calling for funded first contact physiotherapy, new musculoskeletal pathways to reduce unnecessary surgery and targeted early intervention to keep Australians well and out of hospital. 

These are evidence-backed proposals that align with current reform directions.

But policy alone isn’t enough. Change happens when alliances are built. 

That’s why advocacy partnerships are central to my role as national president.

At the University of Sydney’s Institute for Musculoskeletal Health, I’ve had the privilege of working with Professor Cathie Sherrington, Professor Kim Delbaere and a national network of physiotherapy researchers leading in falls prevention.

Together, we are building a broad alliance to drive national awareness and prevention. 

This includes Rotary Australia, former New South Wales premier Bob Carr, actor Michael Caton and Socceroos legend Craig Foster, each lending their voice and profile to reduce injury and death from falls.

We share a vision: publicly funded community and residential falls prevention programs led by physiotherapists. 

It’s a vision reflected in the APA’s election call for targeted investment in aged care and early intervention. 

With more than 240,000 hospitalisations and over 6000 deaths from falls in 2021–22 alone, this is not just an economic imperative; it’s a humanitarian one.

We’re also taking meaningful steps in First Nations health. 

I’ve registered to attend the 4th International Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Conference hosted by the Lowitja Institute in Adelaide, where I’ll be engaging with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and connecting with Marilyn Morgan, former chair of the APA’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Committee. 

These conversations matter. 

They are about listening and partnering to embed culturally safe, community-led physiotherapy services into national health reform.

It’s clear that better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples require services that are not only accessible, but co-designed, place-based and delivered by a trusted workforce. 

Our election platform calls for investment in exactly that—from trialling new care models to embedding physiotherapists in Aboriginal health services.

Our advocacy is strengthening ties within the public system. 

APA CEO Rob LoPresti and I have been meeting regularly with physiotherapy managers across public health networks. 

These leaders bring critical insights on rural workforce shortages, student placement viability and structural barriers to multidisciplinary care into our reform agenda. 

Their input helps to ensure that our policy asks reflect frontline realities.

We’re also fostering national partnerships that can support long-term reform. 

In regular meetings with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Office of the National Rural Health Commissioner and the Department of Health and Aged Care, we’re exploring shared priorities such as team-based care, digital health and implementing the Scope of Practice Review.

Perhaps most importantly, our strongest alliance is with our members. 

The APA has built resources to support every member in becoming an advocate, whether by emailing local candidates, posting on social media or simply having conversations in the clinic. 

Your voice is powerful. 

When physiotherapists advocate for patients, it demonstrates our readiness to lead. 

The APA’s election toolkit remains available on our website and I encourage all members to continue using it to champion our profession.

Alliances are our greatest lever for change. Let’s build them together.