Our efforts will continue as our industry rebounds, changes, challenges and sets the agenda towards betterment of the health system for the profession and consumers.

The APA is forging ahead with our policy and government relations strategy to promote and improve physiotherapy access, protect our scope of practice, improve and diversify physiotherapy funding, and strengthen workforce sustainability.

You would have seen recent media articles, including in the Australian Financial Review, calling for healthcare reform via different models of care.

This issue provides us with a platform to engage in conversations about referral to specialists, first contact practitioners, full scope of practice, quality and safety, and the economic value of physiotherapy.

We have also been vocal in the disability space, advocating for participants to be treated with respect and to re-engage with consumer groups for a rethink on the independent assessment process.

We have also been vocal across all media and government in the aged care space. I recently met with Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services Richard Colbeck and asserted our value within the aged care space while also discussing funding of restorative and enablement care.

We will continue to work with the government and opposition post-2021 Budget, aiming to use various avenues prior to the Budget being passed.

We have recently met with the offices of Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing Mark Butler and Shadow Assistant Minister for Mental Health Emma McBride to assist in the opposition’s position and policy development.

We have made contacts within the department with whom we can engage and forge relationships to enable our contribution to policy development. This forms part of our strategy to be ready ahead of the next federal election.

I have also engaged with Musculoskeletal Australia, Arthritis Australia, Live Life Get Active, the Rural Health Commissioner, Ian Hickie from the Mind and Brain Centre (University of Sydney), the Physiotherapy Board of Australia, the Australian Physiotherapy Council, Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians, Physiotherapy New Zealand, American Physical Therapy Association, Allied Health Professions Australia, Pain Australia and the Indonesian Physiotherapy Association.

This is to build rapport and working relationships that push our Choose Physio and #WithYourPhysio campaigns.

We have also been in regular contact with Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt’s office about COVID-19 responses, vaccination and pushing our agenda for primary health and preventative healthcare committees.

Additionally, we have been active and overt in positioning ourselves to influence funding models of care, digital health infrastructure, workforce data and telehealth extension.

The APA has been in constant contact with all state health ministers and chief allied health officers around the country, as well as the federal Chief Allied Health Officer.

This is to ensure that essential service status is in place in the event of more COVID-19 lockdowns, such as the one Melbourne has recently experienced.

Thank you to all our members who have rejoined, engaged and value added to the profession.

We now have more than 29,000 members and this number increases weekly—which sends a strong message to funders and consumers that we have a powerful, united voice. Stay safe.