Within my first three months as president of the APA, I have already felt the effects of the APA’s ongoing advocacy efforts in my meetings with associates at the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and government ministers from across the political spectrum. 

Influential stakeholders within the Australian healthcare system are recognising the growing body of evidence communicating the value of innovative physiotherapy in improving patient pathways. 

Our advocacy success is further reflected in the outcome of Mark Cormack’s scope of practice review.

The review explored critical areas for redesigning primary care in Australia and recommended integrating physiotherapists into primary care models, specifically endorsing physiotherapy-led orthopaedic triage. 

This model involves physiotherapists referring patients directly to orthopaedic surgeons. 

The review’s endorsement of physiotherapists’ involvement in clinical decision-making supports our broader role within primary care, which will improve patient care while alleviating pressure on other healthcare professionals and the overall system. 

As public hospitals face mounting pressure with overwhelmed emergency departments and long patient wait times, the need for innovative care models has never been more urgent. 

According to recent Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data, nearly half of all emergency department patients wait more than four hours for treatment. 

In response, the APA has focused its advocacy activities on acute care, particularly following the government’s commitment to investing an additional $1.7 billion in hospitals by 2026.

Research suggests physiotherapy-led orthopaedic triage in emergency departments improves patient reported outcomes through early contact with physiotherapy management, enhances the perceived quality of care and leads to a significantly higher conversion-to-surgery rate. 

A higher conversion-to-surgery rate indicates that physiotherapists are more adept at identifying patients who genuinely need surgery, reducing unnecessary referrals, lowering hospitalisations and improving healthcare efficiency. 

Another critical area for the APA is physiotherapy within the NDIS. 

The current NDIS rates do not reflect the complexity of care required, and rising operational costs challenge providers to invest in innovative treatments. 

NDIS assessors compound this issue when they fail to recognise the value of emerging technologies, such as virtual reality (VR), in physiotherapy programs. 

Recently I attended the Rehabilitation Medicine Society of Australia and New Zealand networking event alongside fellow APA board director Melissa McConaghy FACP, APA Specialist Neurological Physiotherapist (as awarded by the Australia College of Physiotherapists in 2010). 

The event featured a presentation by physiotherapist Craig Hewat APAM from Engage VR who is pioneering VR trials in partnership with the Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network. 

His passion for using VR to enhance physical activity for patients with various disabilities is inspiring. 

VR has the potential to assist physiotherapists in treating issues with balance, motor skills and exercise engagement; it may also be able to assist with conditions such as cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease and stroke. 

Given recent federal funding success for a trial in the Hunter New England Public Health Network, various agencies, including the NDIS, are looking at these innovative digital technologies to improve functional results, access to allied health and cost effectiveness. 

The evidence supporting physiotherapy-led models of care is clear: we improve patient pathways, reduce healthcare costs and enhance system efficiency. 

Now is the time for physiotherapists across all settings to lead with innovation and drive change. 

Whether in hospitals, private practices, aged care or disability services, we must embrace and advocate for new models of care that enhance patient outcomes. 

By collaborating, pushing the boundaries of physiotherapy practice and adopting emerging technologies, we can ensure that physiotherapy remains at the forefront of healthcare innovation. 

Let us step forward together to deliver transformative, high-quality care wherever we work. 

>>Rik Dawson APAM MACP 

APA Titled Gerontological Physiotherapist 

APA National President