As we embark on a new year, I’d like to reflect on the achievements of 2025, which will help shape where we go in 2026. 

Our new strategic plan, Towards 2030, was developed and launched last year. 

Another key pillar was advocacy, which took multiple forms. 

In the elite sports area, for example, we responded to the issue of volunteers at this level. 

Member guidance: physiotherapists working for sporting teams and at sports events was developed—a new framework that members, employers and organisations can reference. 

Significant challenges in healthcare reform and pricing arose in 2025. 

Department of Veterans’ Affairs rates continued to be lower than desired and the NDIA made unexpected cuts to NDIS price limits. 

We engaged the Nous Group to examine the NDIA’s report and it found that the report relied on flawed methodology and inappropriate use of data. 

We met with the NDIA in December for collaborative conversations, which will continue regularly in 2026. Another change to the NDIS was the announcement of Thriving Kids. 

The APA made submissions to parliamentary inquiries and engaged through a variety of committees to ensure that physiotherapy’s essential impact is incorporated into the new scheme. 

The new Support at Home program also brought significant changes to the aged care sector. 

The APA advocated to ensure that billing would allow for direct and indirect costs and we were pleased when this feedback was recognised—indirect costs are now included. 

We’ll continue to support our members strongly in this sector as the changes bed down. 

We engaged the Nous Group, with the crucial help of the APA Business national group, to undertake independent market research into a sustainable hourly rate for physiotherapy. 

This will serve as a cornerstone of our ongoing advocacy for appropriate physiotherapy funding across all schemes. I’d like to thank everyone who completed our surveys this year. 

They represent vital opportunities to hear from members. 

We received approximately 2200 responses to our 2025 Workforce Census, providing crucial information about workforce patterns, attrition, retention and what drives satisfaction or premature departure from the profession. 

We expect this report to be released in early 2026. 

We’re proud of the nearly 1000 volunteers working across the APA. Receiving over 200 responses to our volunteer survey was fantastic. 

You’ve told us you want more focus on onboarding support, recognition and rewards, and professional development—we’ll actively take that on board in 2026. 

In late July, we also launched PhysioHub. Approximately 5000 members have already signed up and contributed—thank you for being early adopters. 

We encourage everyone to join as we continue investing in this space for networking and immediate online communication. 

Achieving our goals requires a vibrant culture within the APA. 

I’m proud that we have an 86 per cent staff satisfaction rating and were again recognised as an employer of choice. 

For the first time, we undertook a Diversity Council of Australia survey, which demonstrated that our diversity and equity culture sits well above national benchmarks. 

In 2026, we’ll take a more proactive leadership role in creating guidelines and setting professional standards. 

We’ll review our assessment models and specialist training programs to ensure they’re accessible and fit for purpose. In response to the launch of Physiotherapy. Shaping our future together: next generation white paper, we will also explore options for a new transition to practice program to support new graduates. 

The APA is now 35,988 members strong. 

Thank you for joining us on this journey. 

We’re only as effective as our numbers— we can’t achieve the outcomes physiotherapists deserve without our members. I’m excited about what we’ll achieve together in 2026. 

Rob LoPresti 

APA Chief Executive Officer