Australia’s health system stands at a crossroads, shaped by post-pandemic recovery, fiscal constraints, workforce shortages and growing inequities. 

While the federal government has committed to strengthening Medicare, improving aged care and addressing mental health, significant challenges remain in funding public hospitals and primary care, achieving First Nations health equity and responding to rural health needs.

Achieving meaningful reform will require bipartisan cooperation, stakeholder engagement and a long-term vision for sustainable healthcare delivery that balances equity, accessibility and quality.

A clear way forward in healthcare reform lies in addressing how current health pathways exacerbate inequities. 

This has to be the starting point if we are to bring more fairness to healthcare. 

It is certainly a key focus of the APA’s 2024 federal election statement, Physiotherapy: putting patients at the centre of care.

We have been firmly focused on crafting a compelling narrative that highlights physiotherapy’s strong evidence base, demonstrating its value in improving health outcomes and reducing healthcare costs.

The challenge in developing an election statement is to translate this evidence into a narrative that resonates with funders and aligns with government priorities. 

By clearly aligning physiotherapy’s benefits with key policy goals, we can ensure that it receives the attention and investment it deserves.

The federal government’s pain points are more evident than ever, especially for those of us experiencing them: an increasingly unsustainable healthcare system with rising costs, a workforce in crisis and inefficiencies that fail to direct patients to the care they need. 

A shift towards evidence-based preventive care and timely primary care interventions is critical to the ongoing sustainability of our healthcare system and is proven to prevent reliance on pharmacology, costly medical procedures and surgeries.

Immediate investment in programs targeting chronic disease drivers is now urgent. Cost remains the greatest barrier to accessing care. 

Yet evidence clearly shows that investing in publicly funded physiotherapy leads to better health outcomes, improved care delivery and greater value for the system. 

To achieve this, system-wide reform is essential to ensure equitable access, enabling Australians to lead healthier lives.

Patients shouldn’t have to wait until they are hospitalised to access physiotherapy, worry about the costs of revisiting a GP for referrals or endure severe pain before seeking help.

To put patients back at the centre, the APA has structured a plan that prioritises pathway reform to redirect spend to key areas, aiming for substantial long-term savings, better patient outcomes and increased productivity.

Key examples include investing in effective physiotherapy treatment for osteoarthritis, back pain and falls prevention. 

These investments not only reduce costs and improve quality of life but also prevent unnecessary hospitalisations, ensuring a more efficient and impactful healthcare system. 

The Australian Government has made significant financial commitments to strengthen Medicare but questions remain about whether the reforms address core system needs. 

From 2022 to 2025, the government committed $11.8 billion to strengthen Medicare. This included measures to address declining bulk-billing rates, expand Medicare Urgent Care Clinics and ease pressure on hospitals. 

The goal was to rebuild primary care as the core of an effective, modern healthcare system—but did they hit the right notes?

The Scope of Practice Review, commissioned by the federal government, certainly represents a significant step towards building the value-based healthcare system we need. 

It has the potential to be a critical driver of structural reform within primary care. This substantial piece of work is remarkable, especially in the government’s first term. 

We are now on the cusp of real change but the task of executing major reform will be left to the new government. 

It is essential that we maintain our campaign momentum for its implementation. Physiotherapy is a key component in addressing these needs. 

Despite their immense potential, physiotherapists remain under utilised in primary healthcare. Better integration can alleviate GP workloads, reduce hospital admissions and divert non-life-threatening cases from emergency rooms. 

This approach not only saves money but also enhances patient outcomes and quality of life.

The APA’s election statement champions First Contact Physiotherapy to tackle the chronic disease burden. 

We recommend five priority areas to optimise healthcare delivery:

• direct access pathways—allow patients to access funded physiotherapy directly and enable physiotherapists to refer
  patients to specialists and for imaging
• new musculoskeletal pathways—invest in programs that support treatment and recovery for major musculoskeletal conditions and pain
• early intervention for prevention—keep people well and out of hospital through more proactive care to manage health issues before they escalate
• more fairness in healthcare—address growing health disparities to ensure that all Australians, especially priority populations, have access to high-quality healthcare
• future workforce—provide strategies for managing future challenges, including workforce planning, needs-based approaches and technological integration.

By addressing these priorities, through funded First Contact Physiotherapy, we can help bring our healthcare system back into balance, creating a seamless flow of care that strikes the right chords for a healthier future.

Keep an eye out for the APA’s 2024 federal election statement, Physiotherapy: putting patients at the centre of care, which will be posted online soon.