My interest began as a business owner. Technology improved communication, streamlined operations and supported more consistent care, creating a better experience for both patients and clinicians. 

My work has since focused on developing and evaluating digital health solutions that extend physiotherapy beyond traditional clinic walls. 

This has included telehealth-enabled models and digital platforms that support exercise, education and behaviour change for people who would otherwise struggle to access care.

The evidence is clear. Digital physiotherapy improves access, particularly for people in rural and remote communities and those with mobility or transport limitations. 

It supports continuity of care, self-management and delivery of evidence-based interventions at scale, which is critical in a country like Australia. 

Rather than replacing the therapeutic relationship, digital technology strengthens it, allowing physiotherapists to focus more on clinical reasoning and personalised care.

I recently attended the Primary Care Conference, where Department of Health, Disability and Ageing Secretary Blair Comley outlined the government’s ambition for primary care reform. 

His message was plain: the future system will depend on better integration of all health professionals through digital infrastructure such as My Health Record. 

This was reinforced in discussion with Katherine Utry, APA General Manager for Policy and Government Relations. 

Physiotherapy must be better connected into digital health systems; we made it clear that physiotherapists are ready for this shift and want to be central to primary care.

At a system level, digital technology underpins broader health reform. 

The shift toward preventive, community-based and multidisciplinary care relies on our ability to connect services, share information and support patients across settings. 

Digital platforms, telehealth and integrated data systems support better coordination, reduce duplication and help ensure patients receive the right care, at the right time, in the right place.

This aligns with the APA’s long-term vision. 

Expanding access, improving equity and embedding physiotherapy more deeply within the healthcare system will require genuine innovation, investment, policy support and a willingness to rethink traditional models of care.

Looking ahead, the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) adds another dimension. 

AI has the potential to enhance clinical decision-making, improve efficiency and personalise care in ways we are only beginning to understand. 

Simultaneously, it raises important questions about ethics, professional responsibility and the role of the clinician.

APA CEO Rob LoPresti is leading this space by chairing a group of physiotherapists to advise the APA on how best to embed AI into our systems and strategy. 

As a profession, we must lead this conversation and ensure that technology enhances, rather than diminishes, the value of physiotherapy.

This is why I’m looking forward to FOCUS26. The conference will be a great opportunity to connect with colleagues from across Australia and beyond, share ideas and stay ahead in a rapidly evolving field. 

We’d love to see you in Cairns.

I’d also encourage you to attend the pre-conference AI workshop with Julian Moore, a leading expert in AI and digital innovation.

It’s a practical, hands-on session exploring what AI can do today, the ethical considerations involved and where things are heading – whether you are just curious or ready to innovate.

The future of physiotherapy will be shaped by how we harness technology. The opportunity is in front of us. The question is how boldly we choose to lead.

Rik Dawson APAM MACP
APA Titled Gerontological Physiotherapist APA National President