The 2026–27 federal Budget presented an opportunity to strengthen primary care, reduce hospital demand and deliver clear economic and social value – priorities that sit at the heart of the APA’s ongoing advocacy work.

For many Australians, accessing a publicly funded physiotherapist requires waiting until they enter hospital.

The APA has long argued that this system disadvantages not only patients, but also the economy.

In the APA’s Federal preBudget submission, we made the case for the First Contact Physiotherapy model, which would reduce the need for surgery, imaging and emergency care.

To support our position, we drew on evidence from the Nous Group’s ‘Economic value of physiotherapy’ analysis.

Our key priorities were to expand physiotherapy’s role in multidisciplinary care and health prevention and to secure increased public funding.

When the federal Budget was released on 12 May, one of the most significant outcomes for members was a substantial increase in Department of Veterans’ Affairs physiotherapy rebates, a win that reflects years of consistent advocacy on fee sustainability.

More broadly, the Budget continued to invest in Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, Thriving Kids and Support at Home – reinforcing existing models of care rather than reshaping them.

However, multidisciplinary care teams and scope of practice reform did not receive the attention they deserved.

Beyond the Budget, the first half of 2026 has brought challenges that continue to shape the APA’s focus.

A reduction in NDIS capacity support funding threatens to impact service delivery.

The APA commissioned an independent review from the Nous Group, which identified methodological concerns with the 2025 pricing decision, and has since engaged in multiple rounds of discussion with the NDIS and ministerial offices.

This work is ongoing.

Members delivering NDISsupported services should monitor APA communications closely as the annual pricing review for 2026 approaches.

For physiotherapists working in private practice, the Fair Work Commission’s recent decision to increase wages will require attention to wage structures ahead of the changes being implemented in October.

If you are unsure how to go about making these changes, check out InMotion’s HR in Practice series to ensure you are well positioned for the second half of the year.

The APA’s advocacy is built on consistent, year-on-year messaging and evidence-based campaigns.

The relationships we have with other organisations – including Allied Health Professions Australia, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Australian Orthopaedic Association and the Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians – as well as other allied health peak bodies and external consultants we have engaged only serve to strengthen our advocacy and amplify our voice.

As APA General Manager of Policy and Government Relations Katherine Utry noted in the June issue of InMotion, the reform landscape is operating under strain – with a widening gap between the government’s ambition and delivery.

Bridging that gap will require sustained effort and the APA remains committed to making the case for physiotherapy’s place in a modern, accessible health system.

The first half of 2026 has reinforced the idea that meaningful reform takes time and the profession’s strength lies in the consistency of its voice.

Advocacy at the national level only succeeds when it reflects the realities of practice on the ground.

With a clearer picture of the policy landscape now in view, we enter the latter half of the year with renewed purpose and with the evidence base and strategic partnerships needed to keep pushing the case for physiotherapy.

Visit PhysioHub to get a full breakdown of what the 2026–27 federal Budget means for physiotherapy.

Rob LoPresti
APA Chief Executive Officer