Curiosity to learn from peers and a desire to deepen his understanding of patient experience led Mathew Smith APAM FACP to undertake the Specialisation Training Program and achieve the highest qualification for clinical physiotherapists in Australia.

To support supervisors, supervisees and employers through the process of supervised practice, Ahpra and the National Boards (including the Physiotherapy Board of Australia) have developed the supervised practice framework.

It was from our highly respected and much loved CEO, Anja Nikolic, saying that after nine years with the APA and almost five as CEO, it was time for her to move on to her next career challenge.

Anja has been an exceptional CEO of our organisation during her tenure and we knew we would have a vitally important role in managing her succession. 

TRIBUTE In the days since her passing, numerous people have come together and talked about the many amazing traits of Robyn Sheppard. 

A common theme seems to be that she was the glue that held things together. 

She will be greatly missed by her family, for whom she was the rock and centrepiece. 

In fast-paced and demanding work environments, managing and reducing stress is essential. 

Stress is an inevitable aspect of modern work life, stemming from a range of factors including tight deadlines and heavy workloads. 

If left unchecked, it can have detrimental effects on both individuals and organisations.

Aged 106 when she died in June last year, Nan Morrison remains Australia’s oldest physiotherapist. 

Nan was a great oral historian. 

In this way she preserved a record of her life, along with a rich family history that intersects some important milestones in the history of South Australia.

Incorrectly engaging a worker as an independent contractor can have serious implications for business owners and can leave new graduates (and inexperienced workers) exposed. 

Ensuring that informed consent is properly obtained is a legal, ethical and professional requirement on the part of all treating health professionals and supports person-centred care in Australia. 

Informed consent is a person’s decision, given voluntarily, to agree to a healthcare treatment, procedure or other intervention. 

Universities that provide physiotherapy education and the broader physiotherapy profession should seek to develop sustainable and mutually beneficial educational partnerships. 

I have served the APA and the physiotherapy profession for nine years, including over four as CEO. 

In that time I have gained a profound respect for physiotherapists and appreciation for the under-celebrated role they play in people’s lives.

Less than a decade ago, advocacy on behalf of the profession was largely reactive.