The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) has used its 2021-2022 pre-budget submission to urge the federal government to fund team-based, integrated care to ensure Australians get the most appropriate and effective care.

APA National President Scott Willis said it is vital that physiotherapy is included in funding in the primary care setting to support our post COVID recovery.

“The COVID crisis clearly demonstrated the need for more connected healthcare options and this opens a new policy window to reshape our health system,” Mr Willis said.

New Federal Government funding of physiotherapy and other allied health services to combat the impacts of COVID-19 in older Australians is a step in the right direction toward much-needed long term funding reform, according to the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA).

The APA welcomes the new temporary funding measures announced in response to the Royal Commission’s Inquiry into the Impacts of COVID-19 on Aged Care.

Australia must seize the opportunity to redesign our aged care system so that it is focused wholly on the health, independence and wellbeing of older people. The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) has made the case for evidence-based care clearly in its final submission to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) has announced the appointment of Palawa man Scott Willis as its 22nd national president; its first Indigenous president in the organisation’s 110 year history. Scott commences his two year term on 1 January 2021.

The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) proudly announces the appointment of Scott Willis as its National President and current Vice President Jenny Aiken, as Chair of the Board effective 1 January 2021, for a period of two years. 

Scott Willis, a proud Palawa man from North-West Tasmania, is also the first Indigenous Australian to be elected as National President of a health peak body in Australia. The APA recognises this as an important step in our journey towards Reconciliation.

The extension of Stage 4 restrictions in Melbourne which only allow allied health treatment for patients meeting extremely narrow criteria is causing distress and potential long term harm to patients. The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) is calling on the Victorian government to ease these restrictions and enable physios to treat patients who need their care. 

The COVID-19 Catch-22 endured by older Australians must be urgently addressed, the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) has told the Aged Care Royal Commission’s Impact of COVID-19 inquiry today.

While well meaning, COVID-19 social isolation, visitation restrictions and infection control measures have had the detrimental effect of accelerating physical, mental and cognitive decline in many cases, the APA told the Royal Commission inquiry.

The Australian Government’s temporary introduction of telehealth services via Medicare during COVID-19 must be made permanent to give all Australians access to safe and high quality healthcare.

APA National President Phil Calvert says funding of telehealth has demonstrated video consultations are safe, appropriate and cost effective for a vast number of clinical presentations.

Yesterday’s announcement by the Federal Government about a comprehensive $2.4 billion health package to protect all Australians from the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) is a welcome and timely response. It provides much needed Medicare bulk billing services for telehealth consultations with GPs and specialists, nurses and mental health allied health workers.

However primary care treatment by physiotherapists for at-risk groups should also be included.

A rigorous and highly competitive national recruitment process was undertaken over several months during which Ms Nikolic’s experience, knowledge and passion stood out strongly.