The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) has secured a role in shaping the future of primary health care. Minister for Health Greg Hunt yesterday announced the establishment of the Primary Health Reform Steering Committee to independently advise the government on the development of a 10 year plan. The APA is a key member.

Two physiotherapists are presenting an overview of their physiotherapy treatment services at the Australian Physiotherapy Association’s (APA) TRANSFORM scientific conference in Adelaide this week. Their keynote address, Fighting Social Injustice: stories from the frontline of physiotherapy practice, urges their peers to check implicit biases towards vulnerable groups in our community and minimise the barriers to access that marginalised Australians experience.  

The APA is calling for women’s health physiotherapists to be included in the care teams for all pregnant women in Australia to reduce the risk of complications and to improve outcomes for women and their babies.

The Morrison Government is progressing its 10-year National Preventive Health Strategy, with an Expert Steering Committee selected to inform the strategy’s development. 

New research funding from the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) will allow La Trobe University academic and APA member Dr Christian Barton to determine the benefits of improved access to physiotherapy led education and therapeutic exercise for people with knee OA who have been referred for surgical management.

The release of a report on Australia’s overdose crisis today has prompted the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) to call on the Federal Government to invest properly in evidence based physiotherapy pain management services.

The Australian Physiotherapy Association is calling for Medicare funding covering physiotherapy treatment for sufferers of chronic pain.

Chronic pain affects one in five Australians, rising to one in three for those aged over 65¹. Its impact on individuals, families and the wider community can’t be overestimated. During National Pain Week (22-28 July) the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) is calling on the federal government to properly fund evidenced based treatments like physiotherapy that support the complex multidisciplinary care requirements of people living with this debilitating condition.

Vanessa Jessup is the chair of the Australian Physiotherapy Association’s gerontology physiotherapy group, and is an advocate for achieving the best health outcomes for aged care residents.

Patients’ health and wellbeing is being put at risk by the federal government’s refusal to enact protection of the word ‘physio’, which can be – and frequently is – used by non-physiotherapist practitioners.