The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) welcomes the Senate’s commitment to ending automated decision-making in aged care and calls on the Federal Government to immediately consult with expert clinicians, such as physiotherapists, to repair its broken assessment and package allocation system.

The Australian Physiotherapy Association shares the deep concern expressed by people with disability, families, carers and organisations across the sector following passage of NDIS Amendment Bill.

New research from the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) has found that chronic work-related pain and discomfort remain widespread among Australia’s tradies, resulting in more than half of those surveyed lacking confidence in their ability to continue working in their trade until retirement age. As Tradies National Health Month begins, the APA is urging tradies in discomfort to seek early treatment from their local physiotherapist, and Federal and State governments to pursue greater investment in preventative health care to ensure the well-being of this critical workforce.

Today, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced an expansion of payments for health professionals undertaking clinical and professional placements to include physiotherapy and several other allied health professions. The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) welcomes this decision, which will ensure more equitable access to those interested in studying physiotherapy and give physiotherapy students across Australia much-needed financial relief as they complete mandatory, unpaid clinical placements.

The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) is incredibly disappointed by the National Disability Insurance Agency’s (NDIA) decision to freeze price limits for physiotherapy supports for the coming year. The unfounded decision contradicts recently announced National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) reform efforts, ignores the rising cost of providing high-quality support and relies on a flawed assessment of current market conditions.