In a flash poll conducted by the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA), over 90 per cent of physiotherapists said they have treated patients suffering after unnecessary and potentially harmful surgeries. This comes following a confronting exposé of Australia’s chronic pain industry on ABC Four Corners, which highlighted potential overuse of surgical procedures, despite physiotherapy treatment being considered part of best practice.

The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) commends the remarks made by Independent Member for Clark, Andrew Wilkie, in Parliament this week, drawing attention to the longstanding healthcare challenges faced by Australian veterans.

The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) has called for the Federal Government to invest in credible and effective primary healthcare, helping end the unnecessary suffering experienced by women during perimenopause and menopause.

The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) is calling on Tasmanian political parties to prioritise healthcare reform, highlighting the need to address patient wait times and intervene for the needs of the population across the state ahead of the upcoming election.  

APA National President Scott Willis has worked in regional Tasmania for over 30 years, he says the state’s healthcare model needs to evolve to better meet the needs of its population. Funding physiotherapy services is part of this evolution. 

The government recently announced exposure draft legislation to rectify the complex system veterans navigate to access their entitlements—a system that the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide found compounded trauma. The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) urges a critical next step: review the fee schedule for veterans' healthcare and ensure veterans can receive the comprehensive and accessible care they need and deserve. 

One in two birthing parents in Australia experience birthing trauma (K Watson, 2021) leading to extensive, and often silent, suffering that impacts all aspects of their lives. Policy makers need to face this crisis head on and invest in access to pelvic health physiotherapy services. Presently, the escalating demand for physiotherapy services during and post pregnancy dramatically outweighs the access and funding available, leaving new parents without access to essential preventative and therapeutic healthcare, crucial for significantly reducing birth trauma.

February 2024

In marking the 40th anniversary of Medicare, health leaders have cautioned that determined reform efforts are vital for ensuring Australia’s health system can meet current and future pressures including climate change and an ageing population.

December 2023

In this guest post, Scott Willis, the National President of the Australian Physiotherapy Association, responds to recent comments by NDIS Minister Bill Shorten MP about ‘price gouging’ by physiotherapy providers.