Faster, fairer and more effective care must be on the election ballot this campaign season. The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) is urging political parties to prioritise healthcare reform that will deliver for the millions of Australians with musculoskeletal conditions and chronic pain. At the heart of the APA’s call is a critical reform: publicly funded First Contact Physiotherapy (FCP), which would provide direct access to physiotherapists for diagnosis and treatment when they need it and without needing a GP referral.

APA National President Dr Rik Dawson MACP says the current healthcare system leaves too many Australians in pain, waiting for care.

'Physiotherapy is the missing link in our healthcare system. By allowing patients to directly access physiotherapy services, we can reduce the need for unnecessary GP appointments, cut down emergency wait times and hospital admissions and save millions in healthcare costs,’ Dr Dawson said.

The APA’s 2025 Federal Election Statement outlines a clear path to reform, focusing on publicly funded FCP to improve healthcare efficiency and provide timely access to expert care. Under the proposed model, physiotherapists would be empowered to work to the top of their scope by assessing, treating, and referring patients with musculoskeletal conditions directly for imaging and specialist care, bypassing outdated barriers that lead to long waits and avoidable suffering.

'Direct access to physiotherapy enables faster diagnoses and interventions for the significant burden of musculoskeletal conditions that costs the nation billions annually. It’s a proven model that works internationally and can help relieve key pressures on the system in Australia,’ Dr Dawson added.

What’s at stake: The current system is leaving patients behind 

• Delayed care: Patients often wait months for treatment, leading to worsening conditions, poor quality of life and higher healthcare costs.
• Preventable surgeries: Evidence shows targeted physiotherapy could avoid up to 90 per cent of knee osteoarthritis surgeries, saving over $100 million annually.
• Overloaded health services: Allowing physiotherapists to operate at their full scope would reduce GP workloads, ease emergency department pressures, and prevent hospital admissions. 

The APA’s call to action: Empower physiotherapists, transform care  

The APA is calling on policymakers to commit to these vital reforms during the election campaign:

• Funded First Contact Physiotherapy: Enable patients to see physiotherapists directly, reducing out-of-pocket costs and improving access to early intervention for musculoskeletal conditions and chronic pain.
• Direct referral pathways: Allow physiotherapists to refer directly for imaging and to orthopaedic specialists, enhancing care efficiency and saving millions.
• Multidisciplinary models: Support integrated care models that leverage physiotherapy’s full potential to keep patients healthy and out of hospital including expanding the Urgent Care Clinic team to include physiotherapists. 

'Primary care reform is essential to improving Australia’s health outcomes. Physiotherapy offers a cost-effective, evidence-based approach to manage musculoskeletal conditions and chronic pain—conditions that cost our health system billions every year,' Dr Dawson said.

With the federal election campaign soon to be officially underway, the APA is calling on all parties to back physiotherapy-led reforms that will reduce healthcare costs, prevent avoidable surgeries, and build a stronger, fairer healthcare system.

The APA Federal Election Statement is available on our website.  

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