Transforming Australia’s health system to connect patients to the most clinically-appropriate and cost-effective health care, should be the major focus of the 2022 federal election.

The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) is calling on all political parties to commit to reforming primary care by encompassing physiotherapy - it’s what’s done overseas and Australians deserve to have the best health system in the world.

The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) welcomes the release of a position statement by the National Aged Care Alliance (the Alliance), ‘Meeting the allied health needs of older people in residential aged care’ calling for the Commonwealth to set a clear plan for allocated funding to allied health services for those in residential aged care.

The APA welcomes the Opposition’s commitment to Aged Care health system reform and a strong, properly funded public health system, with Medicare as its backbone.

In the 2022-23 Federal Budget, the Morrison Government failed to set the fair foundations we need for health equity and access. In contrast, in his budget reply speech, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese, outlined a strong health plan including his intent to put “security, dignity, quality and humanity” back into aged care pledging to spend $2.5 billion to fix an aged care system in crisis.

The Federal Government hasn’t provided a clear commitment to improving critical allied healthcare services, such as physiotherapy for older Australians in residential aged care. 

The 2022-23 Federal Budget maintains a cloud of confusion hanging over the aged care sector about the provision of care by highly qualified health professionals such as physiotherapists who prevent, diagnose and manage a range of conditions and illnesses.