April 2024

This week's ABC Four Corners episode Pain Factory highlighted that our health system is failing Australians with chronic pain. Patients are receiving costly, ineffective and risky care instead of effective, low-risk treatments for chronic pain.

The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) is deeply troubled to learn that former director of the APA Board, Darren Rivett, has been sanctioned by the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal for his behaviour in 2019 that has been found to constitute professional misconduct. 

Tonight’s Federal Budget failed to outline a vision or substantial action for the nation’s immediate and projected healthcare needs. 

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.