The APA acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea, and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
CONNECT
Yarning Sessions
Each year, the APA's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Committee (the Committee) hosts yarning sessions to support our community of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander physiotherapists and physiotherapy students, and offer a safe environment to connect, debrief and grow alongside each other.
The sessions also offer the opportunity to express the positives, negatives and all of the in-between.
Mentoring
Interested in finding a mentor or mentoring others? the APA's Mentoring Programs facilitate the connection between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander physiotherapists and the broader membership.
The official APA Facebook group that represents the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Committee within the Australian Physiotherapy Association.
This group has been established to allow members to share and discuss information relevant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and physiotherapy, including sharing of articles, blog posts, social media content, professional development opportunities, and discussion of issues that affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the physiotherapy profession in Australia.
APA's online learning platform includes a Cultural Capability category dedicated to educating all physiotherapists on cultural safety and reconciliation, including the highly recommended Close the Gap on-demand lecture.
The Deadly Physios
Join proud Kamilaroi man and APA member, Cameron Edwards, as he has a yarn with Deadly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander physiotherapists from around Australia.
Experience the wisdom and guidance of these Deadly physios as they share their personal stories about truth-telling, connection to Country, culture and language, the power of yarning, Reconciliation and Closing the Gap.
Featuring:
Music from Lowendjeri Boonwurrung Kulin man, Rudi Louis Taylor-Bragge.
Artwork by Emma Bamblett, a descendant from Wemba Wemba, Gunditjmara, Ngadjonji and Taungurung people.
Want to learn more about the places, names and organisations mentioned in the Deadly Physios podcast? Check out the resources page.
SPONSORSHIP AND SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
The APA recognises the importance of a strong Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander physiotherapy workforce, and the significant contribution that physiotherapists make to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.
APA has developed several opportunities that aim to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander physiotherapists and grow the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people entering the profession.
In support of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander physiotherapy students, up to four scholarships valued at $5,000 (to be provided in one lump-sum payment) will be awarded in 2023.
Who is it for?
To be eligible to apply for this Scholarship, applicants must:
Be an Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person; and
Be enrolled in a physiotherapy degree at an Australian university.
In support of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander qualified physiotherapists at various career stages, up to five annual APA memberships and National Group subscriptions valued up to $1,430 (depending on the membership type and National Group chosen) will be awarded each year.
Who is it for?
To be eligible to apply for this sponsorship, applicants must:
be an Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person;
be eligible for a paid membership type with APA (those eligible for otherwise complimentary memberships should join APA via regular pathways); and
have not previously been awarded the sponsorship*
*Applicants who are not successful with their application may apply for sponsorship again in the following year if they meet the eligibility criteria.
Applicants are required to complete the below application form and submit it, along with the required documentation to the APA.
Applicants should also ensure they have read and understood the full Terms and Conditions of the sponsorship, which are included in the application form.
The following documentation is required to complete your application:
Written personal statement of no less than 150 words outlining how a sponsorship of your APA membership and a National Group subscription help you in your physiotherapy career and what being a physiotherapist means to you and/or your community.
Full Curriculum Vitae outlining your career history to date.
Written reference or letter of support from at least one referee. This should comment on your involvement with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people and communities in relation to your career in physiotherapy.
In support of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander physiotherapists and leaders, one scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) Company Directors Course valued at approx. $10,000 will be awarded in 2023.
The course is designed to help experienced directors, executives and leaders develop a deeper understanding of governance issues and improve their performance. The date of the course is flexible and the course is delivered through both online and offline learning formats.
Who is it for?
To be eligible to apply for this Scholarship, applicants must:
Be an Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person; and
Have at least 2 years' service within an APA branch or National Group committee.
Be a current financial member of the APA at the time of application and during the year of study.
Be an experienced leader within an organisation.
Have the ability and desire to contribute as a board member in the future.
The APA has a vision of reconciliation in Australia where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge and traditional ways of healing are recognised.
The APA has bursaries available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students studying physiotherapy or recently graduated physiotherapists, to attend the 2023 APA Conference. Each bursary will cover the cost of conference registration fees, return economy airfares (for the bursary holder only), accommodation, and incidental costs (including travel).
Who is it for?
To be eligible to apply for a conference bursary, applicants must:
Be an Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person; and
Be a student in their final two years of a physiotherapy course OR a physiotherapist who has graduated within the last three years.
Have not previously received an APA conference bursary OR has received one bursary previously.
Not be a current member of the APA Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Committee.
How do I apply?
APPLICATIONS WILL OPEN IN 2023.
To apply, applicants are required to complete an application form return it to the APA via email at aboriginal.health@australian.physio by the nominated closing date.
Applicants should ensure that they are available to attend the full duration of the conference.
GET INVOLVED
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Committee
The Committee plays a significant role in guiding the APA's Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander physiotherapists. The Committee comprises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous clinicians and researchers, and reports directly to the APA Boarch of Directors.
Contact us to find out how you can get involved with the Committee.
Chair
Kathryn Potter (2022 - present)
Kathryn Potter is the current Chair of the APA's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Committee.
A proud Kamilaroi woman, Kathryn is a physiotherapist with Metro South Health in South East Queensland, where she works as an Advanced Physiotherapist in the Women's, Men's and Pelvic Health Physiotherapy Service at Logan Hospital. Kathryn is also the Managing Director and co-founder of Physiotherapy Innovations, a company she started in 2014 to market her respiratory device Therabubble–a bubble 'positive expiratory pressure' device for airway clearance and improved ventilation.
In addition to her physiotherapy work, Kathryn is active in the Indigenous business and health community in Queensland as a mentor, an educator and a leader.
Read more about Kathryn and the APA's current RAP, or listen to her episode on the Deadly Physios podcast.
Banner acknowledgement: Jakeob Watson, proud Gomeroi man with deep connections to Wonnarua country after being born and raised on country, in Maitland NSW. Artwork is from the APA Innovate RAP 2022 – 2024.
