It has been another unusual, unsettling but very busy year for myself, the Board, the Executive Leadership Team, the National Advisory Council, engaged members, the profession and the APA.

However, I am so proud to be a leader of the APA, which has supported its members and staff so well through these unprecedented times, including:

• continued advocating for essential service delivery and the provision of physiotherapy service throughout lockdowns


• constant communications about lockdown status and restrictions


• regular meetings with all state, territory and federal chief allied health officers


• representation on the reform committees for the 10-Year Primary Health Care Plan and the 10-year National Preventive Health Strategy


• significant political lobbying on aged care reform, mental health, suicide awareness, veteran health, national disability insurance and the Medicare reform process and extensive engagement with compensable bodies, health department chiefs, state health departments and digital health agencies


• record levels of online content so that members can access PD when they want


• record media output across the nation


• international representation through the American Physical Therapy Association, the Indonesian Physiotherapy Association, the Singapore Physiotherapy Association and World Physiotherapy


• the release of the landmark Value of Physiotherapy in Australia report


• the delivery of the podcast series The Deadly Physios on Reconciliation and Closing the Gap


• presentations to external stakeholders, including the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, the University of Melbourne, the NSW Physiotherapy Board and MSK Australia.

If I now turn my attention to real healthcare reform, which the government claims to be in the process of doing, I have a vision for the physiotherapy profession.

This includes providing a different mode of delivery of services to the consumer and focusing on non-surgical and preventative health.

I want consumers to have access to quality, culturally safe, efficient and effective healthcare where they need it, when they need it, by the optimal professional and with minimal out-of-pocket expenses.

What I would like to see for physiotherapists in the future includes:

• direct referral rights to specialists


• funding as first contact practitioners


• referral rights to funded imaging that is equivalent to that of GPs


• some prescribing rights


• the ability to fully certify injured workers Australia-wide


• a role as part of the multidisciplinary team in mental health


• a significant influence to prevent the burden of chronic pain


• funding for full scope of practice within aged care and disability services


• funding for preventative health and non-surgical intervention in all funding methods, including private health insurance, Medicare and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs


• significant and valued leadership roles in primary healthcare, the acute health system, community health, aged care, disability and teaching.

I will continue to fight for physiotherapy into 2022 and ask you, the members, to rejoin the APA and not only enjoy the significant membership benefits, but also send a signal that 31,000 physiotherapists have a valuable and influential voice in the health system.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Board, the Executive Leadership Team, the National Advisory Council and all 31,000 members for making my first year as national president of the APA so rewarding and fulfilling.

I wish everyone an enjoyable and safe holiday period.