The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) is calling on Tasmanian political parties to prioritise healthcare reform, highlighting the need to address patient wait times and intervene for the needs of the population across the state ahead of the upcoming election.  

APA National President Scott Willis has worked in regional Tasmania for over 30 years, he says the state’s healthcare model needs to evolve to better meet the needs of its population. Funding physiotherapy services is part of this evolution. 

We write today to share a joint update with our respective members of the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) and Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA). 

The government recently announced exposure draft legislation to rectify the complex system veterans navigate to access their entitlements—a system that the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide found compounded trauma. The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) urges a critical next step: review the fee schedule for veterans' healthcare and ensure veterans can receive the comprehensive and accessible care they need and deserve. 

One in two birthing parents in Australia experience birthing trauma (K Watson, 2021) leading to extensive, and often silent, suffering that impacts all aspects of their lives. Policy makers need to face this crisis head on and invest in access to pelvic health physiotherapy services. Presently, the escalating demand for physiotherapy services during and post pregnancy dramatically outweighs the access and funding available, leaving new parents without access to essential preventative and therapeutic healthcare, crucial for significantly reducing birth trauma.