Australian Physiotherapy Association

As Tradies National Health Month wraps up, remember to keep the conversation going all year round. With many tradies doing it tough during the current skills crisis, it’s vital to continue promoting injury prevention, pain education and long-term health awareness. This morning, APA Occupational Health group NSW Chair Will H. shared valuable insights on 97.3 ABC Illawarra Mornings about the role of physiotherapy in supporting tradies’ wellbeing. Catch his interview at the 23-minute mark.

Today is Wear it Purple Day (WIPD), and the APA proudly stands with the LGBTQIA+ community to create a supportive, safe and inclusive environment for our rainbow young people. It’s incredibly important for us that we support the next generation, which includes encouraging them to be proud of their identity and creating a space where they feel empowered to express themselves, bringing their whole sense of self to work, school and university. We encourage our members to complete the LGBTQIA+ Affirming Physiotherapy – Part A course which is an evidence-based, interactive course designed to equip physiotherapists with the skills and knowledge to enable appropriate, and culturally safe, provision of physiotherapy to individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+. The course is available on cpd4physios: https://lnkd.in/ghQumNAx To learn more about WIPD, visit https://lnkd.in/fgh9PaX

The APA welcomes the NSW Government's recognition of the vital role of women’s health physiotherapy in its response to the Birth Trauma Inquiry. The final report's recommendation to fund postpartum services, including physiotherapy, has been supported in principle, aligning with the NSW maternity care blueprint. The $6.19 million investment to improve access to specialist maternity care and a $2.5 billion budget to recruit more health professionals including physiotherapists, will not only enhance the quality of care but will provide increased access to the care new birthing parents need. The APA has reached out to Minister Park to unpack the intent of the in-principle support response and how the NSW Government will deliver on its maternity blueprint and these new measures. Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/ggd-D3_Y

Now it’s time to really FOCUS on getting in while early bird rates still apply – buy before 31 August to save between $170-220* on a full registration and you'll also go in the draw to win a pair of Steel Blue boots. Save on your registration today: https://lnkd.in/gmP97uzt *Dependent on registration type (member or non-member). 

Unfortunately our 2024 Tradies National Health Month Survey found that 87 per cent of tradies manage their pain with medication, with 30 per cent turning to drugs or alcohol. ‘Self-medication can unfortunately lead to further health complications. Physiotherapy offers a healthier, evidence-based alternative’, says Lucia Tsui MACP, APA Occupational Health Physiotherapist and lead spokesperson for Tradies National Health Month. ‘Employers have a responsibility to their workers. Providing access to physiotherapy and mental health services are crucial for ensuring a healthier, more productive workforce. Unfortunately, only 35 per cent of tradies felt their employers understood or supported them with their health issues,’ says Ms Tsui. Learn more about Tradies National Health Month and how your organisation can support this initiative: https://lnkd.in/gmU8pgQ

During Steel Blue’s Big Blue Couch Conversation earlier this month, Ken Wyatt AM asked the national chair of our Occupational Health group, Zac Lowth APAM, about what help was available for tradies to address their physical concerns. As we found in our 2024 Tradies National Health Month Survey, nearly two-thirds of respondents who had seen a physiotherapist reported significant pain reduction or eradication. Occupational health physiotherapists are expertly-placed to address a range of musculoskeletal issues tradies experience, and as Zac hammered home later in the conversation, encouraging tradies to see a physiotherapist at the first sign of pain, leads to much better outcomes than delaying treatment. Watch the full Big Blue Couch Conversation: https://lnkd.in/gaCB7Pax Beyond Blue

Dr Rod McLean FACP, Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist (as awarded by the Australian College of Physiotherapists in 2013) of the APA Musculoskeletal group presents five discussion points about the relationship between the temporomandibular joint and temporomandibular disorders, including aetiology, subtypes and diagnosis. This infographic is a Physiotherapy Research Foundation (PRF) initiative supported by FlexEze Heat Wrap – partner of the PRF. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gh7sfzcb

As one of Australia’s largest allied health workforces providing timely and critical care to millions of Australians, taking a deep dive into our profession especially after a turbulent few years of battling COVID-19, has allowed the APA to even better understand the people it supports. The APA’s inaugural 2023 Workforce Census was released earlier this year, and it provided insights into the characteristics and career intentions of the physiotherapy workforce across Australia. Catch up on some of its key findings following a candid chat with APA National President Scott Willis GAICD: https://lnkd.in/g2FMkMbt

Many dedicated physiotherapy students begin contributing to the profession long before they enter the workforce. In an effort to ensure that these contributions are acknowledged, each year the APA Board of Directors recognises an APA student member who has demonstrated leadership through their outstanding contribution to the APA and the community. The award recipient will receive: · $1,000 from the APA and their corporate partner ASICS. · APA New Graduate Membership (in the first year they become eligible). · Membership to two APA national groups of their choice (in the same year as the New Graduate Membership). · $500 APA professional development voucher from the APA and their corporate sponsor FlexEze Heat Wrap. Nominations close 9 am 30 August 2024 and must be made by the head of the student’s physiotherapy school. To learn more and to make a nomination, visit https://lnkd.in/gqWKMUdq University of South Australia Flinders University Griffith University James Cook University Western Sydney University University of Melbourne Federation University Australia Swinburne University of Technology The University of Queensland QUT (Queensland University of Technology) University of Sydney CQUniversity Monash University UNSW The Australian National University Australian Physiotherapy Council

Our friends at Indigenous Allied Health Australia (IAHA) are hosting their 2024 IAHA National Conference this December in Tarntanya (Adelaide), an event that will deliver enriching cultural experiences, opportunities for growth, learning and healing, networking and robust professional development. The conference will also celebrate the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the IAHA membership, as well as showcase how strengths-based approaches to health can achieve health equality for First Nations people. To find out more about the conference and register, visit https://lnkd.in/gtcubCf2