• 24 May, 2025

Draft National Allied Health Workforce Strategy

Submission by the Australian Physiotherapy Association

March 2025

Older trades person in fluro vest sitting on a worksite and holding his wrist as if in pain

New data reveals tradies are hammered by pain and concerned for long-term health amidst trade shortage

Nine in ten tradies experienced a work-related injury in the past year and one in two say they live with severe pain. The new data released ahead of Tradies National Health Month shows the backbone of Australia’s workforce is suffering as productivity pressures mount.

One in every ten Australian workers are a tradiei, and one in four of them fear they will need to retire early because of stress on their bodies.ii  

  • 24 May, 2025

APA submission to Draft Outline of National Allied Health Workforce Strategy

Submission by Australian Physiotherapy Association

July 2024

A man on crutches is being assisted by his practitioner

Physiotherapy services receive significant funding increase and new tiered recognition

The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) is thrilled to announce substantial updates to the WorkCover Queensland (WCQ) Allied Health Services Table of Costs for the 2024-2025 financial year, including a notable 4.1% Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase and the introduction of a new tier for physiotherapy services that are provided by specialist physiotherapists as awarded by the Australian College of Physiotherapists.

Arial view of students sitting around a table with books and other study devices

Why have we been excluded? the students left out of Labor’s promised placement payments

May 2024

Students in a range of degrees – including veterinary science, medicine, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and psychology – are also set to miss out on Labor’s proposed allowance, which will be outlined further in next week’s budget. The proposed payment is equivalent to about $8 an hour.

Tradie with safety equipment looking happy

Tradie month begins amid workplace injury concerns

August 2023

Tradies National Health Month (TNHM), run by The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) has begun, with concerns surrounding the pension age raising, sparking debate as the APA reports tradespeople being 'disproportionately' affected by workplace injury. 

Scope of practice review first step towards deeper structural reform

Scope of practice review first step towards deeper structural reform

The APA has welcomed the Albanese Government’s commitment to undertake a scope of practice review as part of the Strengthening Medicare funded measures.
choose physio for a long and healthy life on the job in white text on a blue background with a profile picture of a young male worker and tools

Tradies disproportionately affected by workplace injuries

A 'fair go’ for tradies has been a key concern following the pension age raise to 67 last month¹, with tradies already being disproportionately affected by workplace injuries and chronic conditions².  

Body stressing, lifting, pushing, pulling, or bending is the primary cause of workplace injury, with the most serious injury claims involving joints and muscles³.

man on work site

Aussie tradies asked to share the load, prioritise physical and mental health

Through recent lockdowns and disaster relief efforts, tradies have shouldered a lot, and while many workers have been doing it tough, tradies remain consistently over-represented in workplace injuries and mental health statistics.
Employer of Choice awarded to the APA

Employer of Choice awarded to the APA

The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) has been awarded the 2022 Human Resources Director (HRD) 5-Star Employer of Choice award for their exceptional work within the 1-99 employees category.

With the call for submissions going out in January 2022, the companies were scored by HRD on each of their achievements and initiatives across a range of areas, including leadership, learning and development, wellbeing, flexibility, diversity and inclusion, work-life balance and recruitment.

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