AHPA Year in Review 2024 by AHPAaus

AHPA 2024

Year in Review

About AHPA

250,000+ practicing allied health professionals in Australia

180,000+ Allied health professionals represented through AHPA membership

Allied Health Professions Australia (AHPA) is the national voice for allied health professions. AHPA provides national policy and advocacy leadership to optimise the role of allied health professionals in the Australian healthcare system.

Australia’s 250,000+ allied health professionals represent more than a quarter of the health workforce and deliver an estimated 200 million health services annually.

AHPA and its members are committed to increasing access to allied health services and recognition of the essential role those services play in supporting health outcomes.

1 2 3 4 5 6 ENGAGE ADVOCATE REPRESENT INFORM IDENTIFY SUPPORT

40 AHPA member organisations

Engage with government as the trusted voice in policy development and systems reform.

Advocate for system reform to enable allied health professionals to work to their full scope of practice

Represent the sector across all levels of government and across key government agencies.

Inform members by acting as the sector-wide conduit and provide opportunities for representation

Identify issues and opportunities to advance and progress the allied health sector.

Support member organisations to engage in key consultations.

Chair Report

It is with pleasure that I present my last Chair report for AHPA and reflect on the progress we’ve made together. This year has been one of both growth and challenge, and I am proud of the increasing awareness and collective impact we have had in advancing the allied health sector.

Our work this year has been focused on deepening our advocacy efforts, particularly in areas such as digital health, primary care and aged care. Looking ahead, we are focused on several key areas where we can continue to drive meaningful change.

Key priorities for the year ahead include:

Digital Health Innovation

Working with the Australian Digital Health Agency and CSIRO to build an interoperable digital health ecosystem that supports allied health clinical data and multidisciplinary team care.

Workforce

AHPA will contribute to the development of the National Allied Health Workforce Strategy and actively advocate for Commonwealth funding to support implementation of the Strategy.

Advocacy and Policy Influence

With the upcoming federal election, our focus will remain on advocating for policy reforms that emphasize the critical role of allied health professionals in healthcare delivery.

Collaboration and Partnerships

Strengthening our relationships with government bodies, academic institutions, and industry partners will be key in tackling the shared challenges and opportunities we face as a sector.

I extend my sincerest thanks to our growing number of member organisations. Your support, engagement, and contributions have been invaluable in shaping the direction and impact of AHPA. Together, we are stronger, and your ongoing commitment to our shared goals is deeply appreciated.

Antony Nicholas Chair, AHPA Board of Directors

I also extend my admiration and thanks to our small but dedicated staff team, and the leadership of Bronwyn Morris-Donovan. Their hard work, commitment, and tireless efforts have been instrumental in the success of our organisation. They have gone above and beyond to support our mission and serve our members and communities with excellence.

Finally, I would like to acknowledge the contributions of our Board Directors, whose leadership, insight, and commitment to the future of allied health are invaluable. The past few years have seen some significant changes in both the sector and therefore our Board.

I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to Board Directors who served over the last term. Bridgit Hogan for three years of service until May 2024, plus Dan Miles and Jodie Long for their period on the Board before moving on from their association roles. At this AGM, Catriona Davis-McCabe and Kate Dempsey will not be re-standing after their three years of service. Thank you all.

Here’s to another year of progress, collaboration, and continued advocacy for the allied health professions. Over the past decade, AHPA has evolved from an organisation with a single part-time Executive Officeroperating within the APS and supported by around 22 Directors - into the independent, leading allied health peak body we see today, governed by a modern, skills-based Board.

It has been an incredible privilege and a true pleasure to serve on the Board throughout this time. While my time in this role comes to an end, I remain committed to supporting AHPA in new ways and will continue to watch with admiration as those who lead the organisation shape its future.

Antony Nicholas Chair, AHPA Board of Directors

CEO Report

It has been a privilege to lead and collaborate with AHPA’s member organisations over the past year to advance the allied health sector.

In 2024, AHPA continued to evolve in response to shifting member priorities in alignment with government focus and policy, workforce shortages and innovations in clinical practice.

We were pleased to see our sustained advocacy result in the reinstatement of a Commonwealth Chief Allied Health Officer. We warmly welcomed Anita Hobson-Powell into this role, which provides a critical advocacy channel within the Department of Health and Aged Care and strengthens our ability to influence national policy.

The Scope of Practice Review offered our sector much needed opportunity to showcase the breadth and depth of the allied health workforce. Thanks to coordinated advocacy by AHPA and our members, the recommendations in the final report recognise the potential future benefits of allied health professionals working to full scope. There is now greater recognition that it is going to take a whole of health system approach to meet the demand of an ageing population with increasing chronic and complex conditions.

Another milestone was the development of the inaugural draft National Allied Health Workforce Strategy. With more than half the allied health professions in national workforce shortage this will be an important document to guide planning and funding over the next decade.

AHPA’s digital health advocacy also gained momentum, with increased recognition that integration of allied health clinical data is a key enabler to multidisciplinary team care. It’s encouraging that AHPA’s advocacy is beginning to produce tangible change and accelerate digital uplift within the sector.

Bronwyn Morris-Donovan Chief Executive Officer and Company Secretary

While there were many achievements, 2024 was not without its challenges. Despite our collective efforts, the Commonwealth Government remains committed to existing health system hierarchies, presenting an ongoing barrier to meaningful reform and sector advancement. In an election year, 2025 brings new opportunities to position allied health as a priority within the government agenda.

My sincere thanks to the AHPA Advisory Groups whose insight and commitment underpin our policy capacity. Their expertise ensures AHPA remains deeply connected to the needs and realities of all allied health professions and the complexity of the sector.

I’d like to thank the AHPA team – though small in number, their dedication and experience enables AHPA to drive meaningful progress for the sector in an often complex landscape.

And finally, my heartfelt thanks to AHPA Chair, Antony Nicholas. His generosity, insightful leadership, and steady guidance have been invaluable, and I’m sincerely grateful for his ongoing support.

I look forward to continuing our shared efforts to strengthen the sector and make allied health more accessible and affordable for all Australians in 2025 and beyond.

Bronwyn Morris-Donovan Chief Executive Officer and Company Secretary

Highlights

• Supported development of the draft National Allied Health Workforce Strategy (NAHWS) through consultation input, collaboration with members, and participation in the NAHWS Advisory Group.

• Led work alongside the National Alliance of Self-Regulating Health Professions (NASRHP) to explore regulatory reform options and opportunities as part of the Scope of Practice Review and National Regulation and Accreditation Scheme (NRAS) Complexity Review.

• Facilitated focused member input to successfully influence outcomes of the Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce Scope of Practice Review.

• Successfully advocated for expanded allied health representation on the Medicare Review Advisory Committee (MRAC) and worked to support a new review of the Medicare Allied Health Chronic Disease Management program (commenced November 2024).

• Formed strong alliances with NDIS providers, joining a campaigning for fair pricing.

• Re-established stronger relationships with key rural and remote stakeholders, including the Deputy Rural Health Commissioner for allied health, the National Rural Health Alliance and rural workforce representatives.

• In collaboration with the Australian Digital Health Agency (the Agency), conducted and anaylsed the 2024 Allied Health Digital Transformation Survey Report providing key recommendations to accelerate digital allied health capability and capacity.

• Received funding from the CSIRO Sparked Program and the Agency to participate in development of the Australian Data Sets that facilitate health care information exchange.

• Collaborated with Services Australia to support their successful bid to create a streamlined solution for the allocation of Healthcare Provider IdentifierIndividual (HPI-I) numbers to self-regulated allied health professionals.

• Established the AHPA member Mental Health Advisory Group

• AHPA worked closely with the Deputy Rural Health Commissioner, joining the Advisory Network of the National Rural Health Commissioner (ANNRHC).

Advocacy

Primary Care

• Advocated for and supported recruitment of a Commonwealth Chief Allied Health Officer (CAHO) (June 2024).

• Worked with members to inform outcomes of the Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce Scope of Practice Review, leading to several key recommendations for allied health in the final report released October 2024.

In 2024, AHPA undertook an expanded primary care advocacy program, prioritising engagement with the Commonwealth Health Minister and Assistant Minister, as well as key Department of Health and Aged Care staff to increase awareness of the role and value of primary allied health services. This resulted in several positive advocacy outcomes despite a continued Commonwealth government focus on general practice and nursing under Strengthening Medicare reforms and an extended period without formal allied health representation in the Department of Health and Aged Care.

The re-establishment of the AHPA Primary Care Advisory Group helped facilitate focused input to key consultations such as the Scope of Practice Review, the Working Better for Medicare Distribution Levers consultation, and the Review of General Practice Incentives. The Scope of Practice Review final report recommendations hold significant potential for the advancement of the allied health scope of practice within primary care.

AHPA continued to work closely with Australia’s Primary Health Networks (PHNs):

• supported the delivery of the multidisciplinary commissioning program

• secured funding to support the development of components of the PHN Allied Health Toolkit

• participated in the PHN Implementation Framework Group and PHN CEO and leadership forums to support engagement with senior PHN representatives

• collaborated with Brisbane South PHN and Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association to co-deliver an allied health focused workshop on workforce data.

In collaboration with the Patient Experience Agency (PEA), AHPA delivered the TAC Value-Based Healthcare pilot, which had three goals:

• Accelerate VBHC adoption in allied health professionals by providing practitioners with context and support to incorporate PROMs and PREMs into their care models and consultations

• Educate and empower allied health practitioners to engage in patient partnerships and value patients’ lived experience

• Establish a scalable model for VBHC adoption for the allied health sector and TAC registered practitioners.

Primary Care

Focus areas for 2025

Advocacy Digital Health

Highlights

• Advocate for the implementation of key Scope of Practice review recommendations, including in-scope direct specialist referrals, reduction in funding and legislative barriers to full scope practice.

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• Work with members, government and the Medicare Review Advisory Committee to support an expansion of the Medicare Chronic Disease Management program, including higher annual limits, longer session rebates, and higher rebates for services provided in community and residential settings.

• Work with the Department of Health and Aged Care and the sector to support the development of fit-for-purpose blended funding models that support access to primary allied health services without requiring co-location or general practice employment.

• In collaboration with the Australian Digital Health Agency (the Agency), AHPA conducted and anaylsed the 2024 Allied Health Digital Transformation Survey Report providing key recommendations to accelerate digital allied health capability and capacity.

• AHPA received funding from the CSIRO Sparked Program and the Agency to participate in development of the Australian Data Sets that facilitate health care information exchange.

• AHPA collaborated with Services Australia to support their successful bid to create a streamlined solution

During 2024 AHPA continued to work with the Agency to deliver the Allied Health program of work. The program, designed to increase uptake of Agency digital products, had two areas of focus – Digital Transformation Survey and Provider Connect AustraliaTM (PCATM).

With a total of 2,419 participants from 36 allied health professions, the Allied Health Digital Transformation Survey is the largest and most diverse cohort to respond to a national survey focused on Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) and their use of digital products. The survey findings confirm expectedly low usage rates and subsequently details the topics, sequence and style of education delivery required to support the sector to access and utilise the Agency’s digital products. AHPA plan to work with key stakeholders to deliver this education during 2025.

AHPA assisted member associations to understand the potential future benefits of PCATM, resulting in four associations becoming business partners. The relationships brokered between associations and the Agency indicate many more associations will become business partners in the future.

The Sparked work is a key enabler to facilitating the digital interoperability required for functioning multidisciplinary care teams. AHPA’s advocacy highlighted the importance of inclusion of allied health terminology in the Australia Data Sets. Subsequently, AHPA was funded by the CSIRO Sparked Program and the Agency to ensure sector input into the Data Sets. The work remains ongoing and substantial to achieve the desired outcomes across the health system.

AHPA have long identified access and lack of awareness of Healthcare Provider Identifier-Individual (HPI-I) numbers as barriers to adoption and use of other digital products. The 2024/25 Budget saw Services Australia receive funding to create a streamlined HPI-I registration and allocation pathway for self-regulated allied health professions. With AHPA’s support, as of 1 July 2025, all self-regulated professions represented by AHPA can provide a pathway to access an HPI-I number.

AHPA continues to represent the sector in these additional areas of work being conducted by the Agency:

• Modernising My Health Record – Improved sharing of pathology and diagnostic imaging information

• Aged Care Digital Advisory Group

• Council for Connected Care

• Digital and Allied Health Program Steering committee.

Focus areas for 2025

• Ensure the National Allied Health Digital Uplift Plan, including the Allied Health Digital Change and Adoption Plan are fit for purpose and completed in 2025. 1 2 3 4

• Seek funding and broker relationships with key stakeholders to deliver a sector wide education campaign tailored to the unique and diverse demographic characteristics of the allied health workforce as per the AHPA Digital Transformation Survey recommendations.

• Ensure support for the sector to continue work that accelerates integration and utilisation of allied health clinical data, as part of the CSIRO Sparked program.

• Advocate for the inclusion of critical consumer information generated by allied health professionals into key digital products such as My Health Record.

Advocacy

Rural & Remote

Highlights

• Worked with members to evaluate and provide input into potential areas of development for the Rural Generalist program.

• Provided rural and remote focused input into key consultations such as the Scope of Practice review, the General Practice Incentives review, Working Better for Medicare workforce distribution review and the National Allied Health Workforce Strategy.

This year AHPA developed a stronger rural and remote voice for the allied health sector through the re-establishment of a Rural and Remote Advisory Group and targeted work to build strong relationships with key government and non-government stakeholders.

Rural and remote access to allied health continues to be a significant issue. Access is exacerbated by a lack of progress on allied health funding reform, an absence of targeted workforce initiatives, and ongoing challenges understanding the size and distribution of the allied health workforce. There continues to be a lack of data about workforce supply and demand, particularly the self-regulating health professions.

AHPA worked closely with the Deputy Rural Health Commissioner, joining the Advisory Network of the National Rural Health Commissioner (ANNRHC). AHPA also continued to participate in the Allied Health Rural Generalist Pathway National Strategy Group, and the National Rural Health Alliance council

Focus areas for 2025

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• Work with key stakeholders to advocate for implementation funding for rural and remote allied health workforce initiatives.

• Advocate for new funding models that support allied health primary care services in rural and remote settings and reforms to the Medicare Chronic Disease Management program to reflect rural practice.

• Advocate for reforms to the Workforce Incentive Program – Practice Stream to ensure funding for allied health professionals better targets rural and remote service gaps without endangering the sustainability of existing services.

Advocacy Aged Care

Highlights

• AHPA’s continued commitment to Aged Care advocacy has ensured allied health services remain in focus for both residential aged care and design of the new Support at Home program.

• AHPA representation on Department of Health and Aged Care Quality Indicator Technical Advisory Group.

• AHPA’s work was dominated by the proposed new Aged Care Act and the Government’s development of a new aged care system. AHPA made significant contributions concerning how proposed reforms might actually work ‘on the ground’ for professionals providing aged care services.

Much of AHPA’s policy and advocacy required responding to multiple complex documents, beginning with drafting for our members a submission on the Exposure Draft of the new Act.

AHPA published numerous media articles and website commentary on implementation of the reforms, including:

• human rights implications of the new Act

• proposed definitions of allied health in aged care rules

• workforce implications

• pricing.

Other advocacy entailed:

• submissions to and meetings with the Department of Health and Aged Care and the Independent Hospital and Aged Care Pricing Authority, particularly on the proposed Support at Home program

• discussion with the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, on how to make the Aged Care Quality Standard on clinical care more meaningful for allied health provision.

A key aspect was AHPA’s proposal for a multidisciplinary model of residential aged care and nationally consistent assessment of allied health needs. AHPA took this approach to consultation on proposed expansion of the National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program. As a result, AHPA is now represented on the Department’s Quality Indicator Technical Advisory Group, which is considering development of allied health quality indicators for residential and home aged care.

AHPA and members of the Aged Care Advisory Group briefed parliamentarians and advisors in Canberra on the multidisciplinary model. The meetings led to questions being raised in the House of Representatives and during Senate Estimates concerning how the Government will ensure that older Australians in aged care receive allied health care based on their assessed needs.

AHPA also:

• commenced as a member of the Office of the Inspector-General of Aged Care Consultative Committee.

• Facilitated the allied health consumer and clinician Roundtable attended by the Inspector-General.

• Advocated to the Inspector-General on systemic allied health issues, which was reflected in the Progress Report on Implementation of the Royal Commission Recommendations

Focus areas for 2025

• Advocate for nationally consistent processes to identify allied health needs in aged care and to benchmark service provision.

• Ensure Government’s commitment to 100% fund clinical care is applied to allied health in both home and residential care.

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• Continue to advocate for assistive technology and home modifcations funding that meets older people’s needs.

Advocacy Disability

Highlights

• Alliance with other NDIS providers in campaigning for fair pricing.

• AHPA opposition to the NDIS Amendment Bill referred to in the Senate.

• Extensive engagement with the NDIS Provider and Worker Registration Taskforce advocating for light touch regulation for all AHPA members providing NDIS services.

2024 was notable for AHPA’s close engagement with National Disability Services, Ability First Australia and other provider organisations in a campaign for fair NDIS pricing. This included developing a fact sheet on NDIS allied health service pricing and meeting with relevant Ministers and Senators.

Apart from a modest additional increment for psychology, NDIS allied health pricing has not been indexed to the cost of living for nearly five years. AHPA collaborated with other NDIS providers to form a Pricing Campaign Alliance. Pricing campaign members met with Disability Representative Organisations and relevant unions to share views on the impact of pricing decisions. This was an historic meeting, as to date there has been few formal opportunities for different elements of the NDIS sector to come together. Representatives agreed that unfair pricing has had severe impacts on both availability and quality of services for NDIS participants.

AHPA also worked with National Disability Services (NDS) to produce a joint statement on the essential principles for independent pricing. At an NDS forum discussing independent pricing, AHPA outlined the experience of aged care pricing under the Independent Hospital and Aged Care Pricing Authority (IHACPA). This was one of the first of what is hoped to be many future opportunities to have a conversation across the two sectors and develop best practice.

AHPA participated in two workshops and made a written submission to the IHACPA on possible future reforms to NDIS pricing.

AHPA met with and provided written submissions to the NDIS Provider and Worker Registration Taskforce. The case was made for eliminating costly and time-consuming duplication of regulation in the NDIS. It was important that AHPA inform the Taskforce that although some allied health professions are regulated under the National Law through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra), about 60% of AHPA’s member professions are self-regulating.

Focus areas for 2025

• Advocating for all people with disability to have access to the allied health services they need, both within the NDIS and across the broader disability ecosystem.

• Advocating for the inclusion of allied health in the design and delivery of foundational supports.

Advocacy Workforce & Regulation

Highlights:

• Supported the development of the draft National Allied Health Workforce Strategy (NAHWS) through consultation input, collaboration with members, and participation in the NAHWS Advisory Group.

This year AHPA undertook a range of targeted policy and advocacy activities focused on improving access to allied health professionals and addressing regulatory inequities between registered and self-regulating health professions.

With the majority of allied health professions in national workforce shortage and significant issues with workforce distribution, AHPA welcomed the Commonwealth commitment to Australia’s first National Allied Health Workforce Strategy.

Work undertaken in support of the strategy revealed that data about supply, demand and distribution for the allied health sector lags significantly behind the medical and nursing workforces. Commonwealth-funded workforce modelling commenced in 2024 will see three professions supported by improved workforce data but the lack of funding for the rest of the sector means further funding will need to be found. AHPA has established relationships with several universities and is working towards securing funding for workforce data projects.

AHPA undertook extensive work to highlight issues for self-regulating health professions in response to the Scope of Practice Review, advocating for the need for further work to support regulatory reform. The subsequent NRAS Complexity Review provided an opportunity to work with members and NASRHP to expand on this work. While an initial proposal for regulatory reform lacked key protections sought by the sector, AHPA is hopeful that further work in 2025 will enable much-needed legislative changes that provide a stronger foundation for self-regulation.

Focus areas for 2025

• Advocate for implementation funding for the National Allied Health Workforce Strategy

• Advocate for regulatory reforms that provide self-regulating health professions with title protection, strengthened regulatory roles, and greater equity with registered professions.

Sector Representation

AHPA’s work is informed by participation and contribution across a range of external advisory committees.

Primary, Rural & Remote and Preventive Health

• Advisory Network of the National Rural Health Commissioner

• Strengthening Medicare Taskforce

• Expert Advisory Committee for the Scope of Practice Review

• Frequent Hospital Users Program

• Primary Health Network Implementation Framework Group

• Allied Health Industry Reference Group

• Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities Health Advisory Group

• Department of Veterans Affairs Providers Forum

• Department of Social Services Stakeholder Consultative Group

• Migrant and Refugee Health Council

• Australian Institute of Health and Welfare: Primary Healthcare Advisory Committee

• Services Australia (MBS)

• National Women’s Health Advisory Council – Special Advisor

Aged Care

• Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care: Aged Care Clinical Standards Advisory Committee

• Independent Health & Aged Care Pricing Authority: Interim Aged Care

Working Groups

• Independent Health & Aged Care Pricing Authority: Stakeholder Advisory Committee

• Residential Aged Care Funding Reform Working Group

• National Aged Care Alliance

Digital Health

• Aged Care Advisory Group

• National Secure Messaging Network Governance Committee

• NHSD Data Governance Steering Committee

• ADHA Connected Care Council

• ADHA Aged Care Integration Working Group (associated with Aged Care Advisory Group in Digital Health Agency)

• Australian Institute of Digital Health –

AIDH Clinical Informatics Fellowship Program Development Clinical Advisory Group

• Clinical Reference Group –Faster access to diagnostic imaging and pathology reports in My Health Record

Disability

• Autism Health Roadmap Working Group

• Cognitive Disability Roadmap Implementation Governance Group

• Cognitive Impairment Advisory Group

• Disability & Health Sector Consultation Committee

• National Assistive Technology Alliance

• NDIS CICC Research to Practice Steering Group

• NDIA Industry Reference Group

• NDIS National Mental Health Sector Reference Group

• PACE Advisory Group

Public Health

• IHACPA: Classifications Clinical Advisory Group

• IHACPA: Clinical Advisory Committee

• IHACPA: Non admitted Care Advisory Working Group

• IHACPA: Sub-acute Care Working Group

*IHACPA - Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority

Quality Standards

• Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care:

Primary Care Committee

• Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care:

General Practice Accreditation Coordinating Committee

• Australian Council on Healthcare Standards

• Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care:

Cognitive Advisory Impairment Group

• Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care:

Primary and Community Healthcare Advisory Committee

General

• Jobs and Skills Council – Health Industry Advisory Committee

AHPA Advisory Groups

AHPA’s Advisory Groups focus on key policy areas and provide critical ongoing input into AHPA advocacy activities. Chaired by AHPA’s senior policy advisors, working groups include member representatives with expertise in specific areas including association policy staff, academics and practitioners with relevant experience.

In 2024, the Advisory Groups informed AHPA’s consultation in the following areas:

Primary Care & Preventive Health Advisory Group

• Scope of Practice Review: Issues Paper One Response

• Submission: Scope of Practice Issues Paper Two Response

• Consultation Response: Working Better for Medicare Review

• Submission: Consultation on Expanding the List of Health Professionals Eligible for Risk Equalisation of Private Health Insurance Benefits Under Chronic Disease Management Programs

• National Allied Health Workforce Strategy Survey

• Launch of National Allied Health Engagement Toolkit project

• Aged Care Advisory Group

• Submission: A New Aged Care Act: Exposure Draft (Consultation paper No. 2)

• Roundtable: Consumers say access to allied health services in aged care is deteriorating

• Submission to Office of the Inspector-General of Aged Care for 2024 Progress Report on Implementation of Aged Care Royal Commission Recommendations

• Submission: Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Consultation on Draft Aged Care Quality Standards

Guidance Resources

• Factsheet: A Sustainable Model of Care for Allied Health in Residential Aged Care

• Submission: Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority on Consultation Paper on the Pricing Framework for Australian Residential Aged Care Services 2025–26

• Submission: Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee on Aged Care Bill 2024 [Provisions]

• Submission: Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority on Pricing Approach for Support at Home Service List 2025–26 Consultation Paper

• Submission: Department of Health and Aged Care on Consultation Draft of Aged Care Rules 2024 (Service List)

• Joint Submission: Response to Star Ratings Evaluation Consultation Paper

Disability Advisory Group

• Submission: National Disability Insurance Agency 2023-24 Annual Pricing review Consultation

• Submission: NDIS Provider and Worker Registration Taskforce Consultation Process

• Submission to Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee Inquiry into National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Bill 2024

• Submission: Second Submission to Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee Inquiry into National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Bill 2024

• Joint campaign: Disability sector mobilises to secure the future for a better and fairer NDIS

• Submission: Department of Social Services Consultation on Draft Lists of NDIS Supports

Digital Health Advisory Group

• Helped inform the design of the Allied Health Digital Transformation Survey and managed distribution to allied health professionals. Survey report

2024 AHPA Member Policy Symposium

17 October 2024

AHPA hosted its annual Member Policy Symposium in Melbourne with more than 80 attendees across 40 member organisations. This year’s theme was ‘Forging Connections Across the Policy and Practice Divide’.

The symposium commenced with a Q&A between CAHO Anita Hobson-Powell and AHPA CEO Bronwyn MorrisDonovan about changing the narrative around allied health within the Department of Health and Aged Care and strategies for effectively advocating from the outside-in.

Session 1: Multidisciplinary team care

Elizabeth Oliver, Change Care Consultant and Occupational Therapist and Associate Professor Jade Cartwright, opened the presentation sessions with an engaging presentation about the learnings from Maggie Beer’s Big Mission.

Presentations from Dr Sue Williams (Inala Primary Care), Professor Stephen Isbel (Centre for Ageing Research and Translation, University of Canberra) Professor Yun-Hee Jeon (Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney) informed an engaging panel discussion about innovation and research in aged care.

Session 2: Using data for better policy

Session two shifted to all things data and digital with presentations from Siobhain Simpson (StewartBrown), and Erin West (Speech Pathology Australia) covering the impact of data analysis on policy.

Belinda Swan (Department of Health: Digital Health Branch) Michael Hosking (CSIRO Sparked) and Shar O’Dea closed out the day breaking down the importance of consistent terminology to enable clinical information sharing within the digital ecosystem.

AHPA thanks all speakers, panellists and special guests for their expert contributions to the day.

It was wonderful to network with colleagues in person and AHPA looks forward to more opportunities for collaboration in 2025.

AHPA Membership

AHPA welcomed the Australian Society of Rehabilitation Counsellors (ASORC) as an AHPA Ordinary Member after their successful merge with the Rehabilitation Counselling Association of Australasia (RCAA).

The Australasian Sonographers Association (ASA) were also endorsed as an AHPA Full (Ordinary) Member in 2024, bringing AHPA’s total membership numbers to 28 Full (Ordinary) Members and 12 Affiliate Members.

In 2024, AHPA reviewed its membership structure, resulting in the retention of the two membership categories – Full and Affiliate. Sub-categories within membership types were simplified to maintain sustainability and reduce complexity.

Affiliate members

• Association of Massage Therapists

• Australian Pacific Play Therapy Association

• Australasian Lymphology Association

• Australian Counselling Association

• Australian Hand Therapy Association

• Australian Society of Dermal Clinicians

• Dance Movement Therapy Association of Australasia

• Dental Hygienists Association of Australia

• Massage and Myotherapy Australia

• Myotherapy Association Australia

• Play Therapy Practitioners Association

• Spiritual Health Association

Ordinary members

• Audiology Australia

• Australasian Association and Register of Practicing Nutritionists

• Australasian College of Paramedic Practitioners

• Australasian Society of Genetic Counsellors

• Australian and New Zealand College of Perfusionists

• Australian Association of Psychologists Inc

• Australian Association of Social Workers

• Australian Chiropractors Association

• Australian Diabetes Educators Association

• Australian Music Therapy Association

• Australian Orthotic Prosthetic Association

• Australian Physiotherapy Association

• Australian Podiatry Association

• Australian Psychological Society

• Australian Society of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy

• Australian Society of Rehabilitation Counsellors

• Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association

• Chiropractic Australia

• Dietitians Australia

• Exercise and Sports Science Australia

• Occupational Therapy Australia

• Optometry Australia

• Orthoptics Australia

• Osteopathy Australia

• Pedorthic Association of Australia

• Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia

• Speech Pathology Australia

Board of Directors

AHPA Governance

In May 2024 the Board farewelled AHPA Director and Governance and Risk Committee Chair, Bridgit Hogan. The Board and AHPA team thank Bridgit for her long-standing commitment to advancement of the allied health sector and AHPA.

In January, the Board welcomed Samantha Hunter, Chief Executive Officer at Occupational Therapy Australia as a casual director (January-May 2024) and as Deputy Chair, May 2024 onwards.

The AHPA Board welcomed new Directors, Dan Miles, Policy and Advocacy Manager at the Australian Podiatry Association and Jodie Long, Chief Executive Officer at Speech Pathology Australia. The Board thank Dan and Jodie for their contributions with both seeking employment outside their member organisations in 2024 and subsequently stepping off the Board.

The AHPA Board acknowledge and thank Amy Cooper for her guidance as AHPA Finance and Audit Committee Chair in 2024.

The Board welcomed Annie Haywood into the role of Chair, Governance and Risk Committee in May 2024.

Antony Nicholas was retained as Chair. The Board thank Antony for his leadership and steady guidance over many years.

Antony Nicholas AHPA Chair Samantha Hunter Deputy Chair (From May 24) / Casual Director (Jan–May 24)

Skye Cappuccio Director

Member – Finance & Audit Committee

Amy Cooper Independent Director Chair – Finance & Audit Committee

Catriona Davis-McCabe Director

Member – Governance & Risk Committee

Kate Dempsey Director Member – FInance & Audit Committee (until May 24) / Governance & Risk Committee

Annie Hayward Chair – Governance & Risk Committee (from May 2024)

Bridgit Hogan Director

Chair - Governance & Risk Committee (Finished May 24)

Jodie Long Director (May–September 24)

Dan Miles Director (May–July 2024)

Bronwyn Morris-Donovan Chief Executive Officer and Company Secretary

Financial Report

Revenue Sources

AHPA primarily generates funding through membership fees (35%) and grant funding (65%). In 2024, grant funding experienced a 33% increase compared to the previous year. Grants were secured from several key sources, including the Australian Government’s Health Peak and Advisory Bodies Program (HPAB), the Australian Digital Health Agency, the Traffic Accident Commission (TAC), and Scyne Advisory. These funds are directed toward supporting critical advocacy initiatives and specific deliverables for the peak body.

The 2024 financial year saw growth in both grant and membership income. The increase in membership income resulted from a modest adjustment to membership fees in response to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), as well as two new Ordinary members (Australian Society of Rehabilitation Counsellors and Australasian Sonographers Association).

Project Funding and Partnerships

Project funding was distributed over 3 sources:

• The Australian Digital Health Agency provided funds to undertake project work aligning with AHPA’s advocacy for the inclusion and integration of allied health into My Health Record and Provider Connect Australia (PCA).

• The Traffic Accident Commission (TAC)

This project was funded by the TAC as part of the 2024 Value Based Healthcare Innovation Grant Program. The project delivered a pilot program designed to accelerate the adoption of Value-Based Healthcare (VBHC) across the allied health sector

• Scyne Advisory – Co-development of the National PHN Allied Health Engagement Toolkit.

AHPA retained its two partner organisations: HR Advice Online and BMS Risk Solutions.

Retained Earnings and Financial Position

AHPA’s retained earnings of $468,817 (compared to $596,188 in 2023) position the organisation comfortably to continue providing strong representation for allied health professions across all sectors and settings.

Surplus Result and Audited

Financial Statements

The Audited Financial Statements show a net deficit after tax of $127,371 (compared to a surplus of $17,460 in 2023). This variance is primarily due to AHPA engaging additional policy capacity over 2024 to respond to the NRAS Complexity Review and Scope of Practice Review.

Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the financial support provided by the Department of Health and the continued support of AHPA member organisations, which has enabled AHPA to deliver against system-wide advocacy priorities.

My special thanks to Finance and Audit Committee members, Kate Dempsey (August 2022 – May 2024) and Skye Cappuccio (May 2024 –ongoing), and Antony Nicholas in his capacity as AHPA Chair.

We also acknowledge the dedication and hard work of the AHPA CEO and staff who have supported the Finance and Audit Committee and the organisation as a whole.

Amy Cooper Chair, Finance

and Audit Committee