EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGISTS FLEX AND GROW AT NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN ADELAIDE ESSA calls out growing GST anomaly in Allied Health impacting community and sector
With
Katie Lyndon,
Accredited Exercise Physiologist & CEO
Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA)
Jackson Howie,
Activate Conference Speaker & PhD Candidate,
Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, Adelaide University
SEGMENT
Filmed in Adelaide | May 2026
Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA) this week in Adelaide convened the Activate Conference billed as “where science meets inspiration”, bringing together the latest research, breakthrough ideas and real-world applications from across exercise and sports science.
As a PhD Candidate and Activate Conference speaker, Jackson Howie spoke to Australian Health Journal to share his experience following Day 2 talking about Accuracy of Pacemaker-Detected Physical Activity: Correlation to Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing.
Australian Health Journal also spoke with Katie Lyndon, Accredited Exercise Physiologist & CEO Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA) about some key messages being communicated in the recently launched Axe The Tax campaign.
When GST was introduced in 2000, healthcare was made tax-free. Exercise physiology was left off the list because it was an emerging field.
Under current legislation, exercise physiology is still subject to the Goods and Services Tax (GST). That means Australians pay an extra 10% every time they see an exercise physiologist, even though its recognised by Medicare, the DVA, NDIS, and private health insurers.
Lyndon talks about what this means in higher costs for patients managing chronic illness and injury, keeping in place barriers to access for vulnerable communities and being a disincentive to use effective, preventive care for the community.
The petition can be found here https://gst.good.do/axethetax/axe-the-tax-on-essential-healthcare.
Source: Adapted from social media posts and transcript
Credit: Instagram clips from Longevity Exercise Physiology, Exercise Healthcare Australia & Mitchell Vautin, Clinical Accredited Exercise Physiologist
-
Access and productivity outcomes with radiology technology in Western Sydney
In Western Sydney, there is currently significant growth accompanied by a notable need for cardiovascular support due to the prevalence of related diseases. It is estimated that the population in this area will reach 6 million by 2041.
With this population growth, there is also a pressing shortage of healthcare professionals in Australia, particularly in the field of radiology, where there are not enough radiographers, sonographers, MRI technicians, and nuclear medicine technicians.
-
Lived experience & human-centred design in healthcare
Recognised as one of the Top 100 Women of Influence by The Australian Financial Review, Melanie Tran is a visionary leader whose work lies at the intersection of design, technology, health, disability, and education. With a focus on human-centred design, digital strategy, and service design, she leads transformative initiatives as a Manager in Design, Digital and Data at Nous Group, a global consulting firm. Her work is driven by a deep passion for using creativity and technology to solve complex social challenges.
-
Streamlining and centralising training for gastroenterologists
Dr Amit Saha is a Paediatric Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist and trained paediatric endoscopist based in Perth. He underwent his higher specialist training in Paediatrics within the NHS in the UK, and sub-specialised in Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology & Nutrition at busy and prestigious centres in London including The Kings College Hospital.
