National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia in the first week of July each year (Sunday to Sunday), to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
On the eve of NAIDOC week 2023, Australian Health Journal met with Scott Willis, the National President of the Australian Physiotherapy Association, a proud Palawa man and the first Indigenous President of the Australian health peak body.
Growing in up the western suburbs of Sydney and attending local public schools, hard work and committing fully to the task at hand was instilled in Scott from a young age. In 1993, he graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy).
Freshly graduated, he moved to the North West Coast of Tasmania to reconnect with his Aboriginal roots on his father’s side and start his career. Joining the APA led to the first of several voluntary leadership roles within the organisation, from National Chair of the business group, member of the National Advisory Committee, Tasmanian branch councillor, Board Director and Chair of the Insurance and Safety subcommittee.
Today he is co-director of a multidisciplinary clinic in Tasmania. Within the Tasmanian health system, Scott has held positions on the Board of Directors of the Division of General Practice North West in Tasmania, Tasmania’s Medicare Local’s Primary Health Care Strategic Advisory Council, and the Clinical Advisory Council of Primary Health Tasmania.
When elected to the position in 2020, Scott stated he would be unapologetically ambitious given his extensive experience in policy development, advocacy and political engagement.
He said, “As a profession we’ve come a long way to illustrate how valuable our work is, both from a broad health system cost perspective and as highly skilled clinicians treating a wide array of acute and chronic health conditions.”
“One of our key focus areas will be illustrating the economic value of physio and partnering with government and insurers to ensure the best and most effective health outcomes for Australians.”
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ health remains a priority area for our profession. We’re going to ensure not only that we are a culturally safe, engaged profession by listening to, learning from and working with First Nations peoples, but we’re going to make physio a known, viable and aspirational professional choice for young Aboriginals coming through the education system. I want them to know they can and should aspire to strong and respected leadership roles in the community.”
His passion for the profession and the organisation help drive it forward and continue to put it at the forefront of politicians’, funders’ and consumers’ minds.
In an upcoming release Part 2 of the interview with Scott Willis, he discusses the growth of the profession within allied health, role in society, research and education.
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Health Minister appoints Chair to National One Stop Shop Program
The Australian Government has appointed Emeritus Professor Ian Chubb AC, FAA FTSE to lead key reforms as Chair of the Inter-Governmental Policy Reform Group (IGPRG) for health and medical research, including clinical trials.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, The Hon Mark Butler MP commenting on the selection and appointment said, “Professor Chubb has dedicated his career to improving health and medical research and education in this county and I am pleased he has agreed to share his knowledge and experience through the IGPRG.”
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Student nurse placements in primary health care
With an urgent need to manage increasing rates of chronic disease, an ageing population, and a rapidly-ageing primary health care nurse workforce, Australia desperately needs more primary health care nurses to enter the workforce before the current generation retires and cannot pass on its skills.
Most nurses start their career in a hospital. Historically, it was difficult for universities and tertiary education providers to arrange placements for student nurses in primary health care. However, the APNA Student Nurse Placement Program provides student nurses with a foot in the door to a career in vibrant primary health care settings such as general practice or community health to perform supervised activities.
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Pathology technology at a crossroads
The CEO of Pathology Technology Australia, Dean Whiting spoke with Australian Health Journal about the following:
– Pathology Technology Australia’s key priorities in the coming years
– Current local capability in pathology technology compared to other countries
– How the health system supports change and adoption of pathology technology
– How pathology is perceived by the public and in government as well as how developments in pathology technology are followed and understood
– Observations in the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce ReportIn the lead up to the Australian Federal Budget in May 2023, Australian Health Journal reached out to peak health industry bodies to hear about their priorities, either noted in pre-budget submissions lodged with Federal Government in January 2023 or in recent forums such as the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce.
