SpeakOut_April2014_FINAL_eCopy

AHPAUPDATE

Advocating for the roleandvalueof alliedhealth professionals–AHPA reviews2013

KeyObjective2. RaiseAHPA’sprofile In addition to themanymeetings that undoubtedly raised AHPA’s profile, several AHPA articles appeared in national newspapers, health industrymagazines and eBulletins, promoting the role of allied health professionals andputting the allied health case in health policy. KeyObjective3. DevelopAHPA’s capacity AHPA’sBoardmembers and all itsmany representatives now have access to itsweb-based information sharing system “ahpaonline” – the “filing cabinet in the cloud”. This enables efficient access toAHPAdocuments andplanning tools wherever the person is – at home, at an airport, in the office or at ameeting. AHPAgrew in2013! TheAHPABoardwelcomed two newMembers in 2013: the AustralianPhysiotherapy Association and theAustralasian Society of GeneticCounsellors; and twoAffiliates: Diversional Therapy Australia and theHearingAidAudiometrist Society of Australia. The 22 national organisations inAHPA collectively have over 80,000membersworking throughout Australia –with over 11,000 in rural and remote communities. Planning for2014 Participants in the planningday heard from theActingChief AlliedHealthOfficerMarkBoothwhoprovided an update of the new government’s various reviews and views on the Australian healthcare system. With this informationandwith last year’s achievements as abackdrop, further discussionswerehadandAHPA’s key objectives for 2014wereagreedanda variety of strategies to facilitate their achievementwereproposed. AHPA’sOperation Plan for 2014will be finalisedat theMarchAHPABoardmeeting. Current activities AHPA’s year has startedhectically, not onlywith its strategic planning, but also inparticipating in thegovernment’s MedicareLocal Review, contributing toconsultationsby the National Disability InsuranceAgency, selectingandappointing AHPA representatives to theCommitteedevelopingAN- SNAPV4and to theNDISAssistiveTechnologySector ReferenceGroup, and last but not least –planninganevent inParliament HouseonClose theGapDay (20March) “Allied Health –Statingour Intent” –whereAHPAandmanyMember organisations alongwith IndigenousAlliedHealthAustralia, signeda statement of intent to improveFirst Australianhealth andwellbeing. LinOke ExecutiveOfficer, AHPA

2013 in review In early February this year all of AHPA’sMembers and Affiliates came together for a strategic planningday. The day commencedwith a review of howwell AHPA hadmet its three key objectives in 2013.

KeyObjective 1. Advocate for alliedhealth AHPA’s strategic priorities in 2013were: • Disability • AgedCare • eHealth • Mental Health • PrimaryHealthCare • Workforce – including regulation

PositionStatementswere developed andpromoted at everymeetingwith politicians and government bureaucrats andmany submissionsweremade. The appointment of DavidButt as theChief AlliedHealth Officer in theDepartment of Health andAgeing gaveAHPA an excellent point of referencewithin theDepartment and goodworking relationshipswere establishedwithDavid and his key staff members. AHPAprovided themwith a ‘ready reference’, detailing each of the allied health professions. During the year AHPA responded tomany requests for allied health representatives to sit on national committees and advisory groups. AHPA now has representation on just over 30 such bodies, advocating for the role and value of allied health professionals.

12 SpeakOut April 2014

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