Council CEO Anton Barnett-Harris shares his journey of building a life in Australia and how to lean into serving Australian communities wholeheartedly and championing Australian healthcare.
The beginning of a new year is a very exciting time for many of us… for me it’s an opportunity to reflect on my motivations and aspirations of the past and realign myself to lean in and embrace the new year and all that it has to offer.
This year, I feel especially grateful for the last 15 years I’ve spent building my life, family, and village here in Australia. As a South African who moved to Australia seeking a better lifestyle, career growth, and opportunities for my family, it’s been an incredible journey to watch my life unfold in this beautiful country. Whilst I miss my family overseas and the wonder of living in Africa, I have found immersing myself in the Australian way of life has been deeply rewarding on many levels.
Australia is a wonderful place to live, work, and grow. It warmly welcomes people from all backgrounds, enriching its culture and strengthening its community.
As the CEO of Australian Physiotherapy Council, I’m proud of the role we play in supporting this great and diverse nation. Through our work in physiotherapy accreditation and assessment, we ensure that new entrants into the Australian physiotherapy workforce are safe and effective to serve all Australians including culturally respectful healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Having personally experienced the Australian healthcare system in the last few years, I can attest to its world-class standards. It’s a source of pride and a motivation for us as a team to do everything we can to protect and enhance it within our spheres of influence.
As we step into 2025, I would like to encourage us all—whether you’re a student in a physiotherapy course, an educator, an employer of physiotherapists, or an international physiotherapist aspiring to join this highly regarded profession—to lean in wholeheartedly, be part of this Australian physiotherapy community and do your very best to serve well. Let’s not take shortcuts but look at how we can add and build for the community we love.
Being part of a profession that is recognised as among the best in the world is both a responsibility and an honour. Stemming from our organisational values, we’ve committed ourselves at the Council to doing our very best to serve and protect the healthcare needs of all Australians. We take our responsibility very seriously and are committed to facilitating the success of many more well-deserving physiotherapists who will work alongside Australian communities to deliver better healthcare for all.
-Anton Barnett Harris
