Associate Professor Michael Reynolds commenced his new role as the Council’s Board Chair from the start of 2025.
Since completing his physiotherapy degree in 2000, Michael has become a highly regarded leader in the physiotherapy profession working within sports physiotherapy, private practice, chairing the Australian Physiotherapy Association’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee, and as an academic at the Australian Catholic University (NSW), embedding First Nations peoples’ perspectives into the physiotherapy program.
He is currently completing his PhD to explore the enablers of university completion in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
Of Wiradjuri descent, Michael has travelled his own lifetime journey of connecting with his culture, more recently through learning Wiradjuri language, culture and heritage at Charles Sturt University. His identity has strongly shaped and informed his approach to leadership, physiotherapy and allied health education.
Michael’s contribution to the Council’s work, first began in 2019 when he was a member of the Reconciliation Working Group who developed our inaugural Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
Joining the Board of Directors in 2022, Michael has brought valuable perspectives as a clinician, educator and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health advocate to the Council’s governance and reconciliation journey.
Michael’s roles with the Council have included Nominations and Remuneration Committee member, and Reconciliation Working Group member.
He has represented the Council at conferences and collaborative forums across healthcare, such as the Health Professions Accreditation Collaborative Forum (HPAC Forum) involved in the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme with Ahpra, Indigenous Allied Health Australia’s National Conferences, the Australian Physiotherapy Association National Conferences and the Interprofessional Colloquium hosted by the Australian Pharmacy Council.
As a recognised leader across the physiotherapy profession and cultural champion striving to promote cultural capabilities in allied health education, Michael leads with strong relationship and trust building abilities, which foster environments that are inclusive, and all voices are listened to and valued.
On commencing as Board Chair, Michael Reynolds said, “An exciting chapter lies ahead for the Council as we continue to build strong governance and achieve our strategic goals, while staying true to our values. With strong leadership, transparency and a deep commitment to the healthcare needs of all Australians, we are dedicated to supporting Australian physiotherapists in their vital work of transforming lives.”
We welcome Michael to the role of Board Chair and look forward to his ongoing leadership within the Council, and across the physiotherapy profession and the healthcare workforce in Australia.
