The Australian Physiotherapy Council acknowledges the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation, the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the unceded lands where our office stands. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. Our work takes us across this continent, and so we extend our acknowledgement and recognition to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
This week, our Board of Directors and Executive team set aside a full day to come together with First Nations guests for a Cultural Leadership Day. It was a day for listening, for learning, and for honest conversation about who we are as an organisation and the commitments we hold.
A day of listening
We welcomed guests who generously shared their knowledge and lived experiences. They challenged us to think more deeply about our role in the Australian healthcare system, and about the responsibility that comes with it. These are not always easy conversations, and we did not expect them to be. Real reconciliation asks us to sit with the hard questions, to listen without rushing to answer, and to let what we hear shape what we do next.
We left the day with a renewed sense of purpose and a deeper commitment to the work ahead.
Our commitments through the Reconciliation Journey Framework
Our Reconciliation Journey Framework reflects a continued commitment from our leadership and our whole organisation. Three commitments sit at its heart.
Influencing the healthcare system
We accredit entry-level physiotherapy programs across Australia’s universities and assess overseas-qualified physiotherapists who want to practise here. Through this work, we help shape a workforce that can provide safe, effective and culturally responsive care for all Australians.
Helping to eliminate racism
We’re committed to eliminating racism in healthcare, particularly as physiotherapists serve the Australian community. This aligns with Ahpra’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Cultural Safety Strategy, and with our belief that a safe healthcare system is one where every person can seek care without fear.
Educating the next generation
We're working to make culturally responsive care second nature for tomorrow’s physiotherapists. By embedding cultural safety into the standards we uphold, we help prepare a workforce ready to care for every community with respect.
Where we go from here
A single day is a small step in our journey, but it does move us forward. We’re grateful to our guests for their generosity, their honesty and their trust. We invite you to read and share our story: explore the Reconciliation Journey Framework to learn more about where we have been and where we are heading, as together we work towards health equity in Australia.