2012–13 Pre-budget Submission

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Executive Summary

Physiotherapists play a vital part in health care teams. The skills and training of physiotherapists mean they are capable of working with a wide variety of conditions and disabilities to improve the health status of individuals across the lifespan. Physiotherapists also work with groups to deliver improved population health outcomes within their local areas. Physiotherapists are valuable members of multidisciplinary teams, making an important contribution to health care through their health promotion, prevention, screening, as well as triage, assessment and treatment activities.

Apart from the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions, physiotherapists have a well-established role to play in the treatment and maintenance of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, arthritis, obesity, and hypertension. The educative focus they adopt in areas such as chronic disease management, self-management techniques and lifestyle and physical activity counselling aligns well with the primary health care philosophy of consumer and community empowerment.

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