Did you catch up on the Budget announcements? It makes for a disappointing update, especially in the context of the pre-Budget Submission by the Australian Podiatry Association.
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If you followed the 2024/25 Budget announcements, you would have seen the spotlight land squarely on mental health and women’s health, amongst other areas such as aged care. However, the role of primary and preventative health – and allied health in this context – failed to get much traction at all.
It was encouraging to see aged care and its workforce allocated attention and funding, yet this vision falls short of acknowledging the role of allied health in aged care, and certainly the podiatry workforce, given its significant challenges.
The lack of focus on primary care is particularly disappointing in the context of the much-publicised Strengthening Medicare Taskforce Report, which places significant emphasis on the importance of a strong primary health workforce, given how critical this is to all Australians. That said, the implementation of 29 new urgent care clinics certainly holds promise for primary care.
A recent social media post by the Australian Podiatry Association sums up its reaction to the Budget announcement
“The 2024 budget introduces significant advancements in healthcare, marked by the establishment of 29 new urgent care clinics and a substantial $361 million allocation towards mental health initiatives. While these developments are promising, it’s crucial to continue advocating for greater support for podiatry and the broader allied health community.”
In a post-Budget media release, CEO of Allied Health Professions Australia (AHPA) Bronwyn Morris-Donovan shared her disappointment.
“Given this disheartening budget for allied health AHPA calls on the Government to disrupt the status quo. True primary care reform and innovation are stymied by powerful lobby groups in Australia. Now is the time to stop talking about multidisciplinary team care and actually fund for it. Australians deserve access to quality health care where and when they need it. This is not going to happen without significant disruption to the prevailing culture of primary care.
“A healthy primary care system is underpinned by a diverse health workforce that is accessible and equitable for all Australians,” Morris-Donovan said.
For further Budget responses, the following content offers a useful starting point.
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