Australia’s peak body representing chiropractors, the Australian Chiropractors Association (ACA), welcomes certain aspects of the 2025 Federal Budget, but ultimately feels it falls short of providing provisions to strengthen the nation’s Allied Health Workforce.
While pleased to see bi-partisan commitment towards investing in Australia’s health, including the $8.5 billion investment to strengthen Medicare, the ACA urges the Albanese Government to expand the budgetary lens to include the Allied Health Workforce and provide more robust funding of preventative healthcare.
Data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) indicates 61% of the Australian population live with at least one chronic condition. Yet, the 2025 Budget falls short of increasing support for the Allied Health Workforce, and as such Australian’s living in chronic pain.
“We call on the Albanese Government to expand the lens and consider the benefits of a funding approach that incorporates preventative approaches to healthcare and that enables the entire healthcare team. Chiropractors, like many of our Allied Health colleagues are positioned to support preventative approaches to healthcare,” ACA CEO, Alex Malley, said.
The investments outlined in this year’s Budget fail to address the need for broader reforms and funding to meet the health needs of the Australian population. Building on the AIHW data, musculoskeletal conditions such as back pain represent the third leading cause of disease burden overall. Chiropractors are well positioned to contribute to the resource shortages related to the management of musculoskeletal conditions.
Reiterating the position put forward today by Allied Health Professional Australia (AHPA), the Budget does little to enable and expand the role and contribution of the Allied Health Workforce, including chiropractors.
As identified in the Scope of Practice Review, the Allied Health workforce is underutilised and can play an important role in supporting improved accessibility, patient-centred care. Allied health represents an important part of the puzzle in providing vital wraparound multidisciplinary team care and reliving health system burden.
“Investing in making people healthier and improving functional capacity should be a strategy to combat the increasing demand on healthcare services,” Mr Malley added.
“Affordable and accessible allied healthcare services, such as chiropractic, are vital for managing chronic conditions, aiding prevention, and supporting ongoing functional capacity and rehabilitation.”
All members of the healthcare team and government need to work together to meet the challenges and demands ahead, including an ageing population and increased levels of chronic pain.