Membership of the NPHCP

Allied Health Professions Australia

Allied Health Professions Australia (AHPA) is the national voice of allied health in Australia. Members of AHPA include Audiologists, Dietitians, Exercise Physiologists, Occupational Therapists, Orthoptists, Orthotists and Prosthetists, Pharmacists, Podiatrists, Psychologists, Radiographers, Radiation Therapists, Social Workers, Sonographers and Speech Pathologists. AHPA’s vision is to be a powerful influence in Government health policy and decision making through comprehensive recognition as the peak body for national allied health associations. It aims to achieve this vision through effective representation of the allied health professions to deliver high-quality, competent, informed advice to government and associated organisations consistent with the needs of the communities we serve. More information about the organisation and its member bodies can be found by visiting the AHPA website.

Audiology Australia

The Audiological Society of Australia Inc. (ASA) - trading as AUDIOLOGY AUSTRALIA - is the principal professional association representing Audiologists in Australia. Established in 1968, it has a current membership of over 1500 audiologists, representing some 97% of the profession. For more information on audiology and the association please visit the ASA website.

Australian Diabetes Educators Association

The Australian Diabetes Educators Association (ADEA) is Australia's leading organisation for health professionals providing diabetes eduaction and care. THe ADEA promotes a cycle of best practice in diabetes education and care by: setting standards of practice in diabetes care; establishing training standards; providing professional development and training opportunities; conducting and disseminating research; and advoacting for equitable access to quality diabetes education and care services. For more information visit the ADEA website.

Australasian Podiatry Council

The Australasian Podiatry Council is the peak industry body for professional podiatrists. Its aim is to improve foot health of Australians by creating awareness and supporting the profession at all levels. The Council also assists clinicians with issues that affect their practice and develops standards that form the basis of accreditation. The Council is the leading national advocacy organisation for podiatrists (on behalf of state member associations) and undertakes the following strategic activities: Influencing regulatory and health policy through representation, networking, and consultation; Provide Continuing Education; Advise Practice support; Publish Professional Standards; Prepare Clinical Guidelines; Produce various publications, including an academic journal; Implement Health promotion programs and resources. More information can be found on the APodC website.

Australian Association of Social Workers

The Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) is the key professional body representing social workers in Australia. Social Work is committed to the pursuit of social justice, to the enhancement of the quality of life and the development of the full potential of each individual, group and community in society. Social workers pursue these goals by working to address the barriers, inequalities and injustices that exist in society and by active involvement in situations of distress and crisis for individuals and families. For more information about the association please visit the AASW website.

Australian General Practice Network

The Australian General Practice Network is the peak national body advocating on behalf of general practice through the divisions of general practice network. The divisions of general practice network is comprised of 118 divisions across Australia, as well as eight state-based organisations. Approximately 95 percent of GPs are members of local divisions of general practice. For more information please see the AGPN website.

Australian Physiotherapy Association

The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) is the peak body representing the interests of Australian physiotherapists and their patients. The APA is a national organisation with state and territory branches and specialty subgroups. The organisation has approximately 12,000 members, some 70 staff and over 300 members in volunteer positions on committees and working parties. The APA vision is that all Australians will have access to quality physiotherapy, when and where required, to optimise health and wellbeing. The APA has a Platform and Vision for Physiotherapy 2020 and all its submissions are publicly available via the APA website.

Australian Practice Nurses Association

The Australian Practice Nurses Association is a professional association run by practice nurses for practice nurses. It provides representation, support and networking for practice nurses at national, state and local levels. Prior to APNA being formed, there was not a formal support network for nurses working in general practice. For more information about the association please visit the APNA website.

Australian Psychological Society

The Australian Psychological Society (APS) is the largest professional association for psychologists in Australia, representing more than 16,000 members. The APS is committed to advancing psychology as a discipline and profession. It spreads the message that psychologists make a difference to peoples’ lives, through improving scientific knowledge and community wellbeing. For more information please visit the APS website.

Consumers Health Forum of Australia

The Consumers Health Forum of Australia Inc (CHF) is the national voice for health consumers. As an independent non-government organisation, CHF helps shape Australia’s health system by representing and involving consumers in health policy and program development. CHF member organisations reach millions of Australian health consumers across a wide range of health interests and health system experiences. Current priorities include safety and quality in health care, safe and appropriate use of medicines and health care for people with chronic conditions. CHF also facilitates the appointment of consumer representatives on over 200 national health-related committees. For more information please see the CHF website.

Dietitians Association of Australia

The Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA) is the National Association of the nutrition and dietetic professions, with branches in each State and Territory. DAA represents over 3,600 members and as such is the largest professional nutrition-focused body in Australia. Dietitians are employed in a wide variety of work areas including clinical dietetics, public health and community nutrition, education, food service and management, private sector, government, research, industry, public relations, marketing and communications. DAA is the leader in nutrition and advocates for better food, better health, better living for all. For more information please visit the DAA website.

Exercise and Sports Science Australia

Exercise and Sport Science Australia(ESSA) is the peak professional body representing more than 1600 university qualified Exercise Science professionals across the nation including practitioners, researchers and academics. The mission of our association is to provide national leadership on key issues in physical activity and exercise by promoting the dissemination of quality evidence-based information, providing networking opportunities for our members, and through national advocacy. By developing collaborative partnerships with universities, industry and government, ESSA aims to promote excellence in research, training and clinical practice to enhance the health and performance of Australians. For more information about the association please visit the ESSA website.

Occupational Therapy Australia

OT AUSTRALIA is the peak professional body representing the interests of Occupational Therapists across the country, OT AUSTRALIA strives to ensure that members consistently receive quality, responsive services that add significant value to their careers.The Association also aims to support, promote and represent the profession of occupational therapy as a key element of the allied health sector in Australia.OT AUSTRALIA National comprises all states and territories (Member Associations) and has a membership of some 5000 individual occupational therapists nationally. For more information about the association please visit the OT Australia website.

Optometrists Association of Australia

Optometrists Association Australia is the professional association for Australian optometrists. It provides a range of services to its members, including representing them and their interests to government and other bodies, and providing resources and publications to assist them in their practices. It also provides information and other services to the Australian public. For more information about the association and optometry in Australia, please visit the OAA website.

Pharmacy Guild

The Pharmacy Guild of Australia is the national peak body representing community pharmacy. It seeks to serve the interests of its members and to support community pharmacy in its role delivering quality health outcomes to all Australians. For further information about the Pharmacy Guild and its services please visit the Guild website.

Pharmaceutical Society of Australia

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) is the peak national professional pharmacy organisation representing all sectors of the profession. PSA's core functions are; supporting pharmacists' commitment to high standards of patient care; providing continual professional development (CPD), education and practice support; and, supporting pharmacists' role as frontline health professionals. More information on PSA is available from the PSA website.

Royal College of Nursing Australia

Through promoting excellence in nursing, the Royal College of Nursing, Australia (RCNA) is able to influence quality of care and client outcomes. RCNA is the peak national professional organisation for nursing, free from political allegiance, whose primary interest is excellence in nursing. RCNA members demonstrate a commitment to nursing, professional development at all levels and a desire to keep in touch with what is happening locally, nationally and internationally. Through the expertise of its members, RCNA influences policy development on issues relating to nursing, health care in general, welfare, and nursing education. For more information about the College and its programs please visit the RCNA website.

Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health

SARRAH is the national peak body representing rural and remote Australian Allied Health Professionals. The Primary Object for which the Association is established is to develop and provide services to enable Allied Health Professionals who live and work in rural and remote areas of Australia to confidently and competently carry out their Professional duties in providing a variety of health services. For more information about SARRAH, its policies and programs please visit the SARRAH website.

Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia

SHPA is the national professional organisation for more than 2,200 pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and associates working across Australia’s health system. It is the only professional pharmacy organisation with an especially strong base of members practicing in public and private hospitals and other health service facilities. Supporting the safe and effective use of medicines is the core business of pharmacists, especially in hospitals. Reflective of changes in health care delivery, SHPA’s membership is now drawn from the diverse practice settings of public and private hospitals, community health centres, community pharmacy, academia, research, industry, government, consultant / accredited pharmacists providing medication reviews at home or in residential aged care, quality use of medicines projects, medication safety, clinical governance and medicines management programs. For more information please visit the SHPA website.

Speech Pathology Australia

Speech Pathology Australia is the national peak body for speech pathologists representing over 4,000 speech pathologists, many of whom are accredited as Certified Practising Speech Pathologists (CPSP). Speech Pathology Australia is a member of AHPA. More information about the organisation and speech pathologists can be found on the SPA website.