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Report: vision for osteopathy 2030

Findings of a project to anticipate pivotal factors to influence osteopathy in the future and develop a strategic plan as its roadmap to help the profession embrace and overcome the opportunities and challenges ahead to position itself for success in 2030.

Osteopathy has thrived to become one of the fastest growing allied health professions in Australia, with trends of new registrants suggesting the profession will double in size from 2019-2024. In addition to unexpected external factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, this rapid expansion will present numerous challenges and opportunities for the profession. Having a planned approach to growth will aid in advancing the profession and enable it to respond effectively with agility to the challenges and opportunities ahead. Education providers are already playing a central role in this process both within osteopathy and related professions.

With a strategic plan as its roadmap for the profession to take charge of its future, influencing decision-making processes are enabled. Strategic objectives are determined and balanced between the best information available at the time and the most realistic assessment of what can be achieved. This project aimed to anticipate pivotal factors to influence the profession in the future. Strategic solutions were then devised to help the profession embrace and overcome the opportunities and challenges ahead to position itself for success in 2030.

The vision for this Strategic Plan for Osteopathy 2030 is bold and ambitious and represents a clear attempt to define how we will continue to be successful as a united profession within a challenging and dynamic healthcare environment in Australia.

This work is a research project was conducted by RMIT University and funded by Osteopathy Australia. The project team leaders, Dr Azharuddin Fazalbhoy (Osteopath) and Ms Lee Muddle (Osteopath), and research assistant, Miss Chanelle Mastronardo (Osteopath) would like to acknowledge the invaluable contributions and support of the Steering Committee who have advised and driven the two-year project. The expertise of the Steering Committee, comprising of leaders in academia, clinical practice and the Osteopathy Australia Board, has been critical to shaping the Strategic Plan.

Strategic Plan for Osteopathy 2030

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Submission: Unleashing the Potential of Our Health Workforce – Scope of Practice Review Issues Paper 1 (Issues Paper 1).

Submission: Unleashing the Potential of Our Health Workforce – Scope of Practice Review Issues Paper 1 (Issues Paper 1).

In this submission, we focus on how the Scope of Practice Review should aim to achieve affordable and universal access to best-practice health services and value for the consumer and health system. Osteopathy Australia advocates for every Australian to have access to high-quality healthcare and support, regardless of where they live. Australians also deserve to have access to funded osteopathy. This will drive better health outcomes, improve the utilisation of our healthcare resources, and help overcome the inefficiencies in primary care. There is a significant opportunity within osteopathy to leverage existing skillsets and scope of practice to address system inefficiencies and reduce the burden on other health practitioners.