ABOUT AHPA - OVERVIEW

Allied Health Professions Australia (AHPA), formerly called Health Professions Council of Australia (HPCA), is the national peak body for major health professions and their representative bodies other than medical practitioners, nurses and unions. AHPA works to represent the interests of the allied health professions sector, particularly to the Federal Government; and to provide a vehicle for liaison and discussion between the professions themselves.

It allows the sector to speak with one voice on issues where there is general agreement, and to negotiate mutually acceptable positions wherever possible on more difficult issues.

Members of AHPA are national organisations representing health professionals who have a role in the private and public health sectors, including public hospitals, involving direct client contact, or managing or educating such health professionals.

Affiliation with AHPA is open to other groups and organisations (including those that are state-based rather than national) who are interested in working with other health professionals on national issues.

Collectively, organisations within AHPA represent about 50,000 health professionals. Each organisation has internal systems and networks for liaising with its members, ensuring that AHPA has input from health professionals right across Australia who together provide a vast wealth of expertise.

AHPA evolved from the Health Professions Council of Australia (HPCA) which adopted a new Constitution and changed its name in March 2006.