2022 eTalk #5 – Yarning about reconciliation

Overview

As the APA releases its new Reconciliation Action Plan, Scott, Kathryn and Michael share their stories, thoughts and dreams about Reconciliation, including possible strategies and plans that both businesses and individuals can take to be brave and make change. If you want to make a difference to the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait peoples, this eTalk is a must to watch.

Presenters

Scott Willis is the first Indigenous man to be elected as National President of the APA (effective 1 January 2021). He graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy) before moving to the North West Coast of Tasmania where he is co-director of a multidisciplinary clinic. He has experience within the public, primary health, private practice, rural, indigenous, aged care, and occupational health sectors, having held a number of leadership roles. Scott has extensive knowledge and experience in policy, advocacy and the political arena. He has held positions on the Board of Directors of the Division of General Practice North West in Tasmania, Tasmania’s Medicare Local’s Primary Health Care Strategic Advisory Council, and the Clinical Advisory Council of Primary Health Tasmania.

Scott has held numerous positions within the APA, including National Chair of the Business Group, member of the National Advisory Committee, Branch Councillor of the Tasmanian Branch, Director of the APA Board and Chair of the Insurance and Safety Subcommittee.

Kathryn Potter is a Kamilaroi woman and an Advanced Physiotherapist who has worked in the Hospital and Health Service for 15 years, practicing as a Physiotherapist for 12 of those and as a Physiotherapy Indigenous Cadet for 3. She is currently working part time in a research facilitation role within the Women’s, Men’s and Pelvic Health service at Logan Hospital. Kathryn has a special interest in both Women's, Men's and Pelvic health and Respiratory health and is a member of both APA special groups. She is also the founder and Managing Director of the Indigenous owned company named Physiotherapy Innovations.

Kathryn has been recognised for her work in Indigenous Health and recently received an award acknowledging this work from the APA Queensland Branch in 2018. She is also a member of a number of boards and committees including the National APA Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Committee, You Fella, Me Fella' Mentoring Program Advisory Board (Inala, Qld), Close the Gap Committee at her local hospital, the Central Queensland University Physiotherapy Course Reference Committee and is an exclusive member of the Australian and New Zealand Indigenous Women in Business Leadership Group.

Kathryn enjoys working from both the hospital and health service and the business platforms to help as many people as possible and give back to the Indigenous community where ever she can.

Michael Reynolds is an APA Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist working in private practice and as a sessional academic at the Australian Catholic University teaching anatomy and various physiotherapy subjects. He is also the head physiotherapist of Northern Tigers FC in the NSW National Premier Leagues.

As one of the small but growing number of Aboriginal physiotherapists in the country, he is a former National Chair of the APA Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health committee and a passionate advocate for improving health outcomes for Indigenous Australians. He has worked closely with the APA in the development and implementation of their Reconciliation Action Plans and continues to champion greater levels of cultural understanding and competence within the physiotherapy workforce.

In 2018 he was an invited speaker at the APA NEXT Conference and was awarded the APA NSW Branch Award for Contribution to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health within the physiotherapy profession. He has previously presented at numerous sports physiotherapy courses, chaired the NSW branch of SEPA and served on the APA NSW Branch Council working on rural issues and the compensable bodies working group.