New national allied health officer appointed

Anita Hobson-Powell has been appointed the new Chief Allied Health Officer for the Department of Health and Aged Care.

The appointment is aimed at providing pivotal leadership across health system policies, programs and reform efforts that have national interest for all allied health professions.

With extensive experience in exercise physiology and sports science, Hobson-Powell brings a wealth of experience to the role along with a deep understanding of how preventative health can improve people’s lives and reduce demand on the health system.

Hobson-Powell has served as a long-standing CEO of Exercise and Sports Science Australia, with previous roles including serving on the boards of Gymnastics Queensland (chair), Gymnastics Australia, the National Alliance of Self Regulating Health Professions (chair) and Allied Health Professions Australia (deputy chair).

She will provide strategic oversight of the government’s allied health agenda — including Strengthening Medicare and Australia’s Primary Health Care 10-year Plan — and provide a voice for the 300,000-strong allied health workforce.

Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler said, “I welcome Anita as the new Chief Allied Health Officer. Allied health professionals make up the second-largest clinical workforce across the health system.

“Harnessing those dedicated health professionals that make up that critical workforce to improve health outcomes and reduce health-system costs is a very important part of our efforts to strengthen Medicare.”

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