Physiotherapy Board Newsletter

Newsletter - April 2022

Tēnā koe <<First Name>>

The road ahead

This month marks the start of New Zealand opening up and moving on from the COVID elimination strategy. This isn’t business as usual. We are talking to practitioners on a daily basis and hearing that COVID hasn’t stopped having a significant impact on the profession.

Whether it is practitioners and their families falling ill with the virus, or DHB physios being squeezed between greater patient numbers and staff shortages, this is not a return to pre-COVID life. We understand that, and are continuing to adapt to the new environment and to help practitioners where we can.

As an organisation, and in consultation with our staff, we have made the decision to move back into working in our office this coming week with strict protocols around masking and distancing.

April 1 also marked the start of a new financial year for the Board. In the course of preparing our reporting on the past year we’ve had a chance to look at how things have changed over the past year. And it has been an incredible time of change with Board members moving on, and some key changes in staff happening alongside us as an organisation finding new ways to work through the pandemic.

We have recently bid farewell to one other Board member, Maria Larcombe, and to our Registrar Ross Johnston. Ross has been a vital part of our team and will be greatly missed. We have been very lucky to be able to recruit a very experienced lawyer, James Dunne, to the role. He will be starting in early May.

Prof. David Baxter
Chairperson

Jeanette Woltman-Black
Chief Executive

Any APC applications made from April 1 are now considered late applications and will attract the higher late application fee. You can still apply online via MyPBNZ

Quick Link: Self-assessment tool released

Quick Link: Data Snapshot of 21/22

Self-assessment tool released

We've published a self-assessment tool and accompanying video to assist practitioners achieve key competencies for He kawa whakaruruhau ā matatau Māori: Māori cultural safety and competence standard.

There are also links to useful resources provided. You can watch the video and access the tool here.

The year that was

With the shift into the 22/23 financial year we have been gathering data from the previous year to inform our Annual Report. While that report will be finalised later in the year, the Board has published some of the key data from this period including complaints and notifications information. You can read this snapshot document here.

APP Applications open

Applications for the Scope of Practice – Advanced Practice Physiotherapist (APP). This scope has been developed by the Board to recognise physiotherapists who are practising at an advanced level.

The purpose of the APP scope is to aid both the public and referrers to identify those physiotherapists who have demonstrated advanced skills and competencies in a chosen area which may be more suitable for their complex needs. You can read more about the scope and access the application documents here.

Standard consultation extended

Due to a documentation issue with our Cervical manipulation standard consultation we have relaunched the consultation which is now open until April 28.

The survey for the consultation can be found here please take the time to provide your feedback on the corrected document. Note: the consultation on the proposed revocation of the Sports physiotherapy practice is unaffected and closed on April 1.

MoH Advice for practitioners

The COVID-19 Public Health Response (Vaccinations) Order 2021 has been amended to expand the recognised list of COVID-19 vaccines under Schedule 3. These changes came into force at 11.59pm, 25 March 2022. Read more here.

Additionally, we have had some questions about the vaccine mandate as it applies to Physiotherapists who work in schools. The advice from the ministry is "a registered health professional is still expected to comply with the health order as they are providing a health service – it just happens to be within an education setting."

Physiotherapy Board Performance Review

Responsible Authorities, such as the Physiotherapy Board are required to undertake periodic performance reviews as mandated under section 122A of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act (HPCAA) 2003.

The Ministry of Health is responsible for the facilitation of these reviews. Performance reviews provide assurance to the Crown and the public that responsible authorities are performing their functions efficiently and effectively. Click here for more about the review process, including a copy of the final report.

Farewell to Ross

This Month we are farewelling our Registrar Ross Johnston. Ross has been a wonderful and invaluable colleague and staff member.

Ross came to the role from a partner position in Kensington Swan and as a recognised authority on technology, media and telecommunications law.

He has subsequently played a vital role in maintaining the Board's high standards of analysis and policy.

His wry humour and entertaining catalogue of legal and political yarns will be greatly missed in the office.

The Board welcomes James Dunne as its next registrar and looks forward to introducing him to the profession in May.

Kelly Rosie (Douglas) 4/7/71-11/2/22

Physiotherapist Jill Depledge has written an obituary commemorating her fellow physiotherapist and friend Kelly Rosie. You can read Jill's tribute here.

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