MEDIA RELEASE: Aotearoa New Zealand Celebrates 

For Immediate Release
Date: 14 October 2024

Allied Health Professions (AHPs) Day 2024, celebrated on 14 October, offers a significant opportunity for AHPs across Aotearoa, New Zealand, to unite in recognising their essential contributions to health, education, and disability services. This day honours the critical role AHPs play in improving the wellbeing of individuals, whānau, and communities through holistic, equitable care.

“AHPs Day is a celebration of the crucial role allied health professionals play in ensuring equitable and culturally safe care across Aotearoa,” said Siobhan Molloy, executive director of the New Zealand Speech-language Therapists' Association (NZSTA). 

As part of the global AHPs community, New Zealand’s celebration recognises local achievements while honouring our communities' diverse needs and values. AHPs in Aotearoa include speech-language therapists, occupational therapists, audiologists, physiotherapists, and many others who deliver high-quality care across sectors and regions, improving patient outcomes and ensuring cultural safety.

Celebrating with a Focus on Health and Safety

In 2024, the theme for AHPs Day is health and safety—a crucial aspect of the care provided by AHPs. This focus reflects the physical safety of clients and professionals and emotional, cultural, and mental wellbeing, emphasising cultural safety and mana-enhancing practices.

AHPs across Aotearoa are encouraged to participate in events and initiatives such as:

• Health and Safety Workshops: Focussing on burnout management, safe practice techniques, and cultural safety.
• Wellbeing in the Workplace: Encouraging mental health check-ins and ergonomics audits.
• Sharing Success Stories: Highlighting how AHPs have enhanced health and safety practices in various settings.
• Interactive Safety Demonstrations: Offering first aid, CPR refreshers, and safe client-handling techniques.
• Health and Safety Pledges: Teams can commit to improving mental health breaks, PPE usage, and culturally safe practices.

These activities highlight how AHPs ensure the physical safety of their clients and address emotional and cultural wellbeing, contributing to a more holistic approach to care.

Share your AHPs Day activities by emailing photos and comments to NZSTA for sharing on our social media pages.

ENDS

Media Contact:
Siobhan Molloy
New Zealand Speech-language Therapists' Association

By celebrating AHPs Day, we honour the critical role allied health professionals play in our healthcare system, fostering a healthier, safer, and more culturally inclusive Aotearoa.