EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGISTS FLEX AND GROW AT NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN ADELAIDE ESSA calls out growing GST anomaly in Allied Health impacting community and sector
With
Katie Lyndon,
Accredited Exercise Physiologist & CEO
Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA)
Jackson Howie,
Activate Conference Speaker & PhD Candidate,
Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, Adelaide University
SEGMENT
Filmed in Adelaide | May 2026
Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA) this week in Adelaide convened the Activate Conference billed as “where science meets inspiration”, bringing together the latest research, breakthrough ideas and real-world applications from across exercise and sports science.
As a PhD Candidate and Activate Conference speaker, Jackson Howie spoke to Australian Health Journal to share his experience following Day 2 talking about Accuracy of Pacemaker-Detected Physical Activity: Correlation to Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing.
Australian Health Journal also spoke with Katie Lyndon, Accredited Exercise Physiologist & CEO Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA) about some key messages being communicated in the recently launched Axe The Tax campaign.
When GST was introduced in 2000, healthcare was made tax-free. Exercise physiology was left off the list because it was an emerging field.
Under current legislation, exercise physiology is still subject to the Goods and Services Tax (GST). That means Australians pay an extra 10% every time they see an exercise physiologist, even though its recognised by Medicare, the DVA, NDIS, and private health insurers.
Lyndon talks about what this means in higher costs for patients managing chronic illness and injury, keeping in place barriers to access for vulnerable communities and being a disincentive to use effective, preventive care for the community.
The petition can be found here https://gst.good.do/axethetax/axe-the-tax-on-essential-healthcare.
Source: Adapted from social media posts and transcript
Credit: Instagram clips from Longevity Exercise Physiology, Exercise Healthcare Australia & Mitchell Vautin, Clinical Accredited Exercise Physiologist
-
Chiropractors commence Spinal Health Month with research in mental health
A new Australian-first clinical research study has found promising results for reducing the mental health impacts of chronic musculoskeletal pain by combining online psychological therapies with routine physical care. The research, funded by the Australian Chiropractors Association (ACA) and conducted through CQUniversity and Macquarie University’s MindSpot programme, highlights the strong connection between chronic pain and mental wellbeing.
-
Report gives insights to clinical trial activity in Australia
Established in 2024, Bellberry is a Adelaide-based national, not-for-profit organisation that provides streamlined scientific and ethical reviews of human research. It is the 2025 winner of the Championing Health Award in the Telstra Best of Business Awards.
Australian Health Journal spoke with Bellberry Limited CEO, Kylie Sproston on the organisation and the findings in activity documented in the Clinical Trial Activity Report (CTAR) 2024.
-
A 40-Year Journey: Insights from Tasmania’s Chief Nurse & Midwife
Reflecting on her nursing journey on the Tasmanian Health website on International Nurses Day 2025, Chief Nurse and Midwife, Francine Douce, has seen plenty of change since the start of her nursing and midwifery career, 42 years ago.
