What We Do
Allied Health Aotearoa New Zealand provides a forum for representatives of allied health professional associations to work together to:
- Raise the profile of allied health professionals
- Develop reciprocal relationships with health sector and governmental stakeholders
- Be the connected voice for Allied Health Aotearoa New Zealand member associations
- Support member health professional associations
- Provide advice to Minister(s) and Ministry of Health
- Provide a forum to discuss issues between professions and issues of common interest
- Share resources, information and experience
- Educate and raise awareness of a wider view of health and wellbeing
- Promote employment and professional standards for Allied Health Aotearoa New Zealand member health professionals
Our Vision
Optimum health and wellbeing for all New Zealanders.
Our Mission Statement
Ensuring allied health professions are recognised and contribute to their full potential to enable New Zealanders to enjoy health and wellbeing.
Strategic Goals
1. To advocate for and raise the awareness of the value and contribution of allied health within the policy and public arenas.
2. Provide education opportunities to advance allied health professions.
3. Recognise and pursue innovation with the health sector.
4. Foster collaboration across allied health professional associations.
5. Ensure that all our policies and practices are responsive to Te Tiri o Waitangi and to New Zealand’s cultural diversity.
2. Provide education opportunities to advance allied health professions.
3. Recognise and pursue innovation with the health sector.
4. Foster collaboration across allied health professional associations.
5. Ensure that all our policies and practices are responsive to Te Tiri o Waitangi and to New Zealand’s cultural diversity.
Our History
Allied Health Aotearoa New Zealand (formerly AHPAF) was formed in 2001 with the support of the then Minister of Health, Hon. Annette King.
Allied Health Aotearoa New Zealand's earliest contribution, was on the Health Practitioners' Competence Assurance Bill. Allied Health Aotearoa New Zealand was involved, on its own and in concert with other health professional associations and unions, in lobbying the Ministry and Minister of Health, and in presenting submissions to the Health Select Committee.
Since that time Allied Health Aotearoa New Zealand has made a number of submissions on such topics as the health workforce and chronic conditions. We have had representation on a number of external bodies, for example, Rural Primary Healthcare Forum, the PHO Task Force and the Primary Health Care Advisory Council.
In addition, Allied Health Aotearoa New Zealand has developed a Memorandum of Understanding between its constituent associations, established a strategic plan and developed a definition of allied health (now widely used). It has also continued to meet regularly (every two months), invite guest speakers and act as a point of co-ordination and information sharing between associations.
Allied Health Aotearoa New Zealand Constitution
Allied Health Aotearoa New Zealand's earliest contribution, was on the Health Practitioners' Competence Assurance Bill. Allied Health Aotearoa New Zealand was involved, on its own and in concert with other health professional associations and unions, in lobbying the Ministry and Minister of Health, and in presenting submissions to the Health Select Committee.
Since that time Allied Health Aotearoa New Zealand has made a number of submissions on such topics as the health workforce and chronic conditions. We have had representation on a number of external bodies, for example, Rural Primary Healthcare Forum, the PHO Task Force and the Primary Health Care Advisory Council.
In addition, Allied Health Aotearoa New Zealand has developed a Memorandum of Understanding between its constituent associations, established a strategic plan and developed a definition of allied health (now widely used). It has also continued to meet regularly (every two months), invite guest speakers and act as a point of co-ordination and information sharing between associations.
Allied Health Aotearoa New Zealand Constitution
Who are Allied Health?
Allied health covers a broad range of around 50 health professions that work alongside medicine, nursing and dentistry to make up the NZ healthcare system.
AHANZ has 32 national allied health associations in its membership that collectively represent well over 30,000 individual allied health professionals. Our members touch the lives of the majority of Kiwis at different points in their lives, helping meet their physical, nutritional, mental, emotional, and social health needs.
These diverse experts represent an integral and often forgotten part of the team, addressing a multitude of conditions and also helping to preserve and enhance wellbeing.
They include the more established professions such as acupuncture, audiology, chiropractic, dietitians, physiotherapy, psychologists and social workers, through to the emerging exercise professionals and physiologists, and lesser known but no less important hospital play specialists, lab workers, orthotists and prosthetists, and sterilisation services.
Working better together and with a different funding and referral model, allied health has the potential to contribute further and help solve many of the systemic issues, inequities, and poor outcomes that exist in our current broken system.
AHANZ has 32 national allied health associations in its membership that collectively represent well over 30,000 individual allied health professionals. Our members touch the lives of the majority of Kiwis at different points in their lives, helping meet their physical, nutritional, mental, emotional, and social health needs.
These diverse experts represent an integral and often forgotten part of the team, addressing a multitude of conditions and also helping to preserve and enhance wellbeing.
They include the more established professions such as acupuncture, audiology, chiropractic, dietitians, physiotherapy, psychologists and social workers, through to the emerging exercise professionals and physiologists, and lesser known but no less important hospital play specialists, lab workers, orthotists and prosthetists, and sterilisation services.
Working better together and with a different funding and referral model, allied health has the potential to contribute further and help solve many of the systemic issues, inequities, and poor outcomes that exist in our current broken system.
Our Activities
Allied Health Aotearoa New Zealand meets every two months to discuss issues of importance to the allied health sector.
Allied Health Aotearoa New Zealand has reviewed its Strategic Plan and developed a new Business Plan to implement its strategic goals.
Our activities include:
Allied Health Aotearoa New Zealand has reviewed its Strategic Plan and developed a new Business Plan to implement its strategic goals.
Our activities include:
- Actively seeking opportunities for consultation and involvement in the formation of relevant policy, legislation and other issues at the earliest stages, including greater participation in the Select Committee process.
- Actively pursuing relationships with key groups and stakeholders.
- Making submissions on issues of relevance to allied health.
- Making media statements where appropriate.
