The Australasian Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine (AFRM) has a dedicated Policy & Advocacy Committee which provides direction and advice to the College on policy and advocacy issues relevant to the expertise of rehabilitation medicine physicians. The work of this committee also includes providing support to State &Territory and New Zealand Branches of the Faculty on local issues where required.

In addition, AFRM members are instrumental to the ongoing work of the RACP on National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and Integrated Care among other priorities.

Release of the AFRM Bariatric Rehabilitation Position Statement

Multiple factors contribute to barriers in providing effective rehabilitation to patients with bariatric needs. The Bariatric Rehabilitation working group have developed the AFRM Bariatric Rehabilitation Position Statement (PDF) that identifies models of care that demonstrate some solutions to these problems and addresses four key areas to improve rehabilitation care for patients with bariatric needs:

1. Service planning, staffing, training, resources and infrastructure.
2. Rehabilitation assessment and management of patients with bariatric needs.
3. Obesity assessment and weight management in patients with bariatric needs and weight-related complications.
4. Potential collaboration between rehabilitation medicine and weight management services in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

AFRM successfully launched the Bariatric Rehabilitation Position Statement on Tuesday 23 May 2023 in a virtual event that attracted many passionate and interested clinicians.

The AFRM President, Dr Jennifer Mann, FAFRM, and Chair of the AFRM Policy and Advocacy Committee, Dr Richard Seemann, FAFRM, FRACP, hosted the launch that included members of the Bariatric Rehabilitation Working Group who developed the position statement, speaking about the needs of bariatric patients specifically when rehabilitation is required. Watch the recording of the launch below:

Bariatric Rehabilitation Position Statement | Tuesday 23 May 2023

Release of the AFRM Position Statement on the Use of Stem Cell Therapy on Children with Cerebral Palsy

The AFRM Position Statement on the Use of Stem Cell Therapy for Children with Cerebral Palsy has recently been updated by the Stem Cells Working Group, based on a review of peer-reviewed literature. The new position statement provides a brief introduction of stem cells, a concise summary of the current clinical research landscape on stem cell treatments for Cerebral Palsy and recommendations to support discussion between physicians and their patients.

AFRM Bariatric Rehabilitation Survey Results 2021

The RACP AFRM Policy and Advocacy Committee has established a working group to develop a new position statement on Bariatric Rehabilitation.  

There is a growing number of patients with bariatric needs being referred to inpatient rehabilitation services, particularly those with rehabilitation needs after bariatric surgery. Rehabilitation physicians are experiencing limitations with equipment, architecture, and staff expertise to support these patients. This position statement will develop recommendations and define appropriate practice on the rehabilitation needs of patients with bariatric needs.

To inform the content of the position statement, the working group surveyed AFRM Fellows and trainees during 2021 to find out more about the current situation of bariatric rehabilitation in different areas of practice, challenges of working in this area and whether there is a role for rehabilitation medicine services to complement the current services. A similar survey was also conducted of weight management clinics.

The results are now ready to share with members.

Submissions and position statements

AFRM Bariatric Rehabilitation Position Statement (PDF)

AFRM Position Statement on the Use of Stem Cell Therapy on Children with Cerebral Palsy December 2021 (PDF)

AFRM Standards for the provision of Inpatient Adult Rehabilitation Medicine Services in Public and Private Hospitals 2019 (PDF)

RACP Submission to Parliamentary Inquiry into Sleep Health Awareness in Australia (PDF)

Rehabilitation medicine physicians delivering integrated care in the community - Early Supported Discharge programs in stroke rehabilitation: an example of integrated care (PDF)

RACP Landmines and Cluster Munition Policy (PDF)

Equity of access to driving assessment for people with disabilities (PDF)

Transition of young people with complex and chronic needs (PDF) 

Standards for the provision of rehabilitation medicine services in the ambulatory setting (PDF)

Position Statement on the Therapeutic Use of Botulinum Toxin in Rehabilitation Medicine for spasticity and dystonia (PDF)

National Vocational Rehabilitation Policy (PDF)

Contribute my expertise

Interested RACP Fellows and trainees can email policy@racp.edu.au, use our online contact form or see Represent Your Profession.

Related content

Policy and Advocacy Library for policies, position statements or submissions

View the latest policy submissions

The documents listed below have been removed from the website; however, they are available upon request.

• Rehabilitation Service Categories
• Equity of access to quality rehabilitation services for rural and remote communities, including the indigenous populations of Australia and New Zealand
• The Role of the Rehabilitation Physician
• Stroke Units
• Equity of Access to Driving Assessment for People with Disabilities
• Guiding Principles for Telehealth Consultations in Rehabilitation Medicine
• Policy Statement on Disability.