ACDHS Update – June 2025

I attended my first ACDHS meeting around 15 years ago. I accompanied the then Dean of my Faculty because the focus topics for the meeting were Indigenising the curriculum and clinical placements! Originally the Council was a select group of universities who had multiple allied health courses and had a long history of advocating and working together. The members were a formidable bunch who were passionate and determined to help allied health leaders, both within and outside universities, get a seat at the table for all important discussions. There were regular long strategy sessions, often over dinner. In this group I found some powerful and amazing role models of what true leadership looked like and who truly understood the significant contribution that allied health professionals can make to the lives of others and were determined that policy makers would know about it!

Under the leadership of Professor Esther May, several important milestones occurred for ACDHS. The first was adopting an inclusive approach to membership which saw ACDHS reach out to all unis in the sector with allied health programs and extend an invitation to join. Esther also led ACDHS through the process of preparing and submitting the relevant documentation to become a limited by guarantee company. This development allowed ACDHS to stand alone and not be tied to a specific university and its policies and procedures. This also meant that ACDHS needed to be governed by a Board of Directors and establish its own financial systems, sub-committees, and procedures. I was very proud to be the Chair of the Board of ACDHS and participate in this learning process for all of us. I think what I achieved as Board Chair (and you can be the judge of this) was to shift ACDHS from an advocacy-based organisation to an organisation that existed for the benefit of its members.

Over many years ACDHS was where I found “my people”. Like minded academics who were often experiencing the same challenges and complexities that I was as leader. It was a safe space to complain, express frustration, and share innovations and successes. The face-to-face meetings, which allowed us to have important conversations and catch up informally, were a welcome hold in my diary. They definitely “filled my cup” at times when the going was tough.
For all members I think it is important to recognise that ACDHS membership is not only an investment for your organisation, academics and students, it is an investment in your professional development. Awareness and engagement with Commonwealth Health, disability and higher education sector changes and their potential impact on our courses and students, will make you a better leader in your own institution. Active participation in ACDHS allows you to shape the advocacy activities and member benefits and services provided by ACDHS to fit your needs.

Technically I no longer hold a position that allows me to be a member of ACDHS, however I will be cheering and watching from the sidelines as you continue the challenge of making sure that our third of the health workforce is heard by government, industry, and within our own universities. Keep using the collective expertise and the financial resources of ACDHS to commission strategic pieces of work that allow you to extend your influence and keep celebrating the successes and the talents of our colleagues. It truly is the case that we are stronger together and while we may not always succeed you may just find your “people”, or next role model or mentor, or inspirational idea, at an ACDHS gathering.

Michelle