Asia Western Pacific Region

Other world geographical areas split into regions and a separate Asia Western Pacific Region (AW/PR) was first considered in Montreal in 1974,  with the principle of regionalisation being accepted at the London Special General Meeting in 1988.  New Zealand became part of the  AW/PR which consisted of all the Asian countries,  the Pacific,  Australia and New Zealand.[1]  New Zealand was never enthusiastic about this idea because of travel costs and the far flung geographic location of the member countries,  with potential difficulty in meeting the Region’s objectives.  Executive felt this structure would duplicate work and the costs would increase out of proportion to the perceived benefits.  New Zealand representative Erwin Drok was elected Vice President at the inaugural meeting of the Region in Hong Kong in June 1990.

The NZSP budget for 1992 included the WCPT fees,  but not financing a representative to the Hong Kong Regional meeting.  Barbara Hetherington went to the International Private Practitioners meeting in Hong Kong in December 1992 and represented the Society at the Regional meeting held in conjunction with it.  NZ was represented by Michael Lamont at the WCPT Private Practitioners meeting.

Executive found in 1992 that geographic location and the cost of travel had limited the amount of interaction the Asia Western Pacific member countries could have compared with their European Region counterparts.  Attempts to encourage communication via newsletters and faxes met with limited success,  but the Australian Physiotherapy Association generously set up an Asia Pacific Physiotherapy Development Fund to provide financial support for physiotherapy related projects in the Asia Western Pacific Region.  New Zealand continued to find the cost of funding a delegate to AWPR meetings too much[2] and sent an apology to the 1993 Taiwan meeting which only lasted a couple of hours and would hardly have justified the expense of getting to Taipei.

When the WCPT sent out a questionnaire in April 1994 NZ said it was not in favour of continuing with the Regions.  NZ seriously questioned the value of regional membership in addition to the cost of WCPT membership.

Whilst the NZSP Executive in 1995 supported the concept of assistance to countries within the region which are less well developed,  especially in regard to education and health facilities,  the huge distances involved made it unrealistic for NZ to contemplate being an active member of the group in the near future other than by telecommunication.

Margot Skinner attended Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Centennial Celebrations in London in November 1994 where two ex patriate New Zealanders presented papers.[3]  On the way she attended the 5th Regional meeting of WCPT-AWPR in Jakarta in October 1994  10 out of 12 member countries attending the meeting and seminar were happy with the regions.

Representatives were clear in wanting to see WCPT remain as the umbrella organisation.  Meetings would be held every second year,  if possible in conjunction with a conference or seminar.[4]  It was agreed that the Region would publish two newsletters per year with contributions from each country as well as a calendar of courses and conferences in member countries.  Regional Rules were discussed and revised to reflect the needs of the area which contains the greatest population base in the world and is also separated by vast quantities of water making travel to other countries both costly and time consuming. 

From 1996 New Zealand items have been sent to include in the Asia/Pacific Newsletter.  The annual Asia Western Pacific Region meeting was held in Kuala Lumpur in September 1996.  NZSP did not send an official delegate,  but voted by proxy.

Lee Gardiner attended the 1997 Hong Kong International Conference as the guest of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association.  Concern was expressed by other delegates at the absence of a NZ delegate to the meetings over the last few years.  It was felt that NZ has a vital part to play in the WCPT-AWP region,  and we should try to attend to improve communications and links in the Pacific region.  In discussion it was clear that much support is needed by physiotherapists in developing countries,  and member countries are facing similar issues eg.  Development of guidelines,  accreditation procedure,  use of outcome measures,  research projects,  marketing of the profession [5]etc.

From these meetings NZ set up closer links with Malaysia and Fiji.  In November 1997 National Executive agreed that the NZSP should fund a delegate to each of the AWPR meetings,  as well as the WCPT Congress every four years.  We would also consider sharing resources and information with other WCPT-AWP members.

NZ supplied photographs and reports of happenings in NZ for the AWPR newsletter,  which is produced by Australia who presently fund the secretariat.  As the world gets “smaller”  the importance of WCPT is more apparent.  Physiotherapists in all member countries are facing similar issues eg.  Development of guidelines,  accreditation procedure,  use of outcome measures,  research projects and marketing of the profession.  Currently WCPT is moving to consolidate the knowledge and expertise that different countries have developed.

National Executive agreed in November 1997 that the NZSP should fund a delegate to each of the AWPR meetings,  as well as the WCPT Congress every four years,  and consider other ways to share resources and information with other WCPT-AW/PR members.  Australia funds the secretariat and produce the newsletter.

[1] Annual Report 1989

[2] AR 1993 page 7

[3] N/L November 1994 page 1

[4] N/L October 1994 page 1

[5] N/L December 1997 page 15