About ARPA

ARPA was established as a result of the realisation that the Occupational Rehabilitation Provider industry in Australia had reached a stage in its evolution that required some form of guidance, direction, and more importantly, control of its future across Australia.

While the ‘rehabilitation’ industry had been in existence since the 1940’s, with the work done by the Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service since the end of WW2, the private sector component of the industry had been established since the early to mid 1980’s long enough to now deserve a ‘big picture’ approach to be taken by all involved.

Discussions between a number of states commenced in late 2000, and culminated in a meeting being held at the Workcongres5 Conference in Adelaide in March of 2001. This meeting was attended by a large number of people representing all states and territories of Australia, and there was resounding support for a national body to be developed to move the industry forward.

A steering committee was established made up of representatives from each state and territory with the objective to determine the viability of a national body, and to work out how this body would operate. Many individuals representing each of the state and territory rehabilitation associations gave of their time and resources to meet regularly and to put together the framework of what we now have today. As a result, ARPA the Australian Rehabilitation Providers Association became an officially incorporated association on 21 June 2002, closely followed by the first AGM in August of 2002.

What we have now is a national body that is the face of Occupational Rehabilitation Providers throughout Australia.