About the region

The Asia Western Pacific (AWP) region comprises 32 member organisations, spread from the Middle East through Asia to the Pacific. Although there is diversity in terms of ethics, language, geography and development, the promotion of physiotherapy is common to all.

Key aims of the region are to:

• establish closer cooperation among member organisations of the region
• represent the profession in the region in consultation with or as delegated by the executive committee
• cooperate with the various international organisations in the region in promoting World Physiotherapy objectives
• initiate new and promote established professional activities within the region which further the aims of World Physiotherapy
• formulate resolutions regarding matters of regional or geographical concern for proposal to the executive committee and World Physiotherapy general meeting

The region holds a general meeting of member representatives every two years, in conjunction with the World Physiotherapy congress, and a general meeting, in association with a regional congress hosted by a member organisation.

Since 1991, regional congresses have been hosted by Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore, South Korea, India and Taiwan. In 2019, the regional general meeting was held in Switzerland.

One member of the World Physiotherapy board is elected by the member organisations in the region for a four-year term.

AWP region executive committee

• Chair: Suh-Fang Jeng, member of Taiwan Physical Therapy Association
• Vice chair: Dinesh Verma, member of Singapore Physiotherapy Association
• Shinichi Daikuya, member of Japanese Physical Therapy Association
• Tin Hlaing Soe, member of Myanmar Physiotherapy Association
• Van Le Thanh, member of Vietnam Physical Therapy Association
• Gillian Webb, member of Australian Physiotherapy Association

Webinars and events in 2023

The Asia Western Pacific region executive committee organises a series of webinars. Each webinar is only open to members of World Physiotherapy member organisations in the Asia Western Pacific region.

• April 
  • Webinar: Entry level education
• July
  • Webinar: Advocacy and regulatory frameworks 
• September
  • Webinar: Health promotion and management of chronic diseases 
• December
  • Webinar: Clinical education and student evaluations 

AWP regional congress

The AWP regional congress, held every four years, typically attracts many overseas delegates as well as a substantial number of local physiotherapists and accompanying persons. It is usually held in the middle of the year or at the time that best suits the host country and lasts 2-3 days.

In addition, a general meeting is usually held 1-2 days immediately before or after the congress.

Past locations for the regional congress and general meeting:

• 1991 Hong Kong
• 1995 Jakarta, Indonesia
• 2001 Singapore
• 2005 Seoul, South Korea
• 2009 Mumbai, India
• 2013 Taichung, Taiwan
• 2017 Bangkok, Thailand

The purpose of the AWP regional congress is to promote contact and interchange between physiotherapists throughout the region and provide a forum to report research findings, share information relevant to the region and support the ongoing work of the region.

For more details about meetings and events in the AWP region, please contact Heidi Kosakowski at [email protected]