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Group Structure
| The Rural Physiotherapy group is located at the School of Rural Health , Shepparton and is part of a multidisciplinary team from the School of Physiotherapy and the University Department of Rural Health in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences of the University of Melbourne. |
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| Elizabeth Williams , Senior Lecturer Rural Physiotherapy has been appointed by the School of Physiotherapy to further develop recruitment and retention strategies for rural physiotherapists and other health professionals. Elizabeth had been Lecturer in Paediatric Physiotherapy at the School of Physiotherapy for the previous ten years.
She recently completed a Master of Physiotherapy by Research at the School of Physiotherapy and her research focused on outcome measurement tools for functional mobility in children. In her teaching role she was responsible for developing and coordinating undergraduate subjects for professional issues, health and disability through the lifespan, introducing an innovative student conference for third year students. Several years ago she returned to live on a dairy farm near Rochester in Victoria where she was born, raised and significantly educated. Her community interests include support for the Riding for Disabled Association Victoria with whom she has commenced collaboration for research into the therapeutic benefits of horse riding. As well as her academic role she currently shares a part-time position as paediatric physiotherapist at Goulburn Valley hospital with colleague Sally Belcher. |
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| Sally Belcher Lecturer Physiotherapy, University Department of Rural Health, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences. Sally and colleagues recently completed a major study for VURHC (Victorian Universities Rural Health Consortium ) on Recruitment and Retention of Rural Allied Health Professionals. Sally also developed the strategic plans that direct rural physiotherapy at the School of Rural Health and is involved with the Rural Health Module for undergraduate students.
Sally is currently completing a PhD at the University of Melbourne and her research area is investigating the impact of rural practice on clinical decision making and evidence based approach on the physiotherapy management of community stroke patients. Sally lives on a sheep property at Euroa and like many rural health professionals juggles family and farming with her work. Her clinical expertise is orthopaedic physiotherapy particularly in children and she shares a part-time position as paediatric physiotherapist with Elizabeth Williams at Goulburn Valley hospital. |
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| Wendy D'Amore , Research Assistant. Wendy, who has a background in science (zoology) joined the team to further the studies of recruitment and retention of physiotherapists and other allied health professionals. Ten years ago Wendy returned to the Goulburn Valley area where she was educated having previously studied at Monash University and afterwards working at the penguin reserve on Phillip Island.
She has conducted a survey of physiotherapists in the Shepparton region and results of this will be known soon. |
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School of Physiotherapy & School of Rural Health
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