Research

Rural physiotherapy research at the School of Physiotherapy is focusing on projects for recruitment and retention of rural physiotherapy and allied health workforce. These health professionals are important for regaining, improving health and maintaining well-being but they are in short supply.

Strategies emerging from the needs identified include

• Education - Rural physiotherapists and allied health professionals report difficulties accessing postgraduate courses due to distance and this limits their ability to progress in their career. To remedy this Rural Physiotherapy plan to conduct intensive subjects (accommodation available) that contribute to higher degrees. The first one is by eminent neuroscientist Professor Mary Galea. Intensive Neurosciences - June 27 to July 4, 2005
• Research - The School of Physiotherapy places a strong emphasis on quality research. Researchers are award-winning academics whose research is acclaimed nationally and internationally as pioneering and innovative.  Research conducted within the School and its Centres informs national policy-making discussions and aims to promote health and wellbeing within the community.
  
  A substantial review "Relations and rewards are key strategies in recruitment and retention of rural physiotherapists "(PDF,680k) was been completed in 2005. (This report is based on research initiated by The University of Melbourne as part of a larger project, and does not necessarily reflect the views and position of DHS)
  
• Professional support - the Rural Physiotherapy group strategy includes supporting clinicians in a number of ways. This includes with research, student supervision, recruitment strategies and resources. Mentoring is an important issue in rural health where clinicians are often professionally isolated and Mentorlink is an initiative of the Allied Health Professions Alliance (Vic) and is a facilitated mentoring program currently open to occupational therapists, physiotherapists, podiatrists, social workers and speech pathologists working in both the public private sectors across Melbourne and rural Victoria.

Further information about Rural Physiotherapy research can be by contacting Elizabeth Williams e.williams@unimelb.edu.au