Department of Physiotherapy Abroad
It has been a busy month of travel within the Department of Physiotherapy, with several team members heading across the globe to attend and present at international conferences.
A few key highlights were:
World Physio Congress (29th to 31st May) in Tokyo, Japan
More than 4,000 physiotherapists came together to attend this international scientific congress, held every two years, to explore the challenges and opportunities of our time and the future of physiotherapy. The Department of Physiotherapy was proud to have a strong presence, with an accomplished team leading and contributing to key conversations that are shaping the profession worldwide. Dr Rachel Toovey, A/Prof Mark Merolli, Dr David Kelly, Prof Fiona Dobson, Prof Jennifer McGinley, Dr Brooke Conley, Ellie White, A/Prof Sze Soh and Dr Free Coulston each contributed by sharing insights from their respective research areas, showcasing poster and ePosters, giving presentations and chairing symposiums on topics like digital health, technology-enhanced learning, inclusive education, neurodisability, culturally responsive osteoarthritis education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, falls prevention in osteoarthritis and Parkinson’s disease rehabilitation.
Head of Dept, Prof Fiona Dobson also served as a panellist in a focused symposium on core outcome sets, advancing global dialogue on evidence-based care.
The physiotherapy department’s presence reflected our broad expertise and our commitment to leading in physiotherapy as a profession that is digitally enabled, inclusive, and globally connected.
Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) 2025 World Congress on Osteoarthritis (24th to 27th April) in Incheon, South Korea
The Centre for Health, Exercise and Sports Medicine (CHESM) was well represented at the 2025 OARSI World Congress, joining more than 1,000 multidisciplinary attendees from over 40 countries to explore the latest advancements in osteoarthritis research.
CHESM team members Prof Kim Bennell, Prof Rana Hinman, Dr Rachel Nelligan, Dr Travis Haber, and Julia Zhu demonstrated leadership across workshops, presentations, and poster sessions. Their contributions spanned national research priorities, digital models of care, qualitative research, therapeutic exercise and clinician education.
Prof Hinman was also recognised as a mentor in the 2024/25 OARSI Peer Reviewer Training Program, delivered in partnership with Osteoarthritis & Cartilage and Osteoarthritis & Cartilage Open.
It was great to see CHESM researchers representing the University of Melbourne and shaping global dialogue on osteoarthritis care and innovation.
