Health Beyond Tomorrow

On 6-8 November, our final year Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT) students held their Student Conference for 2024. This is the flagship final event for their DPT academic journey and the culmination of the redesigned DPT program of which they are the first completed cohort. This conference represents the completion of their final year, where they showcased their teamwork skills, research, and forward-thinking ideas as they prepare to enter the physio workforce!

The theme was ‘Health Beyond Tomorrow’, which explored the future of healthcare, with a focus on sustainability, leadership, and collaborative practice. Across three days, they heard from keynote speakers, including Associate Professor Forbes McGain who spoke on sustainability and the environmental impact of healthcare delivery. Students also enjoyed an an engaging panel with Professor Tina Brock and staff from the Collaborative Practice Centre.

The conference was the first of its kind for many of the students. They had to present their final assessment pieces for two of their subjects, Health Leadership and Digital Innovation, and Research Capstone. On the first day, students delivered health professional skills workshops on topics including negotiation, conflict and change management. Day two saw them present a year’s worth of hard work wrapped up in Research Capstone presentations across three streams: applied research, teaching and learning and health promotion and equity.

The conference offered students an opportunity to see and participate in real-life knowledge translation and science communication. It was a real joy to see our students’ presentation skills and maturity evolve over the three-year DPT program. A special thanks to all involved, including the student organising committee, Dr Mark Merolli, Dr Kelly Bower, Dr Jessica Stander and A/Prof Karen Donald.

Written by Dr Mark Merolli and Dr Jessica Stander.