Department of Physiotherapy, University of Melbourne

01/09/2026

🎉 Congratulations to Associate Professor Kate Hayward!

We are delighted to congratulate Associate Professor Kate Hayward on being confirmed as a Fellow of the European Stroke Organisation (FESO).

This is a significant achievement, with Kate being one of only eight Fellows in Australia to receive this recognition.

The Fellowship recognises Kate's outstanding contribution and expertise in the field of stroke research and care.

Congratulations, Kate, on this well-deserved recognition! 👏

10/08/2026

🎉 Celebrating Years of Service 🎉

Congratulations to our wonderful University of Melbourne Physiotherapy staff who were recognised at the recent MDHS Recognition of Staff Years of Service event!

We’re proud to celebrate:
👏 Dr Kelly Bower – 15 years
👏 A/Prof Natalie Fini – 10 years
👏 Dr Tara FitzGerald – 10 years
👏 Dr Jess Lees – 10 years
👏 Dr Amanda Kwong – 10 years

Thank you all for your many years of contribution to our department, our students, our patients and the broader physiotherapy profession. We’re incredibly lucky to have you as part of our community!

Congratulations!

27/07/2026

Save the Date!

We are proud to partner with the Australian Physiotherapy Association's Women's, Men's & Pelvic Health Group to bring you the Excellence Down Under Symposium 2026! 🎉

🗓️ Saturday 5th September 2026
📍 198 Berkeley St, Carlton — The University of Melbourne, Parkville Campus
🙋‍♀️Register here before 30th August: https://australian.physio/pd/pd-product?id=13468

Join us for this much-loved one-day symposium designed to inspire, challenge and elevate pelvic health physiotherapy practice across Australia, with a clear focus on translating research into clinical practice to improve patient outcomes.

Our very own Professor Helena Frawley will be presenting alongside some of Australia's leading clinicians, researchers and educators. Expect evidence-based presentations, practical insights you can immediately apply in clinic, and meaningful discussion around the future of the profession. 💪

Whether you are an experienced clinician, an early-career physio, or simply passionate about advancing your pelvic health knowledge, this is an event not to be missed!

Full programme to come. Watch this space! 👀

Australian Physiotherapy Association is the peak body representing the interests of 34,000+ physiotherapists & their patients. See PD, resources & advocacy.

20/07/2026

🎉 Congratulations to Elise Fraser and Dr Robyn Brennen from our Department, along with colleagues Dr Shan Morrison and Jane Richards, on the publication of their important new work in the international journal Continence!

The team has developed a new Pelvic Health Clinical Reasoning Model to help physiotherapists better understand and manage complex conditions such as urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse and pelvic pain. 💡

Unlike existing models that tend to focus on pain and musculoskeletal problems, this new model recognises the complex interplay between pelvic organ function, the musculoskeletal system, the nervous system and psychosocial factors. By encouraging a holistic view of pelvic health, it helps physiotherapists build a more complete picture of an individual's condition and tailor treatment to their specific needs, ultimately improving patient care.

A fantastic contribution to the field 👏

👉 Read the full paper here:

15/07/2026

Congratulations to staff from our Department who recently presented their work at the Australian & New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators (ANZAHPE) 2026 Conference in Ōtautahi Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand earlier this month 👉Dr Jessica Stander, Dr Jessica Lees, Dr Rachel Toovey, Dr Kelly Bower, Dr Tandy Hastings-Ison, Aiden Smart and Dr Deb Virtue 👏🎉

ANZAHPE brings together health professional educators from across Australia, New Zealand, the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. This year's conference explored how deep educational expertise converges with the accelerating power of artificial intelligence, data-driven care and global connectivity to shape the future of health professions education. 🌏🤝

Well done to you all for representing our department on the world stage and thank you for your contribution to health professional education!

06/07/2026

📣 You are invited to join us for an upcoming webinar

Rethinking ACL Injury: Healing, Non-Operative Care & Shared Decision Making Presented by Associate Professor Stephanie Filbay

🗓️ Thursday 30 July | 6:00PM – 7:00PM AEST
💻 Online Event

For decades, ACL reconstruction has been considered the standard treatment for many ACL injuries. However, growing evidence suggests that, under the right conditions, some ACL injuries may have the capacity to heal. 💡

Associate Professor Filbay will explore the science behind ACL healing, emerging bracing protocols, the latest clinical evidence, and the importance of shared decision making in contemporary ACL management.

Whether you are a clinician, researcher, or simply passionate about evidence-based practice, this is a session not to be missed!

Register Now: 👉 https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/rethinking-acl-injury-healing-non-operative-care-shared-decision-making-tickets-1991884946495?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm_content=2026_AE_MDHS_AI_AP_Physio_Webinar_Invite_CTA_Main_2&utm_medium=email&utm_source=ADV&utm_campaign=E_All_2026_27_AE_MDHS_AI_AP&sfid=701OY00000iDSgKYAW

We look forward to having you join us!

Explore ACL healing, bracing and modern management with A/Prof Stephanie Filbay.

29/06/2026

Spotted - Lecturer and PhD candidate Ellie White on prime time TV! 📺

Congratulations to Ellie who was featured last night as one of 12 marathon runners in the Channel 9 documentary The Long Run!

The documentary follows the 2025 Indigenous Marathon Project squad across six life-changing months, from the red dirt of Alice Springs to the world stage at the TCS New York City Marathon! 👏

If you missed it last night, you can catch up on Stan or 9Now. It is well worth a watch! 🎬

https://www.9now.com.au/the-long-run

28/06/2026

📣Calling all Unimelb Physiotherapy alumni

Applications for the Career Mentoring Program are now open. Sign up via the link below to support our DPT students!

Applications are now open for the Career Mentoring program.

Mentoring is one of the most powerful ways alumni can support students as they navigate study and career decisions. By sharing your lived experience and industry insights, you can help students gain clarity, confidence and direction - all it takes is a few meaningful conversations.

Flexible, rewarding and highly valued, mentoring bridges the gap between university learning and the world of work. Apply today and help shape our next generation of professionals. → https://go.unimelb.edu.au/kqd2

10/06/2026

How can physiotherapists help improve outcomes before major cancer surgery?

Join us for the APA Victorian Branch Winter Breakfast, where Professor Catherine Granger from the Department of Physiotherapy at the University of Melbourne will present on the growing role of prehabilitation in major cancer surgery.

Drawing on more than 20 years of clinical and research experience, Catherine will explore how interventions such as exercise, nutrition, psychological support and patient education can improve patients' fitness before surgery, leading to fewer complications, shorter hospital stays and better recovery outcomes.

As evidence for prehabilitation continues to grow, this presentation will provide practical insights into how physiotherapists can integrate these approaches into surgical care pathways across hospital, community and private practice settings.

📅 Friday 24 July, 6:30–9:30am
📍 Leonda by the Yarra, Hawthorn

We encourage physiotherapists, researchers, students and healthcare professionals with an interest in cancer care and rehabilitation to attend.

Register to attend: https://australian.physio/pd/pd-product?id=13415

25/05/2026

🎉 Congratulations to PhD candidate Hannah Sharma from the Department of Physiotherapy, who recently took the stage at Raising the Bar where ten bars across Melbourne were transformed into pop-up lecture theatres for a public audience.

Hannah shared her insights on the importance of strength and balance training, meaningful goal setting and incremental progress to add life to years 💪

A fantastic opportunity to bring important research directly to the public. Well done Hannah! 👏