Organising IGNITE 2023 has been a pleasure, says Dr Jo Connaughton APAM, chair of both the Conference Advisory Committee and the Scientific Program Committee.

Jo previously chaired the 2019 TRANSFORM national conference and the THRIVE national conference, which was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns. 

THRIVE was initially scheduled for 2021, then rescheduled for 2022 before the decision was made to cancel the in-person conference and run a number of virtual sessions.

Jo says the IGNITE conference builds on THRIVE, with some elements—including some of the invited speakers—drawn from the previous program.

Jo Connaughton says the presentations will be relevant and topical. 

‘Once the decision was made to change THRIVE into a virtual format, CAC reviewed the original program and determined which speakers and messages would be relevant and topical in 2023,’ she says.

Jo says that one of the strengths of the conference is that all national groups are represented, giving so many of the APA’s members an opportunity to speak and all groups a voice and the chance to reach their audience. 

It is truly a diverse program, with up to 14 concurrent sessions made up of a mixture of members presenting their papers and international, national and local invited speakers. 

In addition, many groups have organised workshops and breakfasts.

‘I am excited that our smaller groups have the opportunity for members to present their research. 

‘That in itself can lead to more people becoming interested in research, which in turn creates more interest in those smaller and/or emerging areas of our profession,’ Jo says.

So what does Jo recommend for conference delegates? 

‘It’s hard to choose because I think everything is going to be so good. 

‘The four concurrent mini keynote sessions are very topical and it will be hard to choose which one to attend. 

‘In keeping with the theme of the conference, you can hear from physiotherapists who have ignited their passion for the profession,’ she says.

‘There is an opportunity to find out how physiotherapists can be active in minimising climate change and about the role we can play in assisting people with good sleep hygiene. 

‘Technology is changing so quickly and “What the Buzz” will provide updates in mobile technology.

‘I strongly recommend that people go to the plenary sessions. 

‘I’m looking forward to Pitchfest—seeing what new ideas and inventions people have created.

‘It’s always exciting to see what people can think of that is new and different.’

Get yourself ready for the future

Becoming comfortable with change and adapting in times of flux have never been more important if we want to be ready for the future, says futurist and speaker Gihan Perera. 

And, Gihan argues, there is no time like now to start putting those skills to good use. 

Opening keynote speaker Gihan Perera believes people need to be future-ready. 

‘People say we need to be futureproof, but that’s not right. 

‘It’s not like being fireproof or waterproof, where you’re trying to protect yourself from the future. 

‘It’s about being future-ready,’ he says.

As the opening keynote speaker for the IGNITE 2023 conference, Gihan will share his views on how to be ready for change, how to take the lead and how to bring people along with you on that journey.

Gihan, who has a background in science and technology, with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Western Australia, is passionate about the way technology enables people. 

He follows emerging technologies, trends, AI and innovation. 

He blends this with a keen interest in people and how they communicate.

His keynote session, entitled ‘Thinking ahead in a fast- changing world’, will examine ways to engage people, the importance of diverse views and experience in your team and the increasing use of technologies such as AI, augmented reality and exoskeletons in physiotherapy.

‘I’ve always been interested not just in technology, but in what technology enables people to do—to collaborate, communicate, make the world smaller, connect in different ways and break down barriers and hierarchies,’ he says.

Hands down a great session

The vital role of hands-on practice in physiotherapy will be discussed during Plenary 2.

Physiotherapists will be reminded of the profession’s hands-on ethos during Plenary 2, closing out the first day of the conference.

In this session, ‘Physiotherapy: the hands-on profession’, a panel comprising Phillip Hughes MACP, Amy Papinniemi FACP, Helen Seale APAM and Sarah Fitzhenry FACP and chaired by APA Honoured Member Gwendolen Jull FACP will discuss the vital role of hands-on practice in assessment and management methods used by physiotherapists, including the evidence for and benefits of hands-on management of musculoskeletal and neurological disorders and its place in an overall patient-centred approach within a biopsychosocial framework.

 

The curious rebels of physio innovation

Engineer, entrepreneur and ‘curious rebel’ Yemi Penn will be the MC at the third Physio Pitchfest, which will be held during Friday morning’s plenary session at IGNITE 2023.

Yemi Penn is excited about Physio Pitchfest and innovation in the profession.

‘I say I’m a curious rebel because I do so many things,’ Yemi says. 

‘On paper, I’m an engineer by profession. 

‘I’m still a bit of an entrepreneur, but I’m giving that a break. 

‘I love solving problems, whether it’s a service problem, a product problem—I love that stuff. 

‘I opened up a few businesses in different parts of the world and in different industries.’

Yemi is excited, then, about talking to the Pitchfest finalists, who will be pitching their products live during the session to be in with a chance of winning the Judges’ Award or the People’s Choice Award in the biennial innovation competition.

‘I want to know, “How did you come up with that? Firstly, you saw the problem. Then how did you start to figure out what the solution would be?” 

‘Then there’s the actual building or creating of the prototype. 

‘I’m in the right place with this,’ she says.

Yemi believes that physiotherapy is an open field for creativity and innovation.

‘This is the time to really challenge the status quo. 

‘Is there an opportunity for someone to create something that’s easily accessible, that’s affordable and that can actually make a change in people’s lives? 

‘One hundred per cent yes,’ she says.

‘I’m going to be talking about innovation—what it looks like to be a disrupter in your industry—and will highlight rebellious curiosity as a way to challenge the status quo.’

Honouring our new Fellows

After a three-year hiatus, excitement is mounting for the graduation of the newest Fellows of the Australian College of Physiotherapists. 

37 Physiotherapists will graduate as Fellows of the Australian College of Physiotherapists. 

At this year’s graduation ceremony, the College will formally acknowledge 37 physiotherapists who have been awarded Fellowship by Clinical Specialisation or Original Contribution (Research) since 2019. 

The ceremony will include the induction of APA Honoured Members Professor Barby Singer FACP and Michael Ryan FACP.

The graduation ceremony and APA Honoured Members induction will be held at the IGNITE 2023 physiotherapy conference, during Plenary 4 on Friday 6 October. 

The College extends a warm invitation to all current Fellows, Titled Members and APA members to attend the event to celebrate the significant achievement of College graduands and APA Honoured Members.

At the conclusion of the graduation ceremony, there will be a celebration event for the graduands and their guests along with Honoured Members, the College Council and members of the APA Board of 

Email the College team at acp@australian.physio for more details.

 

The future of technology in physio

The Journal of Physiotherapy Oration has been renamed the Journal of Physiotherapy Rob Herbert Oration to recognise Professor Rob Herbert’s substantial contributions to the Journal as Editorial Board member, scientific editor and chair of the Editorial Board from 1999 to 2019.

Rob led the Journal’s adoption of a broader international focus and its successful open-access publishing platform.

Trevor Russell, whose research interests include the use of technology in rehab, will deliver the Journal of Physiotherapy Rob Herbert Oration

This year the Oration will be delivered by Professor Trevor Russell, Professor of Physiotherapy at the University of Queensland and director of the RECOVER Injury Research Centre there. 

Trevor’s research interests lie in the use of technology in rehabilitation, particularly the use of telerehabilitation to improve service delivery in rural and remote areas. 

It’s an area he’s been working in since he started his PhD in 2000.

‘How can we leverage technology to better deliver care as physiotherapists? 

‘It involves a number of things, not just the use of things like telehealth. 

‘There are a lot of other technologies that can help us to innovate our service delivery model,’ he says.

Trevor notes that while telehealth was widely used during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, there wasn’t the time or the capacity to think hard about the models of care that could be used. 

And while patients were happy overall with telehealth, many clinicians found it challenging.

‘It was a great natural experiment, so what did we learn from it? 

‘Do we conclude that we don’t want to embrace this or do we conclude that it all happened too fast and we didn’t have the time to really integrate it into practice well?’ he says.

‘We need to innovate with our models of care so that we can be using that technology in the best possible way. 

‘We need to properly educate physiotherapists in the use of technology, making sure we don’t get left behind by other professions. 

‘And as a profession, we need to be getting ready for new technologies so that we’re not surprised and left behind.’

The Journal of Physiotherapy Rob Herbert Oration will be held on Saturday 7 October at 8.30–9 am during Plenary 5.

Profession's role in Reconciliation

Delegates will also be immersed in a discussion of the role of all physiotherapists in Reconciliation and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health during Plenary 5 on Saturday morning. 

Plenary 5 will feature a discussion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. 

Lowitja Institute CEO Janine Mohamed will discuss racism and its impact on health and wellbeing and Indigenous Allied Health Australia’s CEO Donna Murray will provide an overview of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, focusing on social and cultural determinants of health. 

Following this, APA National President Scott Willis APAM will join Janine and Donna for a panel discussion and the session will close with an audience Q&A.

Kathryn Potter APAM, chair of the APA’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Committee, says that physiotherapists have an important role to play in improving the health outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, both as clinicians and as respected members of the community.

‘The role of our profession extends beyond our clinic walls and all physiotherapists can engage in Reconciliation, whether through student placements, employment opportunities, procurement or engagement with the local community,’ Kathryn says.

>>Visit ignite2023.physio to learn more about the IGNITE 2023 conference program and speakers.