It reminds us how central research is to us, and that as a profession, physiotherapy is grounded in the certainties of its evidence base. It’s what both defines and differentiates us from others.

The APA is privileged to be able to provide support to researchers as they seek funding for their work.

We have endorsed and partnered with them on many groundbreaking projects and will continue to do so with zest.

This column is too short to allow for a comprehensive cataloguing of physiotherapy research projects, but I do want to highlight a few that the APA has supported.

Perhaps they motivate you to find out more about what happens in this space.

Prep2Play, a La Trobe Unversity program, aims to better understand injuries in women’s football at a community level and support coaches to include injury prevention programs into their training and preparation.

The project brings together various partners, including the APA, AFL and Medibank— evidence of how organisations can collaborate effectively to support valuable work.

An eminent team at the University of Sydney is undertaking the PACE Trial, examining the implementation of a novel clinical pathway of care for common musculoskeletal disorders in primary care.

Depending on their risk of recovery, patients with musculoskeletal pain will be pointed to either guideline-based resources (for those at low risk), or referred to an expert musculoskeletal physiotherapist who will further determine care (high risk).

The trial is now expanding into rural and low socioeconomic areas as well.

The APA has been an active partner in various research projects seeking to determine the value of telehealth, understand its various uses, consumer preferences and clinicians’ reflections.

Our thanks go to the many researchers working in this area, in particular the team at the University of Melbourne.

Your findings helped physiotherapists secure funding for telehealth consultations during COVID-19 restrictions and fed the creation of the telehealth practice guidelines.

As a result, physiotherapists are recognised as some of the savviest users of telehealth and as leaders in its adoption.

We’re proud of the work of the Physiotherapy Research Foundation, which provides grants to early researchers, as well as targeted grants on topics of strategic interest to the physiotherapy profession.

One of the highlights of our 2019 conference in Adelaide was the PRF Physio PitchFest, in which participants pitched for funding of their innovative programs and instruments to assist physio practice.

I am looking forward to what new and intriguing ideas this year’s PRF Physio PitchFest will bring at THRIVE 2021 in Brisbane.

You will note a recurring theme. Research takes funding. The pursuit of knowledge is a lengthy and costly exercise.

You can support it in many ways, and one of the easiest is to make a donation to the Physiotherapy Research Foundation. After all, we all benefit from varied, rigorous and plentiful research.

I know that research can feel a little inaccessible and perhaps even remote at times.

But it is worth making the effort to gain insight on what goes on in this world to understand what questions are niggling the intellectual elite of our profession and how their answers will shape practice.

You might like to tune into our social media channels for our PRF-funded infographics, animations, blogs and podcasts translating research into everyday speak.

Researchers, we salute you! Research applicants, good luck!

We are privileged to support you and look forward to reaping the benefits of your endeavours in the years to come.