Please click below for session outlines and confirmed speakers
Concurrent Sessions 1 - Wednesday 8 June 2022, 1.30 pm - 3.00 pm
Concurrent Sessions 2 - Thursday 9 June 2022, 1.30 pm - 3.00 pm
Concurrent Sessions 3 - Friday 10 June 2022, 11.00 am - 12.30 pm
1.1: Rehabilitation Medicine Education
Chair: Professor Ian Cameron, University of Sydney, NSW
This session will explore Rehabilitation Medicine education in the primary medical degree and in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine training program. Specifically, the curriculum review of the Faculty training program will be explained.
Speakers:
Dr Louisa Ng, Royal Melbourne Hospital, VIC
Dr Susan Graham, University of Queensland, QLD
Dr Jon Ho Chan, Fiona Stanley Hospital, WA
1.2: Design Thinking: Identifying the problem and generating creative solutions for testing and implementation
Chair: Dr Gaj Panagoda, Superkid Rehab and Institute for Urban Indigenous Health, QLD
As we forge ahead in our medical careers, we can lose the creative approach to defining problems and finding solutions. Design Thinking is a technique for putting people at the centre of the problem generation process, then utilising creativity and empathy to find innovative solutions. The approach has been popularised in the management and education sectors. Health services are now beginning to realise the ability of Design Thinking to complement scientific literature when improving service delivery. Rehabilitation medicine is particularly amenable to Design Thinking, because we holistically consider individuals within a societal context.
The session will include examples of health service improvement via Design Thinking. It will suit clinicians who are seeking additional approaches and tools to improve health services and staff well-being.
Speakers:
Dr Gaj Panagoda, Superkid Rehab and Institute for Urban Indigenous Health, QLD
Dr Judy Matthews, QUT Business School, Faculty of Business and Law, QUT, QLD
1.3: Rehabilitation Research: What is out there?
Presented by: The AFRM Academic Committee
Chair: Dr Ray Russo, Flinders University, SA
Participants can expect to hear presentations that explore some of the cutting edge global research agendas that are likely to shape the way we will deliver Rehab over the next 5-10 years, and understand some of the disrupting forces that are driving these agendas. There will also be a launch of the Australian Rehab Research Network for Australia and New Zealand.
Speakers:
A/Professor Thomas Linden, National Board of Health and Welfare, Sweden
Professor Michael Nilsson, University of Newcastle, NSW
Professor Fary Khan, Royal Melbourne Hospital, VIC
A/Professor Michael Pollack, John Hunter Hospital, NSW
1.4: Practical approaches to addressing the needs of young people with developmental disability during transition to adult rehabilitation services
Chair: Dr Rummana Afreen, Westmead Hospital, NSW
There are an increasing number of young people with developmental disabilities who are reaching adulthood and are referred to (adult) rehabilitation services. Many of these young people have complex care needs and have increased risks of adverse health outcomes and unplanned health service utilisation if they do not have support during transition. A well-established transition service can help mitigate these risks, but can be challenging to provide with limited resources, and lack of clinician skill and confidence.
Speakers:
Dr Simon Paget, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, NSW
Dr Rummana Afreen, Westmead Hospital, NSW
Louise Sellars, The Agency for Clinical Innovation, NSW
Dr Alexis Berry, Sydney Local Health District, NSW
1.5: Free Paper Session: Delivering Quality Rehabilitation
2.1: Concussion:- The Impact of Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation
Chair: Professor John Olver, Epworth HealthCare/Monash University, VIC
In the community and the media (particularly in relation to elite sports), there has been an increasing focus on concussion and its management. This has led to a greater emphasis on the role of rehabilitation in recovery. Although concussion is classified as a mild subset of traumatic brain injury, it can result in significant consequences to the individuals affected. Whilst the majority of individuals will recover, some will experience persisting symptoms requiring intervention from a multidisciplinary rehabilitation team.
The aim of this session is to provide practical information on the assessment and treatment of prolonged persisting symptoms post-concussion by a multidisciplinary rehabilitation team. The topics covered will include:- symptom presentation, vestibular dysfunction, visual problems, cervical spine assessment, autonomic dysfunction, emotional dysregulation, gender differences, return to general activities and higher level sport and current innovations in concussion rehabilitation management.
This session will also cover outcomes from a database of over 600 patients since the inception of Epworth HealthCare’s Concussion Rehabilitation program in 2016.
Speakers:
Professor John Olver, Epworth HealthCare/Monash University, VIC
Dr Rose Acher, Epworth HealthCare, VIC
Stephanie Jones, Epworth HealthCare, VIC
Dr Ross Zafonte, Harvard Medical School, USA
2.2: Treating Frailty – A Practical Approach
Chair: Professor Ian Cameron, University of Sydney, NSW
Different conceptualisations of frailty will be reviewed and the merits of each discussed. Measurement tools will be presented. Components of frailty treatment (exercise, nutrition, medication optimisation and comprehensive geriatric assessment) will be illustrated.
Speakers:
Professor Susan Kurrle, University of Sydney, NSW
Professor Ian Cameron, University of Sydney, NSW
2.3: Integrating sex into rehabilitation: The establishment of a sexuality service
Chair: Professor James Middleton, John Walsh Centre for Rehabilitation Research, NSW
Sexuality has long been acknowledged as a neglected aspect of rehabilitation yet continues to remain a priority area for patients regardless of injury, illness or disability.
This session will use the Royal Rehab Sexuality Service in Sydney NSW as a model for the integration of sexuality into rehabilitation.
Participants will hear from a multidisciplinary team working in the area of sexuality and rehabilitation and through the use of case studies, videos, presentations and guided discussion, learn more about the discipline of psychosexual therapy, the role of the Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist and Speech Therapist for non-medical interventions to improve sexual outcomes and how medical and non-medical approaches to sex, sexuality and intimacy post-injury, illness and disability can be integrated into rehabilitation settings across Australia.
Results from a 2021 data mining survey of presenting issues, interventions and outcomes for the first 100 patients to receive this new integrated sexuality service will be presented to provide context, along with lessons learnt and opportunities for further focused interventions in rehabilitation.
Speakers:
Candice Care-Unger, Royal Rehab, NSW
Jacqui White, Royal Rehab, NSW
Professor James Middleton, John Walsh Centre for Rehabilitation Research, NSW
2.4: Free Paper Session: Service Development
2.5: Consensus guideline for the prevention and treatment of respiratory illness in children with cerebral palsy
Chair: Dr Katherine Langdon, Kid’s Rehab & Perth Children’s Hospital, WA
Respiratory illness is the leading cause of death in people with CP and risk factors for it development have now been identified. Often, respiratory illness in CP is not considered until symptoms become persistent moreover, respiratory management in CP has been constrained by uncertainty around the efficacy of interventions for prevention and treatment and the need for multidisciplinary and inter-service team management and coordination. The guideline being used in this workshop was developed according to the international standards for assessing the quality of practice guidelines (AGREE II). The type of recommendations generated are differentiated as either evidence-based, formulated after a systematic review of the evidence, indicating supporting references; or consensus-based, formulated from consensus using the Delphi method in the absence of quality evidence.
The methods used to develop the guideline form part of the workshop. Interactive case studies, involving participant engagement to rationalise and develop management options based on the learnt material, will be incorporated. Within the case studies, the presenters and participants will discuss (identification of respiratory illness/ risk; prevention strategies; treatment strategies and their clinical course). The cases will involve issues with delayed detection, multidisciplinary care, recent advances in treatments, assessments of efficacy and service implementation.
Speakers:
Dr Katherine Langdon, Kid’s Rehab & Perth Children’s Hospital, WA
Noula Gibson, Perth Children's Hospital & Ability Centre, WA
Dr Rachel Marpole, Perth Children's Hospital, WA
Dr Monica Cooper, Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, VIC
3.1: Assessment and rehabilitation of driving following acquired brain injury: An evidence-based approach to clinical practice
Chair: Dr Zoe Adey-Wakeling, Flinders University, SA
Return to driving is a common goal for people recovering from brain injury; however, it can be challenging for clinicians to balance an individual’s need for independent community mobility, with public road safety. Many different assessment protocols and legal frameworks exist to determine fitness to drive, causing some uncertainty regarding what constitutes “best practice” driver assessment and rehabilitation. This workshop will provide a comprehensive review of driver assessment and rehabilitation techniques following brain injury, including: domains of driving performance commonly affected by brain injury; factors associated with crash risk and reduced driving performance; multidisciplinary approaches to driver assessment and rehabilitation; efficacy of various driver rehabilitation techniques; and recommendations on how to support individuals who do not successfully return to driving.
Speakers:
Dr Zoe Adey-Wakeling, Flinders University of South Australia & Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, SA
A/Professor Rene Stolwyk, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, VIC
3.2: Post-acute sequella of COVID-19
Chair: Dr Thomas Linden, Chief Medical Officer, Sweden
World Health Organisation recognises that COVID-19 actually increases rehabilitation needs – both for patients who are critically unwell with the disease, and for those who continue to experience the long-term consequences of their illness.
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected different countries in different unimaginable ways. Even in Australia different states have had different experiences.
In this concurrent session you will develop insights into how different states in Australia have planned for and managed the challenges of the pandemic over the past 2 years. Delegates will get a good understanding on post-acute sequella of COVID-19 and how rehabilitation physicians can be involved in post-acute and long COVID-19 clinics.
Speakers
Louise Sellars, Agency for Clinical Innovation, NSW
Dr Sumitha Gounden, Orange Health Service, NSW
Professor Fary Khan, Royal Melbourne Hospital, VIC
Dr Kisani Manuel, Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, SA
Dr Asad Khan, Manchester University Hospital, UK
3.3: Free Paper Session: Neurological Rehabilitation - Brain and Spine
3.4: Engage: A workshop exploring group-based interventions that facilitate post-traumatic growth in people with spinal cord injury and other acquired disabilities
Chair: Professor Shane Clifton, University of Sydney, NSW
Rebuilding a strong sense of meaning and purpose following trauma is a key contributor to post-traumatic growth and adapting well to an acquired disability. This workshop describes the development and piloting of a 10 week group-based intervention program aimed at helping people with spinal cord injury explore meaning and purpose in the context of adjusting to and living with an acquired disability.
Evaluated using quantitative and qualitative methods, participant feedback and preliminary data suggests that the program makes a valuable contribution to the psychological well-being and quality of life of participants. The program is a reminder that the process of adjustment to spinal cord injury carries over long past the usual focus of rehabilitation services.
The workshop outlines the process of coproduction by a team that included interdisciplinary health professionals (medicine, psychology, physiotherapy, social work) and people with lived disability expertise. It also describes the impact of COVID 19 on program planning, and the surprising benefits and success of forced online delivery for sustainability and accessibility.
Workshop attendees will be introduced to key program components, including post-traumatic growth and meaning-making in the context of loss, by participating in self-reflective and group exercises.
Speakers:
Professor Philip Siddall, University of Sydney, NSW
Dr Skye Dong, HammondCare & Melanoma Institute Australia, NSW
Emily Bray, Spinal Cord Injuries Australia, NSW
Rebecca McCabe, HammondCare, NSW
3.5 Be Pain Smart: A new way to manage pain after Brain Injury
Chair: Dr Regina Schultz, Agency for Clinical Innovation, NSW
Pain management is a significant barrier and obstacle to rehabilitation and recovery following brain injury. To date there has been limited research, resources, and access to appropriate specialised pain services for this population. The aim of the workshop is to improve knowledge and understanding of the complexities of pain management when working with people with a brain injury.
The team will present the current evidence for pain management for people with a brain injury and take participants through a stepped process to develop and implement individually tailored pain management plans. Participants will be provided with access to new resources designed for pain management with this cohort, and there will be a practical component aimed at building capacity to develop pain management plans. The presenters will also reflect on their experiences of working with people with a brain injury, and provide an overview of developing and implementing an integrated state-wide model of care for this specialised population.
Speakers:
Jane Bradshaw, Royal Rehab, NSW
Dr TJ Kanhere, Royal Rehab, NSW