About us

At Austin Health, the Physiotherapy Department maintains research as a key strategic priority. Evidence-based practice is central to the care we deliver. Our team brings together clinicians, clinician-researchers, academic researchers, and leaders in the field, working collaboratively to generate innovative, practice-changing evidence.

We conduct research across a range of physiotherapy domains, with particular strengths in:

• Intensive Care
• Respiratory and Sleep Medicine
• Oncology
• Neurology
• Spinal Cord Injury
• Orthopaedics

Our department has a strong track record of peer-reviewed publications. Our staff regularly present at national and international conferences, and we are proud to serve as a site for major multi-centre international clinical trials. Recent examples include the eStimCYCLE, AVERT, TEAM, and CYCLE trials — among the largest rehabilitation trials conducted globally.

We are affiliated with the University of Melbourne, the Melbourne Academic Centre for Health, and Swinburne University of Technology.

In 2017, we became one of the first hospital-based physiotherapy departments in Australia to appoint a Professor of Physiotherapy, with Professor David Berlowitz in this role. We also are one of the only departments to offer research as a rotation for grade one staff.

Several of our team members are currently undertaking PhD research through the University of Melbourne.

Contact us

Research enquiries

For any enquiries regarding research opportunities with our Physiotherapy Department, contact:

Thomas Rollinson

Physiotherapy Research Lead

Email: thomas.rollinson@austin.org.au

Other key staff

Professor Sue Berney

Director of Allied Health Research

Email: sue.berney@austin.org.au

Professor David Berlowitz
University of Melbourne Chair of Physiotherapy (Clinical)

Email: david.berlowitz@austin.org.au

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