NSLHD News November 7

allied health advances

October was a big month for our allied health team, celebrating the inaugural Allied Health Professionals Day, as well as the NSLHD Allied Health Research Workshop. The aim of the workshop was to use the NSLHD Research Strategy to determine the strategic direction of allied health research for 2019-2021. All up 84 allied health clinicians, managers and research leaders from varying NSLHD sites and across more than 12 allied health disciplines worked together to conceptualise an allied health research action plan. The recipients of the Allied Health Kick-starter Research Grants, supported by the Faculty of Medicine and Health at University of Sydney and NSLHD were also announced. Congratulations to Irene Rulli, Emma Tan, Ashley Crook and Akane Katsu on receiving a grant to aid with conducting the early stages of research in their chosen field.

Allied health staff at the NSLHD Allied Health Research Forum

research grants awarded A team of NSLHD clinicians working to minimise the number of falls suffered by older adults with mental illness, and a project to standardise the treatment advice for patients with musculoskeletal conditions, have received large grants from the Federal Government. Sydney Health Partners has awarded a total of $330,000 to the projects to help apply research breakthroughs to health care. One project, led by principal investigator Dr Meryl Lovarini, is adapting and evaluating a group-based program to prevent falls in older adults with mental illness.

The program, Stepping On, runs in community locations, and helps participants to understand their falls risk and explore safety strategies. The program is currently offered by Mandy Meehan, occupational therapist and team leader at Ryde Specialist Mental Health Service. Funding has also gone to Professor David Hunter and Associate Professor Manuela Ferreira from the Kolling Institute of Medical Research. The pair is leading a group of musculoskeletal researchers and clinicians to develop new evidence-based training resources and patient information to promote musculoskeletal health.

8 NSLHDNEWS | ISSUE 20| 7 NOVEMBER 2019

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