The New Graduate Conference evolved as a collaboration of connected physiotherapists who share a passion to pass on their knowledge to the next generation of therapists. The 2021 theme – Conventional Wisdom : Alternative Viewpoints is a opportunity for recent graduates to get the best of both worlds to expand upon ideas that they may have already heard and to be introduced to concepts that will expand their horizons.

With four keynote presenters offering knowledge gained from collectively over a century of clinical practice, participants are sure to leave the day motivated and inspired to achieve a long and successful career. For those attending on the day, you will also hear advice and have questions answered from recently graduated therapists to get you off to a great start to your career. All formats of participants will also be able to access post event videos of the day.

KEYNOTE PRESENTERS

James Schomburgk. BAppSc Physio,  MAppSc (Musculoskeletal Physio), APAM, MCSP

Since graduating from Uni of South Australia’s physiotherapy program in 1989, James has been actively involved in the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) and several schools of physiotherapy programs. Appointments include National president of Musculoskeletal Australia, WorkCover South Australia Physio Advisor and Expert Advisor to AHPRA (Australian Health Professional Registration Authority). James has also been a lecturer and clinical supervisor at University of SA, a guest lecturer at Flinders University and a clinical supervisor at Latrobe University’s physiotherapy programs. James is currently a lecturer in Sports and Orthopaedic Medicine at the School of Medicine at the University of Adelaide. James is also the director of two successful Back in Motion practices in Adelaide and the owner of The Second Visit – an international clinical education company dedicated to help private practice physios develop from junior to senior practitioners.

Presentation : The Evidence for Manual Therapy

Understand the current evidence for manual therapy for all parts of the body, how it actually works, and how it integrates it into the biopsychosocial approach.

Elizabeth Santos. B.Physio B.Health.Sc (Naturopathy) APAM, Author

Elizabeth Santos is an Australian physiotherapist, naturopathic practitioner and author. Elizabeth completed a bachelor of physiotherapy at the University of South Australia in 2006 and then went on to work across a range of clinical areas, from acute care within the public hospital system, to aged care, rehabilitation in the home, and musculoskeletal physiotherapy private practice – which quickly became her preferred clinical area. Seeing the pervasive burnout within the profession and experiencing challenges and successes along the way herself, Elizabeth wrote about these career lessons in an evidence-based non-fiction book for students titled ‘New Graduate’s Guide to Physiotherapy: Avoid Burnout and Injury, Build Resilience and Thrive in Clinical Practice’ which was published in 2019. Elizabeth has also completed a Bachelor of Naturopathy (2014), and is an active member of the Australian Traditional Medicine Society (ATMS), the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) and member of the University of Adelaide Physiotherapy Advisory Board.

Presentation : Starting strong: practical advice for building confidence, choosing your career pathway in physiotherapy & increasing your preparedness for clinical practice. 

Discover all the secrets to physiotherapy job hunting (including how to land a coveted new graduate role in a major metropolitan hospital), find the right mentors and flourish in your role; and build resilience (and avoid burnout) in your first few years of clinical practice and beyond. 

James McEwan. B.App.Sc (Physio) APAM JSCC

A graduate from University of SA in 2001 as a 30 year old, James pursued a career in Physiotherapy with an holistic approach. Developing rehab programs for chronic pain patients using pilates, hydrotherapy and whole body movements as an undergraduate, lead to learning and training Olympic lifting and Crossfit. Training in Muscle Energy Techniques, Visceral mobilisation, Cranial Sacral therapy, Counterstrain and IASTM complimented the movement training and rehab component of being a physiotherapist. Establishing Adelaide Advanced Physiotherapy after working in hospitals, private clinics and gyms has allowed James to create a physiotherapy practice that encompasses whole body assessment, manual therapy and movement training. James has been the South Australian Instructor for REHAB Trainer courses since 2008, Rocktape Instructor since 2014, Manual Therapy Institute Instructor  since 2014.

Presentation :  Explaining fascial chains and their contribution to recurrent injuries and chronic dysfunction

Using the principles of Thomas Myers ‘Anatomy Trains’ and the work of Ari-Pekka Lindberg ‘Anatomy Trains in Training’ James will deliver a presentation showing the critical links of fascia and muscle across the human body that can contribute to recurring injuries and chronic dysfunction. The fascial trains of the body encompass more than just skeletal muscle, involving the viscera, circulatory system and skeleton. Showing examples of how the site of pain or injury may be the result of a distant dysfunction that if ignored will continue to influence.

Haydn Gambling. B.App.Sc (Physio) APAM JSCCI

Graduated from the University of South Australia school of physiotherapy in 1989 and has worked in his own private practice in Adelaide (Synergy Manual Therapy) treating clients with chronic pain and dysfunction for over 25 years. Haydn has taught extensively in Australia and Europe since founding the Manual Therapy Institute in 1999 and completed certification to teach for the Jones Institute (an international organisation dedicated to teaching Counterstrain technique) in Australia in 2013. A long term advocate for the use of manual therapy in clinical practice and passionate to share over three decades of learning to help recent graduates on their career journey.

Presentation :  Tips to survive and thrive in clinical practice & Counterstrain: manual therapy’s best kept secret

There’s only so much you can learn during your training and I’d like to share a handful of concepts that I’ve learnt over the years to give you a great head start and to sustain you throughout your journey. I’ll also give a practical demonstration of Counterstrain – a manual therapy approach, largely unknown in Australia, which has evolved over the last 65 years to become one of the most powerful techniques to resolve pain and dysfunction.

Proposed Conference Schedule: 

8.45am – 9.00am Welcome to the conference

9.00am – 10.30am – James Schomburgk

10.30am – 12 noon – Elizabeth Santos

12noon – 12.40 – Lunch break 

12.40 – 1.10pm – focus group interactions with peers 

1.10pm – 2.40pm – James McEwan

2.40pm – 4.10pm – Haydn Gambling

4.10pm – 4.40pm – Q&A panel 

4.45pm Close of convention & post function mingle

Link here to return to registration page