Physiotherapy Board Members

Paula Harding

Appointed as Chair and practitioner member from Victoria

Qualifications:

• B. Physio., M. Manip., D.Clin. Physio.,
• The Alfred, Melbourne.

Paula has over 30 years+ of experience working as a physiotherapist in both private and public settings. In 2000, she completed a post graduate Masters of Manipulative Physiotherapy at La Trobe University and a Doctorate of Clinical Physiotherapy at The University of Melbourne in 2013. Paula has been the project lead for numerous state-wide and national projects aimed at implementing and evaluating advanced practice physiotherapy services into public hospitals, after having had established and worked in advanced practice musculoskeletal roles in the Emergency Department and Outpatient settings at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne since 2006. She has published and presented her work at conferences for allied health and physiotherapy both nationally and internationally.

Paula is currently the Director of Allied Health at Barwon Health and continues to work part time at the Alfred supporting the Allied Health Workforce Unit. Her interests are in optimising the workforce to work to top of scope and in advanced practice roles, and supporting clinical excellence with research and quality improvement initiatives.

Sally Adamson

Appointed as a practitioner member from Northern Territory

Qualifications:

• B. App Sc (Ex & Sp Sc), B. Physio, MBA (eBusiness).

Sally is the Managing Director and Senior Clinician of a private physiotherapy clinic in the Northern Territory. She commenced her career as a physiotherapist 19 years ago in northern Queensland after completing Bachelor degrees in Exercise and Sports Science and Physiotherapy in Adelaide. Since this time Sally has worked across a wide range of sectors including Public and Private Hospitals, Community Health, Residential and Community Care and Private Practice in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

Sally has resided in Darwin with her husband and two school aged children for 15 years. During this time she has worked predominantly in private physiotherapy practice and has played an important role in the development of physiotherapy services within the local community. Sally has been a member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association since she graduated and has worked closely with colleagues and professional bodies during this time to improve access to professional development in the Top End.

Sally has a passion for quality in physiotherapy practice, ethics, governance and social responsibility. She demonstrates this commitment in her own practice through voluntarily completing and maintaining practice accreditation to the Australian Physiotherapy Associations 8th Standards, and implementing an online learning platform for clinical and non-clinical staff to ensure compliance with professional standards and professional development requirements. It is this passion that has driven Sally to undertake a Masters of Business Administration which she has recently completed and hopes to use to further influence the quality in healthcare landscape.

Professor Sheila Lennon

Appointed as a practitioner member South Australia

Professor Sheila Lennon works privately as a physiotherapy consultant. As Foundation Chair of Physiotherapy at Flinders University, she holds full academic status and continues to supervise postgraduate research students. She qualified as a physiotherapist from McGill University (Canada) in 1979, and has worked internationally for almost 40 years on a full time basis in Canada, Switzerland, the UK and Australia. She has been involved in accreditation of both new and established physiotherapy degree courses and registration since 1992. She relocated to Adelaide in 2012 to develop the new Master of Physiotherapy degree at Flinders University, retiring from this role in December 2016. Under her leadership, physiotherapy programs have gained accreditation in the United Kingdom, America and Australia. Relevant previous appointments have included: Head of Physiotherapy at Flinders University, membership of the Council of Deans of Physiotherapy (Australia and New Zealand) contributing to accreditation and minimum threshold standards for physiotherapy practice, and Health Professions Council Visitor (UK) for the accreditation of allied health courses. Professor Lennon is an international expert in the field of neurological rehabilitation, a member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association, and a Fellow of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy in the UK. She is the author/editor of over 190 public outputs including 60 peer reviewed papers, and two textbooks on neurological rehabilitation.

Rosemary Mathlin

Appointed as a community member from NSW

Rosemary is a lawyer with over thirty years’ experience in the community and public sectors. Her main area of practice is administrative law, where she has worked both as an advocate for individuals seeking review of government decisions, and as a tribunal decision maker. She currently works in the refugee and asylum jurisdiction. Alongside her work commitments she maintains strong links to the community through involvement in volunteer work in the justice and education systems. She holds Bachelor’s degrees in Arts and Law from the University of Sydney.

Simon Watt

Appointed as a practitioner member from Tasmania

Qualifications:

• BPhty (Otago), MBA

Simon has recently joined the Physiotherapy Board. He works full time leading the public physiotherapy service for Southern Tasmania. A graduate of Otago University in New Zealand, he worked in public and private practice settings in New Zealand and in the United Kingdom, before settling down to a public health service career in Tasmania, 10 years ago. In the later stages of his clinical career, he developed a special interest in persistent pain and held the Tasmanian Director position for the Australian Pain Society for five years. He has also been fortunate to be involved with a dedicated Australian Physiotherapy Association Tasmanian Branch Council, serving as President for two-and-a-half years. He recently completed a Master of Business Administration and is enjoying having more time to enjoy all that Tasmania has to offer with his wife and three young daughters.