The inaugural Research College Knowledge Exchange (CKE) session will feature presentations from two ACP Fellows who have recently been awarded the Specialist Research Physiotherapist credential. Presenters will share their area of research, followed by an opportunity for questions, discussion and peer engagement. This inaugural Research CKE session is complimentary for APA members. Physiotherapists with an interest in research, research translation and advancing clinical practice are encouraged to attend.
Professor Linda Denehy's presentation will outline a journey through research over time, reflecting on motivation, asking questions, building teams, contributing evidence as well as the need for insight, support and ability to withstand the hard knocks a research career throws at you.
Associate Professor Deirdre McGhee's presentation will discuss breast health. Breast health concerns, including pain, bra discomfort, and chafing, can limit physical activity and contribute to upper quadrant pain and dysfunction. High-support, properly fitted bras can help alleviate these issues. Physiotherapists in sports, musculoskeletal, women's health, and oncology can improve care by assessing and optimising bra design and fit. This approach supports upper quadrant pain management, promotes physical activity, and enhances care for female athletes. Breast injuries, typically caused by direct impact, are female-specific sports injuries that result in pain, bruising, and swelling. Assessing and managing these soft-tissue injuries is a key responsibility for sports physiotherapists. Physiotherapists working with women in contact, collision, and combat sports need specialised knowledge, skills, and confidence to manage these injuries effectively. This CKE provides physiotherapists with current research, knowledge, clinical skills, and evidence-based resources to assess and manage breast health and injuries across a range of physiotherapy specialties.
Linda Denehy, FACP, is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences and Australian College of Physiotherapists, Professor of Physiotherapy at the University of Melbourne and Professor of Health Services Research at Peter MacCallum. Linda is an internationally recognised academic Physiotherapist, in top 2% of scientists and Clarivate highly cited researcher in her field. Her primary research interests are in exercise and recovery across the perioperative continuum for patients having major surgery and in haematological cancers. She is an experienced and passionate mentor of post-doctoral fellows, higher degree research students and allied health clinicians. She has authored over 300 publications and has secured grant funding success of over AUD$30m.
Deirdre McGhee is an Associate Professor in the School of Medicine at the University of Wollongong, an APA Sports Physiotherapist, Director of Breast Research Australia (University of Wollongong) and Fellow of Sports Medicine Australia. Deirdre has been teaching musculoskeletal anatomy for over 30 years and exercise rehabilitation for over 20 years. She has been researching breast health biomechanics and the effect of the breasts on the musculoskeletal system for the past 20 years. She has a particular interest in physical rehabilitation following all types of breast cancer surgery and the breast support issues experienced by women living with breast cancer. Her research has been translated into freely accessible community-based educational resources including: Physical Preparation and Recovery from Breast Reconstruction (https://www.bcna.org.au/understanding-breast-cancer/treatment/breast-reconstruction/physical-preparation-recovery-after-breast-reconstruction) in collaboration with BCNA, that guides women how to physically prepare for and self-manage the initial recovery from breast reconstruction surgery; and “Sports Bra” (www.bra.edu.au) in collaboration with the AIS, that guides women on breast support and correct bra fit during physical activity. Contact details: dmcghee@uow.edu.au.
21/4/2026
2.0 hours
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