Department of Physiotherapy, Podiatry, Prosthetics and Orthotics partnerships
The Department of Physiotherapy, Podiatry, Prosthetics and Orthotics partners with leading health organisations to ensure students are exposed to clinical practice and translational research.
Together, we are making new discoveries and training the next generation of health professionals – to improve the health and wellbeing of our communities and across the lifespan.
University partnerships
Our academic staff contribute to key University partnerships including:
La Trobe University’s Academic and Research Collaborative in Health is transforming La Trobe’s clinical research capability to deliver better health and social care to Australians. The Collaborative supports clinical education placements and evidence-based, clinician-led teaching at each ARCH site. Department staff are appointed to positions at Eastern Health, Northern Health and The Royal Melbourne Hospital.
The partnership between La Trobe and The Australian Ballet examines the athletic capacity of leading ballet dancers, with the aim of optimising dancer performance and health, and informing injury prevention and rehabilitation programs throughout the community. It also gives students exclusive access to research projects involving the elite dancers of The Australian Ballet.
The partnership between La Trobe and Carlton Football Club enhances education and community outcomes in Melbourne’s North and gives La Trobe students the opportunity to benefit from exclusive work placements across the Club.
Our academic staff, who are also members of La Trobe University Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre, are part of this network that focuses on protecting athletes’ health and preventing injuries and illnesses in sport.
La Trobe's partnership with Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeswara Academy of Higher Education and Research is focused on tackling global health issues including diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Several of our academic staff in Physiotherapy supervise Higher Degree Research students through this partnership.
The partnership between La Trobe and Medibank is driving research, making world class health services accessible to more people, and supporting better outcomes for La Trobe employees and students. Our students secure valuable industry knowledge and experience through work placements, co-designed professional development programs and involvement in real world projects.
The partnership between La Trobe and Melbourne City Football Club is focused on research collaborations and providing student internships in sport science and allied health services.
The partnership between La Trobe and Sheffield Hallam University (United Kingdom) provides students from both universities with international learning opportunities. Students spend a portion of their study in the United Kingdom and Australia, helping to enrich their university experience and enhance their employability prospects. Both universities are also working together to create opportunities for research and innovation projects with global impact.
Our researchers are partnering with the Women's Australian Football League, Medibank and other partners to reduce knee injury among female Australian football players.
Discipline partnerships
Our discipline partnerships include:
Australian Physiotherapy Association
The partnership with the Australian Physiotherapy Association is funded by the Medical Research Future Fund to investigate if high value non-surgical care, including exercises and education can delay or prevent the need for joint replacement surgery, pain medication and other treatments.
Australian Physiotherapy Council
The partnership with the Australian Physiotherapy Council is an Industry PhD Partnership to investigate a novel method of assessing physiotherapy competency.
Yarra Junior Football League
The partnership with the Yarra Junior Football League is investigating injury risk and injury management in junior footballers.
Able Health
This research collaboration is investigating falls prevention and footwear.
Australasian Council of Podiatry Deans
This research collaboration is investigating the profession and career pathways.
Australasian College of Podiatric Surgeons
This collaboration teaches into our undergraduate program.
Australian Foot and Ankle Research Network
Our academics are contributing members to this network.
Australian Podiatry Association
This Association is a member of the Podiatry Course Advisory Committee.
Diabetes Feet Australia
This collaboration is developing a national research agenda and national clinical guidelines for diabetes-related foot complications.
Footscape
This partnership includes an industry Honours project sponsorship and student volunteering opportunities.
International Foot and Ankle Osteoarthritis Consortium
Our staff are contributing members.
International Working Group of the Diabetic Foot
Our staff are contributing members.
Orthotech Podiatric Laboratory
This partnership includes our on-site Podiatry Clinic. The research collaboration is investigating the effectiveness of custom orthoses.
Australian Orthotic Prosthetic Association
This collaborative research partnership has made important contributions to the orthotic/prosthetic profession. Our collaborative research into the orthotic/prosthetic workforce has informed important policy decisions about skilled migration into Australia that has reduced the risk of workforce shortages. Similarly, our collaborative work to build the Australian Orthotic Prosthetic Association Consumer Experience Program has helped us understand the experience of orthotic/prosthetic consumers, and take important steps to improve access to safe and effective orthotic/prosthetic services across Australia.