Jane Aarons Jane graduated from Lincoln Institute, Melbourne in 1984 with a B.App Sc (OT) and has been a full member of the AHTA since 1998. Her early hand therapy years were spent in Vancouver working for the Arthritis Foundation of British Columbia; working as the senior clinician in Hand Rehabilitation at Lionsgate Hospital; and teaching at the University of British Columbia. Jane was also instrumental in setting up the first private Hand Therapy practice in Vancouver in 1993. On returning to Australia she founded Peninsula Hand Therapy on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria in 1995 and has continued to develop the practice into a leading provider of Hand & Upper limb services in the region over the last 20 years. Jane has been a founding Hand Therapist volunteer with Interplast Australia since 2008 where she and colleague Alison Hardman assisted in the development of the first Hand Therapy Unit in Dhaka City Bangladesh. Jane is passionate about the role of education in self-management and runs a number of hand therapy groups from her practice for wrist rehabilitation, Thumb Stabilisation, CRPS and OA self-management. Jane is presenting the workshop Restoration of Dynamic Stability of the 1st CMCJ; an exercise program for the painful 1st CMC joint with Jane Skeen at 1.00 and 2.10 pm on Friday 16 th October. Vicky Allbrook Vicky is a Senior Occupational Therapist and Clinical Coordinator at the Hand and Upper Limb Centre in Perth. Vicky has worked in hand therapy and orthopaedics since graduating from Curtin University of Technology in 2005. Vicky worked in WA s beautiful South West region as a new grad before returning to Perth to work in a private hand therapy practice. Vicky then spent four years working with in the National Health Service in busy London hospitals in hand therapy, orthopaedics and rheumatology before returning to Perth in 2013. With a clinical obsession for the PIP joint Vicky has developed an affinity for the capener splint and is passionate about sharing this love with colleagues. Vicky is presenting the workshop 'Capener Club' with Stuart Wilson at 2.10pm on Friday 16th October Alison Butcher Alison completed a Bachelor of Science: Occupational Therapy at Curtin University, and has been working in private hand therapy since 2007. Alison is currently on maternity leave from her position as Senior Hand Therapist at Hand Works Occupational Therapy, is an associate member of the AHTA, and has lectured in hand and upper limb therapy at Edith Cowan University. She has a particular interest in hand trauma and soft tissue injuries. Alison is presenting the workshop 'Heads Down, Thumbs Up - A Sewing Tutorial' with Joelene Colliton at 1.00 and 2.10pm on Friday 16th October
Doug Cary Doug qualified as a Physiotherapist at Curtin University in 1987 where he also completed his post graduate diploma in manipulative physiotherapy. In 1995 Doug then completed a post graduate diploma in clinical acupuncture at the Australian Institute of Holistic Medicine, Perth. Feeling his studies were not yet complete he achieved his Specialisation in musculoskeletal physiotherapy in 2009 giving him the distinction of being the only rural and remote physiotherapist in W.A. who has achieved specialisation in any field. Doug is now a Fellow of the Australian College of Physiotherapists and is a PhD candidate at Curtin University, studying sleep patterns and their relationship to pain and stiffness. He is a gold member of the A.P.A., titled member of the M.P.A., inaugural W.A. chair of the Acupuncture & Dry Needling Group and was the WA representative on the A.P.A. Acupuncture Working Party which finalised the A.S.G.' Guidelines for Safe Acupuncture'. Doug is presenting the live webinar 'Dry Needling in Hand & Upper Limb' at 3.20pm on Saturday 17th October Joelene Colliton Joelene graduated from Curtin University in 2003 with a double degree in Occupational Therapy and Business Administration. She has over 10 years experience in hand therapy, and is currently on maternity leave from Hand Works Occupational Therapy, where she has worked as a senior hand therapist since 2008. Joelene has been a full member of the AHTA for the past 5 years, has held a position on the AHTA Management Committee, and chaired the 2010 AHTA Conference in Perth. She has lectured in hand and upper limb therapy at both Curtin University and Edith Cowan University. She has a particular interest in complex splinting, and custom made soft splinting. Joelene is presenting the workshop 'Heads Down, Thumbs Up - A Sewing Tutorial' with Alison Butcher at 1.00 and 2.10pm on Friday 16th October Judy Elliott Judy has over 15 years experience in Hand Therapy and Upper Limb Rehabilitation. She currently works in Plastic Surgery Telehealth at Royal Perth Hospital, delivering hand therapy services around the state through videoconferencing. Judy has been privileged to support, train and encourage therapists in Perth and surrounding Western Australia, in the development of their hand therapy skills. Judy is presenting the workshop Design and Conquer: A Method of Teaching Splint Pattern Making and Splint Critiquing at 3.20pm on Saturday 17 th October.
Michael Fitzgerald Michael has worked in Hand & Upper Limb rehabilitation for 16 years since graduating from Curtin University, WA. After managing several busy private clinics Michael opened his own private practice InHand Occupational Therapy 6 years ago. He is a member of the AHTA and the International Society for Sports Traumatology of the Hand.. In his practice he pursues his passion for treating complex injuries of the wrist and elbow and sports injury management. Having completed a fine arts degree prior to his therapy studies, Michael has always enjoyed using his design skills and creativity to develop splinting options in upper limb management. Michael is presenting the full member workshop 'Is 3D printing in the Future of Hand Therapy?' with Paul Moro at 1pm on Friday 16th October. Katrina Liddiard Katrina Liddiard graduated from Curtin University as an occupational therapist in 1987 and has worked in a broad range of clinical areas. While specialising in burns and hand therapy in the mid to late 1990s, Katrina developed an interest in the role of the occupational therapist in pain management. As a clinical consultant for 14 years Katrina had the rare opportunity to explore new technologies for rehabilitation, including InterX, which she introduced into the Perth therapy community. Now a full time lecturer in occupational therapy at Edith Cowan University, Katrina has been conducting research into the self-management of pain using InterX for patients with hand burns. Katrina chairs the Consumer Education sub-group of the Pain Health Working Group in Western Australia, and established an Occupational Therapy Pain Special Interest Group in WA. Katrina is presenting the workshop Interactive Neurostimulation (InterX): Achieving Results in Hand Therapy at 1pm on Friday 16 th October. Emma Mills Emma graduated in 1994 from Curtin University, and since commencing work as an OT has predominantly worked in the area of hand and upper limb rehabilitation. Positions in Perth, Adelaide and London in both public hospitals and private practice have led to a wide range of experience. In 2002, Emma completed a Masters of Clinical Science (Hand and Upper Limb Rehab) at Curtin University. A highlight of Emma s career to date was being awarded a Churchill Fellowship and having the opportunity to study hand therapy in the USA and Sweden in 2002. While on her Churchill Fellowship Emma spent time with Birgitta Rosen in Sweden who developed the Model Instrument for Documentation of Outcome after Peripheral Nerve Injury Repair that Emma is presenting on in her workshop. Emma currently works at Specialised Hand Therapy Services in Perth. Emma is presenting the workshop Assessment of Hand Function After Peripheral Nerve Injury (Rosen s Method) at 4.30pm on Saturday 17 th October.
Paul Moro Paul has over 25 years experience in education and training industries, with specilised expertise in curriculum development and computing technology. He is currently employed in the role of Technologies Consultant at Association of Independent Schools Western Australia (AISWA). Prior to this, Paul was the Coodinator of Design and Technology Education in the School of Education at Edith Cowan University (ECU). Paul has been seen as a leader and innovator in emerging technologies in his field of work throughout his career. During the past 4 years, this has been focused on 3D modelling and print technology and the advancements being made in this industry. Paul's approach to this area comes from a product design basis with a focus on functional design and sustainable practices. Paul is presenting the full member workshop 'Is 3D printing in the Future of Hand Therapy?' with Michael Fitzgerald at 1pm on Friday 16th October. Melita Ryan Melita currently manages The Hand and Upper Limb Clinic, W.A. with a staff of 16 therapists working across 5 clinics in Perth and the South West of Western Australia. She holds a small clinical caseload, including wrist instabilities and trauma, which are her areas of particular interest. Prior to this position, Melita was the Manager & Specialist Hand Therapist at the London Hand and Wrist Unit at HCA International London. In this position, Melita managed a private hand therapy unit, with 5 locations, composing a team of therapists, administration staff and 16 of London s eminent hand and wrist surgeons. Evidenced by her roles Melita is passionate about the role of hand therapists and enjoys developing a team of therapists and teaching. From 2012-2014 Melita held the position of Vice Treasurer for the British Association of Hand Therapists (BAHT), and represented BAHT at the 2013 Federation of European Hand Therapists meeting in Antalya, Turkey. Melita is presenting the workshop Developing ESP for Hand Therapy in Australia: and no, it s not an extra sensory perception at 1pm on Friday 16 th October. Jane Skeen Jane graduated from Latrobe University in 1991 with a BAppSci(OT). After a brief stint in Hand Therapy at Box Hill Hospital, Jane left for the USA where she spent 7 years working primarily in physician owned hand and upper limb clinics and in rehabilitation hospitals. In 1996, Jane took up a role as Adjunct Lecturer at Darton College in Albany, Georgia in the Physical & Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs, teaching Upper Limb Anatomy. Jane returned to Geelong, VIC in 1999 to accept the Senior Clinician position at The Geelong Hospital. She started her private practice Geelong Hand Therapy in 2000 and left the hospital in 2004 to focus on developing and growing her private practice. Until recently, Jane was a part time lecturer in the Occupational Therapy program at Deakin University teaching upper limb assessment and intervention strategies, along with splinting. Jane completed a Post Graduate Certificate in Occupational Therapy through Latrobe University in 2010 with a focus on splinting for new mothers with post partum dequervain s. Jane is presenting the workshop Restoration of Dynamic Stability of the 1st CMCJ; an exercise program for the painful 1st CMC joint with Jane Aarons at 1.00 and 2.10 pm on Friday 16 th October.
Beth Sperring Beth has a long and interesting career in Plastic Surgery. She commenced in the speciality at Royal Perth Hospital in 1980 working on the ward and burns unit then progressed to the Plastic Dressings Clinic. She currently works as a Clinical Nurse Consultant, for Plastic Surgery Telehealth at Royal Perth Hospital. Over the years she has presented at many conferences, published papers and has enjoyed working with many Hand Therapists in Plastic Surgery and Burns. Beth is presenting the workshop Wound Care for Hand Trauma Move, Move, Move at 3.20 and 4.30pm on Saturday 17th October. Beth Taylor Beth s journey in hand therapy began in the mid 1980s whilst working at the Sydney Hospital Hand Unit, and from there she has worked in many locations across the country. Beth's growth personally and professionally, along with a yearning to explore her own particular expression of hand therapy resulted in starting Territory Hands in 2008. The practice commenced consulting in a very small 3x4m room. Today Territory Hands is a large open practice, growing in size and strength, and consists of both clinical and training arms where Beth's passion in clinical practice and mentoring therapists in hand therapy is being fulfilled. Beth is presenting the workshop Innovation in Daily Practice with Ngaire Turnbull at 4.30pm on Saturday 17 th October. Ngaire Turnbull Ngaire quickly developed a passion for hand therapy whilst completing her Occupational Therapy degree, and after being lucky enough to work in Brisbane in a multi-skilled private practice, developed a love of private practice as well. This was probably inevitable having grown up in a family that lived and breathed small business. Having learnt how to answer a work phone from the age of 12 and to use accounting software at the age of 14, it seemed pre-determined that she would combine both her passion for hand therapy, with her love of business. Ngaire joined Territory Hands in 2010 and works alongside Beth to grow Territory Hands. Ngaire is presenting the workshop Innovation in Daily Practice with Beth Taylor at 4.30pm on Saturday 17 th October. Roslyn Ward Roslyn holds the position of Research Manager with the Department of Paediatric Rehabilitation at Princess Margaret Hospital, and Associate Professor within the School of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Western Australia. She is also a certified practicing speech pathologist and PROMPT Instructor, with extensive experience working with children with movement disorders. Her research interests include treatment fidelity and outcome measures generally; and motor speech disorders more specifically. Roslyn's PhD focused on evaluating the effectiveness of PROMPT therapy in managing motor speech treatment disorders in children with Cerebral Palsy, using single subject research design.
Roslyn is presenting the Pre-Conference Workshop 'Action Toward Evidence Based Practice' on Thursday 15th October from 1-4pm. Stuart Wilson Stuart is the Clinical Coordinator at Hand Works Occupational Therapy. He currently holds a position on the Australian Hand Therapy Association Divisional Representative Sub- Committee as well as being a committee member for the AHTA Annual Conference Perth 2015. Stuart completed a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy at Curtin University and, prior to entering private practice, gained experience within the public health system. Stuart has experience treating a range of acute and chronic hand and upper limb injuries / conditions and has a particular interest in the diagnosis and treatment of ulnar sided wrist pain, and the application of mobilisation orthoses. Stuart is presenting the workshop 'Capener Club' with Vicky Allbrook on Friday 16th October at 2.10pm