Allied Health Professions Day in 2025 showcases multidisplinary care

Four new members join the Rehabilitation Innovation and Technology Assessment (RITA)

October 14 marks Allied Health Professions Day, an international event that celebrates the vital work of the allied health professional community.

This year the theme, ‘Stronger together’, recognises the unique skillsets and contributions of each profession, while showcasing the benefits of multidisciplinary team-based care.

At Metro North, allied health professionals embody the theme, ‘Stronger Together’, working as a team to provide holistic and person-centred care. The diverse range of professions including audiology, nutrition and dietetics, occupational therapy, orthotics and prosthetics, orthoptics, pharmacy, physiotherapy, podiatry, psychology, social work, speech pathology and rehabilitation engineering bring both collaboration and innovation to achieve the best quality health care for patients.

A wonderful example of multidisciplinary care within the allied health professions in action is the Rehabilitation Innovation and Technology Assessment (RITA) trial service, funded by the Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC).

The RITA service is a collaborative effort between researchers and health practitioners from the Jameison Trauma Institute, RBWH, Surgical, Treatment and Rehabilitation Service (STARS), the Princess Alexandra Hospital (PA), Queensland University of Technology, Griffith University, and the University of Queensland.

Principal Research Fellow Dr Alejandro Melendez-Calderon, from the Jamieson Trauma Institute, explains how the RITA service aims to leverage different professions and rehabilitation technology to support therapy services and improve patient outcomes.

“Imagine a model of care where rehabilitation engineers work hand-in-hand with physiotherapy and occupational therapy teams, collaboratively delivering therapy and shaping the use, and creation, of technologies in everyday practice. By bringing professions together, our team expects to unlock new possibilities for continuous innovation and make a meaningful difference in recovery outcomes,” he said.

This month, the team welcomes four new RITA members within Metro North: three JTI rehabilitation engineers, Amir Asadi, Lucas Cardoso and Benjamin Du, and two STARS physiotherapists: Benjamin Hay and Raj Singh. This marks an important milestone in the project, as the team expects to commence a clinical study within Level 4&5 at STARS, within the next couple of months.

Oliver Mason, Director, Rehabilitation Engineering Centre, STARS, is excited about his team’s involvement in RITA.

“Rehabilitation Engineering is increasingly becoming a vital part of the collaborative clinical landscape. Working closely with the multidisciplinary team through the RITA service allows us to co-design innovative technological solutions that directly address the everyday challenges faced by patients and clinicians alike,” Oliver said.

“It’s incredibly exciting to see how engineering can empower recovery and help patients achieve their goals in new and meaningful ways.”