The SOM Podcast
RESEARCH: What Australia Can Teach the UK About Workplace Rehab
In this episode of the SOM Podcast, Steve Randall interviews occupational health physiotherapist Katherine Roberts about her benchmark research comparing practice in the UK and Australia., supported by the Society of Occupational Medicine’s Jubilee Travel Fellowship. She highlights the structural differences in funding models and titling pathways between both countries. Her insights reveal how establishing a modern capability framework could transform workforce development and professional recognition for physiotherapists in the UK. Key Takeaways Systemic Differences: Australia’s state-based workers' compensation schemes fund occupational health services directly, creating significantly more inherent opportunities for physiotherapists compared to employer-paid systems in the UK. Shared Training Challenges: Both Australian and UK occupational health physiotherapists rely heavily on informal experiential learning and peer mentorship rather than structured career pathways. Credentialing Models: Australia utilizes a formal titling process through the Australian Physiotherapy Association to demonstrate competency, whereas the UK’s ACPOHE system is less robustly structured. Need for Standardized Frameworks: Both countries lack a modern capability framework aligned with contemporary practice, which is vital for defining scope, improving professional recognition, and guiding career development. Value of Research Grants: The Jubilee Travel Fellowship served as a critical catalyst for the research, providing initial momentum and credentials that facilitated securing future PhD funding. In addition to the Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM) , which awarded her the Jubilee Travel Fellowship, Katherine also thanked: The University of Exeter: They supported her benchmark research study and provided the official ethical approval required to conduct it. Academic Supervisors: She highlighted the direct support of Dr. Leanne Wood and Professor Sarah Dean from the university. Professional Associations: She engaged closely with both ACPOHE (Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Occupational Health and Ergonomics) in the UK and the APA (Australian Physiotherapy Association) during her research trip to Adelaide. The SOM podcast is sponsored by Orchid Live - specialist occupational health software used by a number of SOM members to run every aspect of their occupational health operations. They hold healthcare records for over 1 million UK workers and work with both in-house OH teams and OH providers. You can find out more at OrchidLive.com .
