Barby Singer is a Professor in the School of Medical & Health Science at Edith Cowan University in Perth, Western Australia. She is an APA Neurological Physiotherapist, a Fellow of the Australian College of Physiotherapists by Original Contribution in 2011 and has more than 40 years of clinical and academic experience in neurological rehabilitation. Barby has been a key leader in Australia for post-graduate neurological education both at the tertiary level and at the Australian Physiotherapy Association. She has held various roles in the Australian College of Physiotherapists and her passion for positive changes has led to a number of changes in the examination process for Fellowship by Specialisation and the new career pathway framework. In 2021 she was bestowed with the APA’s elite Honoured Member status.

Barby holds a PhD in hypertonicity management, a Post Graduate Diploma in Health Sciences (Neurosciences), a Master of Science and a Diploma Physio which she completed way back in 1980 in Auckland, NZ.

Barby’s research interests include management of spasticity for people with acquired brain injury, self management support for people with long term neuro conditions, measuring outcomes in neuro rehab and interventions to improve recovery of arm function after acquired brain injury. 

There is a ton to unpack with Barby but this episode focuses on here thoughts on clinical education both for clinician learning and for patient management, the APA career pathway framework, hypertonicity, and serial casting. We also talk about Advanced practice and physio specialisation in countries and whether pay is sufficient for these highly trained physios. So lots to check out, we hope you enjoy it.

2.02 Intro

3.23 Barby’s varied career

4.40 Physios need to be educators

8.47 APA career framework

12.11 Rural specialist 

15.29 Clinical Mentorship in the new career framework

17.47 Industry shortage

21.04 Remuneration for advanced or specialist Physios

24.47 Advanced practice opportunities in neuro

26.19 Barby’s interest in hypertonicity & PhD

31.37 Anterior knee pain botulinum toxin

34.38 Spasticity definition & measurement

38.10 Hypertonicity management - where we’ve gone wrong

43.17 Role of serial casting

52.29 Working with PhD students

58.11 Episode reflection

Links

Barby’s Edith Cowan University Profile page

Barby’s ResearchGate

Barby’s Linked In

APA career pathway framework

Papers Barby talks about in the episode:

Sutherland et al., 2022 - Do randomised controlled trials evaluating func

& so much more
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