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  • The Inaugural Edition of The Allied Health Scholar
    Vol. 1 No. 1 (2020)

    Editorial Introduction to the Inaugural edition of The Allied Health Scholar: Kobie Boshoff, Steve Milanese, Helen Banwell and Janine Dizon

    As an editorial team, we are proud to present this first issue of The Allied Health Scholar. The vision of the journal is reflected in this issue: to showcase the quality research of entry-level researchers, practitioners and students. We firstly thank the honours and PhD students and the practitioners whose hard work have resulted in this outstanding outcome and we hope that readers will find these publications inspiring and more importantly, useful. This first edition   speak of the combined strengths of the Allied Health field: with articles which include Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Podiatry, Speech Pathology and Social Work.

    Articles illustrate Allied Health service provision across the lifespan and across different life roles: the profiling of occupational therapy neonatal intensive care services by McPharlin et al.; the collaboration of occupational therapy and early childhood education by Monaco et al,; early childhood service provision by Varvounis et al., physiotherapy students and clinical educators (Milanese et al.) and the impact of foot orthoses on foot health and endurance measures in the flat foot population (Banwell et al.).

    The international Centre for Allied Health Evidence - iCAHE - represents a collective group of Allied Health professionals with a global initiative to improve the quality and safety of allied health practice. Our mission is to contribute to better health and wellbeing for all, through evidence-based real world interventions. We work locally, nationally and globally to create new knowledge and translate evidence into practice, partnering with researchers, clinicians, educators, policy makers, government, industry, professional and consumer groups and the broader community. As an editorial team, our vision for this journal started with a little idea which has grown into the journal we can present to you today, and which we are hoping will contribute to the progression of the Allied Health field (“From little things big things grow” – Paul Kelly, 1991).

    We thank all reviewers and friends of the journal for your support and input whilst we developed and trailed the journal processes – without your support our first edition would not have been possible. Our reviewers especially have done an incredible job at providing supportive and constructive feedback to the authors, in order to strengthen their articles and enable them to be of publishable standard. We will be making further refinements to the journal for our 2nd edition. For authors wishing to submit articles, please register with the journal to receive updates of the changes or keep an eye out for changes on our website.

     

  • Vol. 2 No. 1 (2021)

    Second edition of The Allied Health Scholar

  • Vol. 3 No. 1 (2022)

    We are very pleased to be able to report that our journal will be entering its third year of production in 2022! As per our journal focus, the publications in this edition is varied,  illustrating the variety of Allied Health roles: from working with children within disability service provision, to mental health and employment, Allied Health roles in aged care and also, in working with adolescents on vocational skills. In addition, the article by Weeks et al. provides an insightful look at the use of clinical audits as methodology which Allied Health practitioners can utilise for describing complex interventions, such as in service provision to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

    As always, we are proud to present these scholarly works from Allied Health researchers, practitioners and students. We congratulate all the authors on their work that have been showcased in this edition and we welcome future contributions to this journal.

    Kobie Boshoff, Helen Banwell, Steve Milanese, Janine Dizon

  • Vol. 3 No. 2 (2022)

    In this volume, we are very pleased to showcase the brilliant scholarly work of research students and entry-level researchers, with a particular focus on Allied Health practice in working with children and families. We continue to support our vision of publishing high quality entry-level work in line with current best practice and with research processes that evidence high ethical and rigorous standards. Our journal prides itself on providing an avenue for authors to make their work more accessible via an open-access platform and allowing for creative, new works to be showcased. We congratulate the authors on their work and proudly make this work available to the broader Allied Health communities. 

    Kobie Boshoff, Helen Banwell, Steve Milanese, Janine Dizon (Editors)

  • Vol. 4 No. 1 (2023)

    We welcome you to this edition of the Allied Health Scholar, which reflects recent changes in editorial policy to showcase a more diverse range of outputs. This edition features outstanding occupational therapy student work, including infographics and posters, conference abstracts, and reports. 

    The reports represent a significant contribution made by students, such as Simula's exploration of the unique position of occupational therapists in providing dietary interventions for adults with mental health conditions. Another report by Pozorski et al aims to establish a clear description of the role of occupational therapy in Australian government-funded preschools and primary schools.

    The award-winning posters are reproduced in full. They represent significant learning journeys by students and provide impressive demonstrations of their contributions to the occupational therapy practice community. The posters cover a wide range of topics, from "Developing Collegial Culture" to "Wheelchair Rugby". For example, Pedley et al's project delved into the complex lives of parent-carers navigating a 24/7 caring role, highlighting the need for nationwide systemic change. These students not only developed a poster, but also developed a video for parents and wrote a letter to the minister, advocating for better services. Tstoskas and Paira's poster on "Positive Behavioural Support" tells a compelling story of how their project served as a catalyst during a critical initial phase, which led to the employment of Patient Assistant Officers trained to de-escalate complex behaviors.

    The student conference booklet, arising from the student conference of 2022, and aptly named "Millions of PossibiliOTs," showcases 57 pages of fascinating projects. The student conference is a long established tradition within the occupational therapy programs at the University of South Australia and is an annual free event. It provides an impressive demonstration of the valuable contribution students make to the occupational therapy practice community.

    We hope you enjoy reading and referring to this exceptional student work, and we offer our heartfelt congratulations to the authors.

    Mary Butler, Kobie Boshoff, Helen Banwell, Steve Milanese, Janine Dizon (Editors)

  • Vol. 5 No. 1 (2024)

    Dear Readers,

    As we embark on the promising journey that is 2024, the editors are filled with immense pride and enthusiasm to present to you this edition, a testament to the outstanding scholarly accomplishments of Allied Health students. Within these pages, you will find a rich tapestry of intellectual pursuits, showcasing the remarkable work of students at both honours and masters levels.

    The compilation encapsulates the essence of scientific exploration across a diverse array of topics, each paper, poster, and presentation representing a labor of dedication and passion. These projects have flourished under the guidance and support of university lecturers, supervisors, and tutors, who have played a pivotal role in nurturing the academic growth of these aspiring scholars.

    As we peer into the horizon of 2024, we stand on the shoulders of those who have paved the way in previous years. Their contributions have laid the foundations upon which we now build, enabling us to reach new heights in our collective pursuit of knowledge in Allied Health. This edition serves as a beacon of inspiration, reflecting the tireless commitment and intellectual curiosity that define our community.

    May the insights shared within these pages ignite a spark of curiosity within each reader, fostering a sense of camaraderie and a shared commitment to advancing the frontiers of Allied Health. Together, let us embrace the opportunities that 2024 holds, standing united in our dedication to expanding our collective knowledgebase and making meaningful contributions to the ever-evolving field of Allied Health.

    Sincerely,

    Kobie Boshoff, Steve Milanese, Helen Banwell, Janine Dizon & Mary Butler