Lower back pain presentations in Emergency Department
Around 70 percent of people will experience lower back pain at some stage of their lives.
A recent study conducted over five years found one in three people suffering from lower back pain presented to hospital via an ambulance.
In many cases people will attend an emergency department when they feel they can’t manage their pain or when treatments by community healthcare services have been ineffective or inaccessible due to location or cost. However, 90 per cent of people can get better on their own in a few weeks.
Lived experience & human-centred design in healthcare
Recognised as one of the Top 100 Women of Influence by The Australian Financial Review, Melanie Tran is a visionary leader whose work lies at the intersection of design, technology, health, disability, and education. With a focus on human-centred design, digital strategy, and service design, she leads transformative initiatives as a Manager in Design, Digital and Data at Nous Group, a global consulting firm. Her work is driven by a deep passion for using creativity and technology to solve complex social challenges.
A clinical research career working Sponsor-side, CRO-side to Site-side
In July 2025, Paratus Clinical, a Australian provider of dedicated clinical trial services, announced the appointment of Megan Morrison as its new Chief Executive Officer, at the same time as a significant milestone as the company celebrating over a decade of impact in the clinical research space. Paratus now operates a network of five purpose-built, research-only clinics along Australia’s eastern seaboard.
The quest to create an Australian framework for a Palliative Care Pharmacist
Helen Stone is the State and Territory Manager SA & NT for the Pharmaceutical Society Australia. Her professional interests include palliative care, pharmacist professional services, mental health, leadership, and management.
She has recently led teams of pharmacists in innovative pharmacy practice models including in aged care, GP practice, palliative care and dementia support. This has contributed to the body of evidence for sustainable funding for embedded pharmacist roles in primary care and aged care settings.
Significant funding announced for NSW biomedical researchers
The Snow Medical Research Foundation (Snow Medical) has announced a new $24 million investment in three outstanding Australian biomedical researchers through its prestigious Snow Fellowships.
These Fellows will tackle major global health challenges spanning autoimmune disease, neurological disorders, and genetic disease. Their work addresses conditions that disproportionately affect vulnerable and underserved populations, including First Nations communities, while advancing precision medicine and translational care. Collectively, their research aims to deliver safer vaccines, better diagnostics, and more equitable genomic and neurological healthcare.
Representing the profession that impacts individual lives and communities
Michelle Oliver is a highly experienced Occupational Therapist with nearly two decades of leadership and clinical expertise across the mental health, homelessness, and disability sectors. She holds a Master of Occupational Therapy from the University of South Australia and is a registered practitioner with AHPRA.