Physiotherapy Board Members

Paula Harding

Appointed as Chair and practitioner member from Victoria

Qualifications:

• B. Physio., M. Manip Physio., D.Clin. Physio., GAICD

Paula has over 30 years+ of experience working as a physiotherapist in both private and public settings. In 2000, she completed a post graduate Masters of Manipulative Physiotherapy at La Trobe University and a Doctorate of Clinical Physiotherapy at The University of Melbourne in 2013. Paula has lead numerous state-wide and national projects on advanced practice physiotherapy services in public hospitals after establishing advanced practice musculoskeletal services at the Alfred Hospital.

Paula is currently the Director of Allied Health at Barwon Health and continues to work part time at the Alfred as the Allied Health Credentialing and Scope of Practice lead. Her interests are in optimising the workforce to work to top of scope and in advanced practice roles, and supporting clinical excellence with research and quality improvement initiatives that improve the quality and safety of healthcare.

Sally Adamson

Appointed as a practitioner member from Northern Territory

Qualifications:

• B. App Sc (Ex & Sp Sc), B. Physio, MBA (eBusiness)

Sally is the Managing Director of a private physiotherapy clinic in the Northern Territory. She commenced her career as a physiotherapist 24 years ago in northern Queensland. Since this time Sally has worked across a wide range of sectors including Public and Private Hospitals, Community Health, Residential and Community Care and Private Practice in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

Sally has resided in Darwin with her husband and two school aged children for 20 years. During this time she has worked predominantly in private physiotherapy practice and has played an important role in the development of physiotherapy services within the local community. Sally has been a member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association since she graduated and has worked closely with colleagues and professional bodies to improve access to professional development in the Top End.

Sally has a passion for quality in physiotherapy practice, ethics, governance and social responsibility.

Professor Wayne Hing

Appointed as a practitioner member from Queensland

Qualifications:

• DipPhys, DipMT, ADP(OMT), MSc(Hons), PhD, FNZCP

Appointed for his first term as a Board Member Wayne has over 40 years of experience working as a physiotherapist in both private, public and educational settings. Wayne has significant health industry experience spanning clinical practice, education, research, management and governance, regulation and health reform.

Having held an academic position at AUT University from 1994 to 2011 Wayne joined Bond University's Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine as their new Professor in Physiotherapy and also became Head of the Doctor of Physiotherapy program from May 2012 till 2024.

Through his career Wayne has been on various committees and boards such as the New Zealand Manipulative Physiotherapists Association (NZMPA), New Zealand Society of Physiotherapists (NZSP), Hockey New Zealand and the Health and Disabilities Commission. Wayne is also a Fellow of the New Zealand College of Physiotherapy. Since coming to Australia Wayne has also been involved with accreditation roles within the Australian Physiotherapy Council.

Ms Emma Jarvis

Appointed as a community member from Western Australia

Emma is an experienced and respected leader with expertise in community service delivery and social impact across metropolitan and rural environments. With a strong background in strategic leadership, stakeholder relations, and team development, she is passionate about driving social change and empowering communities through innovative partnerships.

Emma currently serves on Emma is the current CEO of Palmerston Association and sits on some community service sector peak boards. She has extensive qualifications, including a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management (2024).

Professor Sheila Lennon

Appointed as a practitioner member South Australia

Qualifications:

• PhD (Rehab Sciences), Ulster University, Belfast; MSc Cognitive Neuropsychology,
• Birkbeck College, London; BSc Physical Therapy, McGill University, Montreal.

Emeritus Professor Sheila Lennon, Foundation Chair of Physiotherapy at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia, has worked internationally in Canada, Switzerland, the UK, Australia and New Zealand in a physiotherapy career that has spanned over 45 years in clinical, leadership, and academic roles. Sheila is in her third term as practitioner-member for South Australia on the Physiotherapy Board of Australia.

Sheila is an international expert in neurological rehabilitation. She works clinically for the MS Society of South Australia and is a Fellow of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy in 2010 in recognition of her leadership role in the rehabilitation guidelines within the UK Intercollegiate Working Party for Stroke. Her current interests are focused on promoting self-management and behaviour change within balance and mobility training for falls prevention for people with Multiple Sclerosis. Sheila with expertise in all aspects of accreditation, continues to work as a consultant in accreditation.

Mr Daniel Mahony

Appointed as a practitioner member from Western Australia

Qualifications:

• B.Physio, G.DipHSM, FCHSM, CHE

Dan’s experience spans across clinical practice, leadership, health management, Defence, and professional associations.

Based in regional WA, Dan has worked in clinical practice and health management across the South West, Kimberley and Great Southern Regions of WA for the WA Country Health Service. Dan is currently Deputy Chair of the WA Clinical Senate, Officer in Charge of Physiotherapy for the Royal Australian Air Force and is a member of AUSMAT.

Dan has previously held the positions of Chair of the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) National Rural Group, Vice President of the APA WA Branch, Non-Executive Director of the Australasian College of Health Service Management (ACHSM), National Rural Health Alliance (NRHA), Future Health Leaders and Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health (SARRAH), and is a Life Member of the National Rural Health Students Network (NRHSN).

Dan is passionate about health workforce and improving access to high quality health care across Australia.

Rosemary Mathlin

Appointed as a community member from NSW

Rosemary is a lawyer with over thirty years’ experience in the community and public sectors. Her main area of practice is administrative law, where she has worked both as an advocate for individuals seeking review of government decisions, and as a tribunal decision maker. She currently works in the refugee and asylum jurisdiction. Alongside her work commitments she maintains strong links to the community through involvement in volunteer work in the justice and education systems. She holds Bachelor’s degrees in Arts and Law from the University of Sydney.

Mr Andrew Mitchell

Appointed as a community member from Tasmania

Andrew brings extensive experience in governance, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement across the community, health, and training sectors. He is currently the Manager of the Scarlet Alliance Lutruwita/Tasmania Sex Worker Project, where he focuses on peer and community education, improving access to services for marginalised communities, and contributing to various working groups. Andrew also serves on the Tasmanian Board of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, the Tasmanian Health Senate, and the Department of Justice’s Gender Respect & Fairness Reference Group.

Andrew and his partner live in Lutruwita/Tasmania, where they enjoy spending time with family, including their children and grandchildren. In his spare time, Andrew loves attending music festivals, creative pursuits such as cooking, pottery, and woodwork, and exploring Lutruwita’s natural beauty and peacefulness."

Ms Carolyn O'Mahoney

Appointed as a practitioner member from Australian Capital Territory

Qualifications:

• B. App. Sc. (Physio) (Hons), APA Titled Paediatric Physiotherapist, MBA (MBS)

Carolyn currently works privately as a sole trader, contractor, clinical mentor and speaker. Carolyn has worked across 5 states and territories in Australia throughout her career spanning over 25 years. Carolyn has worked in hospital, community, NGO and private roles, with broad clinical experiences including running her own multidisciplinary clinic. Carolyn now works predominantly in paediatric disability and has served in various voluntary Chair and committee roles in this sector.

Carolyn has extensive experience as a business owner and in clinical management positions, completing an MBA in 2021. A long-standing member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association, Carolyn is also a presenter and tutor for the APA Disability course.

Carolyn has a special interest in workforce quality and development. Carolyn is passionate about physiotherapy being accessible for all members of the community in order to optimise function and inclusion for all persons regardless of location, ethnicity, neurodiversity or socioeconomic status.

Mr Steven Price

Appointed as a community member from Victoria

Steve has leadership experience across the health, aged care, and mental health sectors. As the Lived Experience Stream Lead for Community Connection and Wellbeing at Neami National, Steve supports the elevation of diverse Lived Experience perspectives of mental health challenges to support service delivery and drive innovation. Currently residing on Wadawurrung land, Steve has is passionate about ensuring equitable healthcare access and quality for all Australians in regional, rural, and remote communities.

Steve holds governance positions with LEAD, a UK-based Lived Experience organisation, Ostara Australia, an organisation that assists individuals who live with mental or emotional distress in finding employment, and East Wimmera Health Service, a small rural Victorian health service. Steve has obtained governance qualifications from the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Australasian Institute of Clinical Governance.

Simon Watt

Appointed as a practitioner member from Tasmania

Qualifications:

• BPhty (Otago), MBA (Deakin), GAICD

Simon joined the Physiotherapy Board in 2021 and works full time as Deputy Chief Allied Health Advisor in Tasmania. A graduate of Otago University in New Zealand, he has worked in public and private practice settings in New Zealand and the United Kingdom, before pursuing a public health service career on arriving in Tasmania in 2011. He has experience leading physiotherapy services in north west and southern Tasmania and has been a Director for the Australian Pain Society and President - Tasmania Branch, Australian Physiotherapy Association. He completed a Master of Business Administration in 2019 and the Australian Institute of Company Directors qualification in 2023. He loves the outdoors so enjoys the incredible natural beauty Tasmania has to offer.