After more than 25 years leading visionary research, Professor Ian Cameron has stepped down as the head of the internationally respected John Walsh Centre for Rehabilitation Research.
Accomplished researcher, educator and clinician Professor Ashley Craig has been appointed to the role and will lead a large team of experienced and emerging investigators.
Dr Mohit Arora steps into the new position of Deputy Head, with Dr Kishan Kariippanon the John Walsh Centre for Rehabilitation Research Manager.
Professor Craig has paid tribute to his long-standing colleague.
“Ian Cameron is one of Australia’s leading rehabilitation specialists and a world leader in complex injuries and physical outcomes, compensation issues, and ageing complications,” he said.
“He was instrumental in the establishment and growth of the John Walsh Centre and has long advocated for rehabilitation to be recognised as a specific research area.
“He has led many clinical trials related to rehabilitation, disability and ageing, while fostering a new generation of researchers, and encouraging them to develop their research careers.”
Professor Cameron also played a key role in driving reforms within the CTP injury compensation scheme in NSW and developing best practice guidelines.
Pioneering Rehabilitation Research
Appointed in 1997, Professor Cameron’s vision was to develop an interdisciplinary research centre focusing on injury related disability and rehabilitation. The centre was to have both research and education roles, and these strengths were realised over time.
NSW government funding supported the appointment of academic staff with backgrounds in rehabilitation medicine, neuropsychology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and clinical psychology and psychophysiology.
As part of Sydney University’s Faculty of Medicine, the centre had strong links with local, interstate and international researchers. The ties with the university also enabled the establishment of a rehabilitation stream in the Sydney Medical Program.
Significant research support continues to be received from core funders icare NSW and the NSW State Insurance Regulatory Authority or SIRA. The centre has also been successful in achieving multiple National Health and Medical Research Council/ MRFF grants. Its research focus centres on musculoskeletal injury, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, and psychological injury.
Many PhD and other higher degree students have been supervised, and some have become leaders in health and related areas. Two are now mid-career researchers in the centre.
The centre was located at Royal Rehab at Ryde until 2015 when it was renamed the John Walsh Centre for Rehabilitation Research and moved to the Kolling Institute. Increased funding for academic salaries was achieved in 2021 from icare and SIRA, which allowed the appointment of the next generation of researchers and educators.
A new era
Today, the centre continues to increase its research impact.
Professor Craig said that in recent months, researchers have received several top international awards, including the International Spinal Cord Society gold medal, which was presented to Professor Lisa Harvey for her remarkable services to spinal cord injury research over many years.
“There have been some major publications, including a breakthrough paper on the cumulative health burden following road traffic injuries in BMC Medicine, and Hannah Withers’ award for the best paper at the World Physiotherapy Conference,” he said.
“The centre continues to encourage the next generation of early and middle-career researchers, with senior rehabilitation researchers holding leadership roles within the Kolling Institute.
“Our investigators are also strengthening our research and educational collaborations with The University of Sydney, the Northern Sydney Local Health District, the NSW Health Agency for Clinical Innovation and through professional networks.
“This is crucial as we work to extend our impact, support the community and improve long-term health outcomes.”