Earlier this week, the Chiropractic Australia CEO, President and Clinical Lead & Policy Advisor met with the Chief Allied Health Officer – Dr Anne-Marie Boxall – and senior departmental staff to discuss key strategic priorities, the role of allied health in the broader healthcare landscape and solutions offered by primary care for improving patient outcomes across Australia.
Encouraged by Dr Boxall’s commitment to bringing together allied health professions and practitioners, Chiropractic Australia looks forward to continuing this positive dialogue and productive collaboration with the Department of Health and the Chief Allied Health Officer in the future.

A graduate of the Central Queensland University in Brisbane, Dr Joshua Steen completed his Bachelor of Chiropractic and Masters of Clinical Chiropractic in 2019. Over the past few years of clinical practice in Brisbane, Joshua has developed a strong interest in human movement which has contributed to his passion for incorporating a multi-disciplinary approach to treating patient’s injuries. Joshua uses a range of therapies and is passionate about continuing his professional development to constantly enhance his techniques and practice for the benefit of his patients.

Stephen has been in clinical practice for five years whilst undertaking his Masters of Research at Macquarie University. Running a practice with a colleague in Dee Why, Stephen juggles teaching a few afternoons a week with his chiropractic patients. With a clinical interest in low back pain, neck pain and lower limb injuries, Stephen also helps people with pain in the shoulder, hip, knee, and ankle. Stephen is focused on ongoing education and is actively involved as a tutor/lecturer of Chiropractic students at Macquarie University for both 2nd- and final year students.
With a clinical interest in low back pain, neck pain and lower limb injuries, Steven also helps people with pain in the shoulder, hip, knee, and ankle. Steven is focused on ongoing education and is actively involved as a tutor/lecturer of Chiropractic students at Macquarie University for both 2nd-year students and final year students.

Dr Dale Comrie is a practicing chiropractor, newly-appointed Chiropractic Australia President and principal of the Heidelberg Chiropractic Clinic.

After graduating from RMIT University in 1994, Dale spent three months at the Royal Saskatoon Hospital, Saskatchewan, Canada before returning to Australia in 1995, Dale commenced work as an associate at the Heidelberg Chiropractic Clinic and took over as principal in 2000. Dale’s practice focuses on general chiropractic practice and incorporating evidence-based practice with low tech rehabilitation. Through his position on the Chiropractic Australia board, Dale has been integral in the development of compliance issues for chiropractors and their clinics across Victoria.

A report released this week by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) Australian Burden of Disease Study 2018: key findings, reveals that Australians overall health is improving. However, the report notes that 5 disease groups caused the most burden with musculoskeletal complaints accounting for 13% of the burden, second only to cancer at 18%. Injuries accounted for 8.4%. These findings support previous international reports that have shown that back pain is the leading cause of disability globally, and chiropractors are well placed to assist with both musculoskeletal problems and other modifiable risk factors.

As is the case for every long-standing organisation, it is necessary to periodically review, recalibrate and reinvigorate strategic direction; and Chiropractic Australia is no different. Outlined in our 2021/2024 Strategic Plan, we have embraced the need for change and myriad of opportunities before us to ensure the continued legacy of member service and support that has been synonymous with our association for the last 27 years. The exciting operational developments made throughout 2020 and 2021, as well as those forthcoming, ensure the bright future of Chiropractic Australia rests upon a robust organisational footing.With a clinical interest in low back pain, neck pain and lower limb injuries, Steven also helps people with pain in the shoulder, hip, knee, and ankle. Steven is focused on ongoing education and is actively involved as a tutor/lecturer of Chiropractic students at Macquarie University for both 2nd-year students and final year students.

WorkSafe’s WorkWell Program supports workplace leaders to prevent mental injury and promote safe and mentally healthy workplaces, taking an evidence-based approach to positive system-level change. Championing workplace leaders and employers as change makers, Workwell provides access to opportunities for knowledge sharing, funding and resources – known as the ‘Learning Networks’, the ‘Mental Health Improvement Fund’ and the ‘Toolkit’ respectively. We are proud to support the WorkWell initiative and it’s evidence-based approach to creating safe and mentally healthy workplaces in Victoria.

As part of a broader funding initiative to support innovative research into back pain, hearing, vision, dementia and cancer immunotherapy, Minister for Health and Aged Care – The Hon Greg Hunt MP – awarded over $5.3 million dollars to support three new projects undertaken by the outstanding researchers moving the needle of enquiry in these respective fields. We would like to congratulate all of the researchers from Macquarie University who were successful in receiving these grants, including two members of our Chiropractic Australia Research Foundation Board; Professor Simon French & Dr Katie De Luca.

Our 2020 PhD Scholarship participant Simon Vella is a chiropractor, PhD research candidate and casual tutor in the Department of Chiropractic at Macquarie University.
Simon completed his Master of Research Program through Macquarie University on lumbopelvic and lower limb biomechanics in 2020. He is currently a PhD candidate focusing on emergency and paramedic healthcare for low back pain through the Institute for Musculoskeletal Health at The University of Sydney.