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Phone
0403 895 186​
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Websites
Dr Rik Dawson
KEY PUBLICATIONS​
B.App,Sc (Physiotherapy), B.Ca, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Associate
President, Australian Physiotherapy Association
Dr. Rik Dawson is a gerontological physiotherapist and former managing director of Agewell Physiotherapy, a practice dedicated to supporting older Australians with a team of physiotherapists and occupational therapists. Under his leadership, Agewell provided aged care services to over 10,000 older people. Rik was responsible for overseeing the business's financial management and ensuring professional development for staff. He sold his practice in 2020.
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Currently, Rik serves as the President Elect of the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) and has represented the organisation at the Royal Commission on Aged Care Quality and Safety. He contributed to developing quality standards with the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care and participated in the Department of Health’s Aged Care Funding Reform Working Party. Rik is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, he chairs the APA Nominations, Remuneration, and Governance committee and previously was a board member on the Physiotherapy Research Foundation.
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Rik completed his PhD in 2024 and is a post-doctoral researcher at the Institute for Musculoskeletal Health at the University of Sydney, focusing on the implementation of physiotherapy and telehealth to improve outcomes for older people. Additionally, he is a qualified Yoga instructor, promoting well-being among older people.
Experiences of Older Adults, Physiotherapists, and Aged Care Staff in the TOP UP Telephysiotherapy Program: Interview Study of the TOP UP Interventions JMIR Ageing
Monitoring falls in residential aged care facilities: Agreement between falls incident reports and progress notes Australasian Journal on Ageing
Exercise for falls prevention in aged care: systematic review and trial endpoint meta-analyses Age Ageing
Key Research Projects
TOP UP Study
The TOP UP Study, led by Dr. Rik Dawson, is a telehealth research initiative aimed at improving mobility and reducing falls among older adults. Conducted as part of Dr. Dawson’s post-graduate work at Sydney University, the study involves a team of experienced researchers and physiotherapists. The primary objective is to assess the effectiveness of telehealth physiotherapy in enhancing mobility and reducing falls in older adults receiving aged care services. This randomized controlled trial includes 240 participants aged 65 and older, divided into two groups: one receiving the Telehealth Physiotherapy for Older People (TOP UP) Program and the other a wait-list control group. The intervention consists of 10 physiotherapy sessions delivered via videocall (Zoom), supported by an aged care worker and online exercise resources. The primary outcome measured is mobility, assessed using the Short Physical Performance Battery, while secondary outcomes include fall rates, sit-to-stand performance, quality of life, and goal attainment. Additionally, the study explores the cost-effectiveness of the TOP UP program compared to usual care. Dr. Dawson and his team are eager to see how telehealth can support older adults in maintaining their independence and improving their quality of life.
Sprint2Create
This initiative, a collaboration between the Faculty of Medicine & Health and the Faculty of Engineering, supports multidisciplinary teams in developing impactful proof-of-concept projects. Testing the acceptance and feasibility of using Fitbits to motivate older people to increase their physical activity led by Professor Judy Kay
Co-Design of the TOP-UP Website
Australian Association of Gerontology funded project, focusing on improving the engagement and user experience of the TOP UP website. Led by Dr Abby Haynes.
Pilot study examining the feasibility of providing a physiotherapy-led falls prevention group exercise class via telehealth
This is a masters honor's project led by physiotherapist Isabella Khoudair.