RESEARCH
Find more information on:
- Rehabilitation Studies Unit
- Rehabilitation Nursing Research and Development Unit
- Centre for Developmental Disabilities Studies Unit
- Community Based Health Care Research Unit
- F R S Dawes Library
- Human Research Ethics Committee
Rehabilitation Studies Unit
The Rehabilitation Studies Unit is one of four academic units located at Royal Rehab. It is an interdisciplinary research and educational unit of the Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney. The Unit's main focus is injury related disability, particularly severe disability following motor vehicle accidents. The Unit has collaborative links with other university departments, clinical colleagues working in rehabilitation, as well as groups and individuals with interest in injury related disability. It is funded by a substantial grant from the Motor Accidents Authority of New South Wales (MAA), and also receives funding from Royal Rehab and the University of Sydney. www.rehab.med.usyd.edu.au
Rehabilitation Nursing Research and Development Unit (RNRDU)
The Rehabilitation Nursing Research and Development Unit is the only rehabilitation nursing research unit in Australia and provides leadership in rehabilitation nursing research and practice.
The Unit promotes the development of rehabilitation and disability nursing’s body of knowledge and evidence based practice through:
- Critical appraisal and utilisation of professional knowledge
- Development of nursing’s research capacity
- Creating opportunities for nurses to develop practical research skills
- Fostering the development of nurses and nursing practice
- Proactively linking with a wide range of organisations, including universities
- Providing consultancy advice
- Designing and running evidence informed education programs
The RNRDU has a number of publications available for purchase. Monographs of research projects relating to rehabilitation are available. Posters, which provide a creative visual medium for educating staff, are also available.
Click here for further information on the publications.
Centre for Disability Studies (CDS)
The Centre for Disabilities Studies is a multi-disciplinary unit which disseminates current information and knowledge concerning those services that ensure the best quality of life for people with disabilities. It offers technical assistance and advice to organisations providing health, community support, accommodation and employment services to persons with developmental disabilities.
The Unit has its own independent Board of Directors.
The Community Based Health Care Research Unit (CBHCRU)
The Community Based Health Care Research Unit was established in December 2007 with the appointment of Prof. Craig Veitch as Chair in Community Based Health Care. He draws on a wealth of experience in establishing and evaluating successful models of care, particularly to people living in community settings as well as rural and remote areas. The Unit is jointly funded by the Royal Rehabilitation Centre Sydney, where it is located, and The University of Sydney’s Faculty of Health Sciences. The Unit provides critical support to Royal Rehab as it continues to develop its community-based rehabilitation services.
The Unit’s focus is the extension of care from rehabilitation facility into community. In particular, the Unit’s aim is to develop research programs that address the effectiveness of community-based health care for people with major traumatic injuries and long-term conditions with complex care needs, concentrating on finding ways, in which people with a disability can participate in everyday tasks and be integrated into communities of their choice. The Unit also examines the impact of impairments on activity and life participation, and the development and efficacy of interventions across the lifespan. Members of the Unit are currently undertaking research projects with staff in several clinical units. In 2009 the Unit was successful in gaining funding for a large 4 year NHMRC project investigating the most effective utilisation of therapy services in rural and remote NSW.
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F R S Dawes Library
The Library provides a range of information resources and services to enable staff and students of Royal Rehab to meet their needs for continuing education, teaching and research in the field of rehabilitation and disability studies. Services include Athena (networked catalogue with links to websites) and CIAP, an internet based project that allows health professionals to access clinical information.
Royal Rehab Human Research Ethics Committee
The Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) of RRCS is constituted and functions in accordance with the requirements for Human Research Ethics Committees outlined in the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2007).
Our Human Research Ethics Committee is responsible for ensuring the scientific or applied worth of research projects, and considering the ethical implications of all research projects that involve our clients or staff. Their assessments are based on the requirements outlined in the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2007).
The Committee includes external community members who give their time voluntarily, and we thank these people for their contributions during 2008-09. We provide support for the ongoing education and development of committee members, as well as in-kind support for staff undertaking research that is closely related to their area of practice at Royal Rehab.
Click here to download the Meetings Schedule for the Human Research Ethics Committee.
The current members of the Committee are:
Mr Ian Miller – Lawyer (Community Member)
Mr Ben Brungs – Layperson not associated with Royal Rehab (Community Member)
Mr Paul Hurst – Pastoral care role in a community
Professor Ian Cameron – Chairperson
Ms Claire Esgate – Member with knowledge of/ current experience in professional care.
Ms Kate Martin - Member with knowledge of/ current experience in professional care.
Mr Robert Manga – (Executive Officer. Ex Officio)
Ms Bernadette Nicholl – Acting Research Governance Officer (from July 2009-)
Associate Professor Lisa Harvey- Member with experience in research areas considered by the HREC.
Research Project Approvals
During 2008/09 a total of six studies were given full approval including:
A Cognitive Behavioural Pain Management Program for Chronic Multiple Sclerosis. Australian Unity Foundation (AUF)
Survey of Case Management Practices in Brain Injury Rehabilitation. Rehabilitation Studies Unit, University of Sydney
The Real Cost of 24 Hour Care in New South Wales. Lifetime Care and Support Authority
Ten Site Specific Assessments were also approved in the period, including:
Contracture after Spinal Cord Injury – A Prospective Cohort Study. (Australian Postgraduate Award)
Emotion Perception disorders following traumatic brain injury: an experimental approach to remediation. (NH & MRC)
Electrical Stimulation and Strength Training to Improve Quadriceps Strength in People with Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries. (NSW Spinal Cord Injury and Related Neurological Conditions Grants Program)
Building resilience: equipping families to support people with TBI/SCI. (Life Time Care Authority)
Useful Links
NSW Health on-line application forms (NEAF and SSA)
http://www.ethicsform.org/au
National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2007)
http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/publications/synopses/e72syn.htm
Therapeutic Goods Administration
http://www.tga.gov.au/
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