Special Interest Groups
The Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are members of the Society with a shared interest in advancing a specific area of knowledge, learning or technology where members communicate, meet and organise events in order to share knowledge and expertise within their particular field.
Since its formation in 2015, the RMSANZ has established nine SIGS.
All RMSANZ Members are eligible to be members of the Special Interest Groups (SIGs). To join one of the SIGs send an expression of interest to the RMSANZ Secretariat listing the SIG(s) that you wish to join. Contact the Secretariat here.
Established by RMSANZ Board Resolution in October 2025. The motivation for the creation of this group is to bring together society members with a shared interest in cancer rehabilitation as an emerging and growing field. This group allows members to pursue their interests in cancer rehabilitation and related areas, allowing opportunities for focused collaboration, education, build knowledge and skills, and engage in research and advocacy activities in vital components of cancer care.
SIG Chair: Dr Krystal Song
RESOURCES:
- Embedding Rehabilitation as Core Cancer Care in Australia and New Zealand: A Health System Imperative
Krystal Song, Steven Faux, Fary Khan - Effectiveness of Rehabilitation Interventions in Patients with Colorectal Cancer: An Overview of Systematic Reviews
Mengzhe Yang, Bhasker Amatya, Sana Malik, Krystal Song, Stefanie Marcella, Catherine Voutier, Fary Khan - The State of Cancer Rehabilitation in Australia
Karolina Lisy, Linda Denehy, Raymond Javan Chan, Fary Khan, Amanda Piper, Michael Jefford - Embedding Rehabilitation into Cancer Care Continuum: An Implementation Study
Fary Khan, Bhasker Amatya, Alaeldin Elmalik, Krystal Song, Demi Diaz, Michael Dickinson - Cancer rehabilitation: a barometer for survival?
Takako Saotome, Linda Klein, Steven Faux - Evaluating cancer rehabilitation services: Insight from Australia and New Zealand
Krystal Song, Swatee Jena, Tara Alexander, Su Yi Lee, Bhasker Amatya, Steven Faux, Fary Khan - Oncology Rehabilitation in Australia: A National Survey Update
Ally Lasscock, Nicholas Taylor, Amy Dennett
Established by RMSANZ Board Resolution in August, 2017. The purpose of the group is to support emergency disaster rehabilitation response and provide resources (human and technical) for optimizing the health, functioning and quality of life of persons who sustain injuries or impairments due to a large-scale disaster. One of ERSIG's vision is to collaborate with neighbouring Pacific Island Nations and improve rehabilitation access and build capacity.
The RMSANZ's Disaster Rehabilitation Special Interest Group has developed Minimum Technical Standards and Recommendations for Traumatic Brain Injury in Disaster Settings, approved by the RMSANZ Board on 12 February 2018.
SIG Chair: Dr Sumitha Gounden
RMSANZ Fiji Rehabilitation Workshop 2026 - Event summary
RESOURCES/ARTICLES FOR DOWNLOAD
Recent Publications
How can we strengthen partnership and coordination for health system emergency preparedness and response? Findings from a synthesis of experience across countries facing shocksKate Gooding, Maria Paola Bertone, Giulia Loffreda and Sophie Witter
Emergency preparedness and readiness; anticipating the need for rehabilitation
Pete Skelton, Flavio Salio & Nedret Emiroglu
Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management Framework
Improving the Health and Wellbeing of People Living with Neglected and Tropical Diseases through Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology
World Health Organisation
WHO standards for prosthetics and orthotics - Assessment package - User manual
World Health Organisation
Rehabilitation and disability in the Western Pacific
World Health Organisation, Western Pacific Region
WHO - Strengthening rehab in health system
Report
Legislation
Rehabilitation Competency Framework
World Health Organisation
Strengthening rehabilitation in health emergency preparedness, readiness, response and resilience; a policy brief
World Health Organisation
Public Health Emergencies; preparedness and response
World Health Organisation
COVID Resources
COVID-19 in Developing Countries: A Rehabilitation Perspective
WHO Guidelines
Classification and Minimum Standards for Emergency Medical Teams - Blue Book 2021
Early Rehabilitation in Conflicts and Disasters
Minimum Technical Standards and Recommendations for Rehabilitation - Emergency Medical Teams
Established by RMSANZ Board Resolution in July, 2017. The motivation for the creation of this group is to re-activate collegiate interest amongst medical practitioners working in neurorehabilitation related areas and to greater flexibility to organise educational meetings, CME events & workshops in this and related areas.
SIG Chair: Dr Anuka Parapuram
Established by RMSANZ Board Resolution in November 2016. The motivation for the creation of this group is to enable society members to pursue their interests in pain management, musculoskeletal medicine, interventional techniques, orthopaedic rehabilitation and occupational rehabilitation. The group is intended to serve as an effective means of engaging in clinical meetings and to allow effective advocacy in the above areas of interest.
SIG Chair: Dr Chiaki Kojima
Established by RMSANZ Board Resolution in January 2016. This group was formed by Rehabilitation Physicians working in the private sector with one of its major objective being to advocate for improved patient outcomes in the private health sector.
SIG Chair: Dr Stephanie Lam
Established by RMSANZ Board Resolution in February 2018. The motivation for the creation of this group is to enable Society members to pursue their interests in amputee rehabilitation, prosthetics and orthotics. The group is intended to serve as an effective means of engaging in clinical meetings and to allow effective advocacy in the above areas of interest.
SIG Chair: Dr Nidhi Gupta
SPASTICITY MANAGEMENT
Established by RMSANZ Board Resolution in June 2023. The motivation for the creation of this group is to enable Society members to pursue their interests in spasticity management. The group is intended to serve as an effective means of promoting engagement in clinical meetings and research and to allow effective education and advocacy in the provision of management of spasticity and it’s impact.
SIG Chair: Dr Stephen de Graaff
Established by RMSANZ Board Resolution in December 2025. The Regional and Rural SIG came to life about 30yrs ago and was an extremely robust SIG with a number of dedicated members. The glue that held it together was the difficulty regional and rural fellows had in gaining collegiate support.
SIG Chair: Dr Howard Flavell
Childhood onset disability doesn't stop at 18, and neither should our thinking about it.
Following a paediatric rehabilitation meeting, a new RMSANZ Special Interest Group focused on childhood onset disability has been formed. We're at the very beginning, so this is a genuine opportunity to help build something from the ground up.
The founding group comprises paediatric rehabilitation physicians, but this SIG is explicitly for anyone with an interest in the space, including adult rehab physicians, registrars and allied health members. If the words "transition of care" make you feel something (eg hope, dread, professional obligation), you probably belong here.
Interim SIG Chair: Dr Gaj Panagoda