Staff Profile

Derek Thomas M Erg., B Phty., FACP

Specialist Occupational Health Physiotherapist, Ergonomist and Principle of Active Injury Management

Derek is a Specialist Occupational Health Physiotherapist as awarded by the Australian College of Physiotherapists in 2011. He is an experienced physiotherapist and ergonomist. He has been delivering clinical and onsite occupational health services to industry for the past 23 years. He is a Fellow of the Australian College of Physiotherapists and a guest lecturer at the University of Queensland. In 2009 Derek was invited to present at the Occupational Health Physiotherapy Conference on ergonomic tools in industry.

 

Qualifications:

  • Fellow of the Australian College of Physiotherapists
  • Specialist Occupational Health Physiotherapist 
    • (as awarded by the Australian College of Physiotherapists in 2011)
  • APA Occupational Health Physiotherapist (2010)
  • Master of Ergonomics (2006)
    • University of Queensland
  • Bachelor of Physiotherapy (1988)
    • University of Queensland
  • Completed MINE7033
    • Minerals Industry Risk Management
  • Certificate IV in Assessment and workplace training
Professional Memberships
  • Member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA)
  • Member of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society of Australia
  • Member of Occupational Health Physiotherapy Special interest group

Derek has also presented lectures and workshops including:

  • Invited Speaker Australian Physiotherapy Association Conference Week 2009
    “Choosing the Right Tool”
  • Casual Lecturer - University of Queensland
  • Risk Management
  • Cost Effectiveness of workplace intervention
  • Revised NIOSH lifting Equation
  • Work conditioning and design of gymnasium programs
  • Functional capacity evaluation – lecture and workshop delivered to train physiotherapists in FCE.
  • Basic ergonomic and occupational health course.

 

Derek has always had a major focus on Occupational Health & Safety. In 1989 he commenced a 2 year post at the Workers' Compensation Board of Queensland's South Brisbane Rehabilitation Centre. This centre was the first of it's kind in Queensland providing an intensive rehabilitation management program. During his time at the centre Derek developed his knowledge with early rehabilitation intervention to maximise positive return to work outcomes. Derek's later experience in private practice consolidated his interest in industrial occupational health and safety motivating him into establishing Active Injury Management a rehabilitation service for injured workers and industry in early 1994. With the continuing demand for industrial rehabilitation, Derek was prompted to secure additional rooms for treatment and purchased Southside Physiotherapy Clinic in late 1994. Southside Physiotherapy Clinic has now been in existence for over 40 years. Derek has firmly established himself in the injury management industry in Queensland, and has been extensively involved with various organisations as a preferred provider.

Referee contacts available on request.