At Fight Parkinson’s, we believe that collaboration drives better outcomes — for people living with Parkinson’s and for the health professionals who support them. That’s why we facilitate community of practice (CoP) groups for nursing and allied health professionals with an interest in movement disorders.
These groups bring together clinicians from across Victoria (and beyond) to share knowledge, network, support each other, and strengthen their practice in working with people living with Parkinson’s and Atypical Parkinson’s.
Who are our CoP groups for?
We currently facilitate Community of Practice groups for:
- physiotherapists and exercise physiologists
- speech pathologists
- occupational therapists
- movement disorder and neuroscience nurses.
Fight Parkinson’s Community of Practices are free to join. Each group provides a professional, collaborative space tailored to the specific needs and focus areas of each discipline.
The groups meet online four times a year, and members receive updates regarding upcoming events and opportunities that may be of interest to professionals working in this space.
Benefits of community of practice
Peer-to-peer learning
Members share their knowledge, experiences and approaches, helping build collective expertise and confidence in managing complex and evolving cases.
Expanded insight into patient challenges and available resources
Discussions provide insight into different perspectives and approaches to manage issues that affect people with Parkinsons. This can include conversations regarding different strategies, case presentations, supports and resources that can be considered to assist health professionals deliver evidence based care for people with Parkinson’s and support them to navigate their condition and managing its impact on their daily life.
Professional networking and connection
Whether you work in a metro clinic or a regional health service, CoP groups connect you with a community of like-minded professionals who understand the unique challenges of working with people living with Parkinson’s. These relationships often extend into collaborative projects, interprofessional collaboration and referral and the opportunity to share information.
Ongoing professional development
Stay informed about the latest research, evidence-based practices, and clinical resources. Many of our CoP sessions include guest speakers or focus on skill-building topics relevant to each profession. Annually there is a joint community of practice meeting with an expert speaker discussing and clinical challenge and best practice ways of managing symptoms.
Get involved
Our community of practice groups meet regularly via Microsoft Teams, making them accessible wherever you are based. If you’re an allied health professional or movement disorder nurse with an interest in Parkinson’s and related conditions, we’d love to welcome you to the conversation.
To learn more or express your interest in joining a CoP group, please contact us at info@fightparkinsons.org.au or call 03 8809 0400 and let us know that you are interested in being involved with our community of practice program.
Together, we can advance best practice care and make a meaningful difference in the lives of people living with Parkinson’s.
