Ima Strkljevic
Ima Strkljevic is a dedicated physiotherapist with a 25-year clinical career and a PhD candidate at the School of Public Health. Her research focuses on professional volunteering among health professionals to develop innovative interventions for promoting physical activity and healthy ageing. Ima has a rich history of volunteering, including serving as a councillor for the NSW Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) and initiating community health programs through council grants.
As a volunteer teacher, coordinator, and regional manager for Primary Ethics, Ima has provided special education in ethics in NSW public schools. She arrived in Australia as a refugee and has since received the Premier’s Award for HSC Excellence. Her work and volunteer efforts extend to supporting newly arrived refugees, migrants, and survivors of torture and trauma, including pioneering research on the efficacy of physiotherapy for PTSD.
Ima’s commitment to health promotion is evident through her numerous volunteer roles, including with Little Athletics and various sports groups. In 2019, she received a community grant for a project addressing physical activity, social and intergenerational interaction, and loneliness, which proved successful during lockdowns. Her work has been recognized locally, nationally, and internationally. Ima continues to research and implement health promotion through professional volunteering, aiming to achieve good health, social wellbeing, and healthy ageing for all.
Abstracts this author is presenting: