Little Lives, Big Futures – 2026 Paediatric Physiotherapy Conference

The conference will take place in the Queensland Children's Hospital, in the level 7 auditorium. Tickets for both in-person and virtual attendance are available for this conference.

Keynote Speakers:

Jennifer Norton Jen is a Senior Paediatric Physiotherapist working in a specialist community setting, a PhD Candidate at the University of Technology Sydney, and a sessional academic at the University of the Sunshine Coast. Jen’s research focuses on upskilling health professionals working with children experiencing chronic pain and their families, specifically in a community setting. She is passionate about connecting and enhancing teamwork between health professionals, children, and parents during the journey of chronic pain (and life!). Through novel research methodologies such as qualitative evidence synthesis with lived experience co-researchers, observation of clinical encounters, analysis of health professional behaviour and co-designed formative interventions, her work aims to contribute to better health care experiences for children, families and health professionals.

Rebecca Fechner Dr. Rebecca (Bec) Fechner is a Senior Physiotherapist at the Queensland Interdisciplinary Paediatric Persistent Pain Service (QIPPPS) and a Clinical Fellow at the University of Technology Sydney and the University of Queensland. She is dedicated to improving outcomes for children and young adults with chronic pain through integrated, strengths-based care and system-level reform.

As a champion for collaborative health care, Bec has served for nine years on the Complex Pain in Children and Adolescent ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) panel. Her influence extends internationally as the Co-Chair of the International Pain in Schools Alliance (IPSA) and through research collaborations across the UK, USA, and Europe.

Bec acts as a vital bridge between complex research and real-world impact. Her commitment to accessible science earned her the UTS HDR Award for Open Research Excellence, reflecting her drive to ensure evidence-informed tools are usable for professionals and life-changing for families. She is currently focused on integrating Pain Science Education (PSE) into Australian school curricula, aiming to build pain understanding and empathy in our next generation.

Janelle Keyser Janelle is a Clinical Nurse Consultant in Acute and Procedural Pain management at Queensland Children’s Hospital, with 30 years of paediatric nursing.