This represents significant improvement to the injury and health management at ADFA compared to previous years. As one undergraduate noted: Last year the have a lot of substance to it, there rehab program…didn’t really anything there.17 wasn’t The improvements to the rehabilitation program were recognised by other undergraduates, who commonly commented on the positive aspects of the program: As far as the management has gone, much better this year. The it’s rehab program has really improved. I spent a fair bit of time in rehab in my first year and it was pointless and it was lousy and I well wasn’t managed at all. And this year all got programs, got to they’ve they’ve sign in each day, actually doing more during hours than most of they’re the fit people at the actually really improved.18 Academy…it’s I know that the guys running the really picked up that ball rehab…have and run with it this year. Last year it was pretty much people would rock up to PT if you were on a chit or on a do whatever you restriction…and can do, whereas now probably got about ten folders on the they’ve… desk, from ankles, lower leg, hip injuries, back injuries, all the different sorts of injuries that cadets come in with and they have programs set out in there for each of them that are injured and run those programs under supervision on a weekly basis. So every time that div rocks up for PT those on restrictions go up and find their relevant folder, sign in, read through what got to do and then do it under supervision of the they’ve PTI’s.19 These comments from undergraduates and staff demonstrate the positive impact of improvements to health and injury management. Other examples of measures taken to address the intent of this Recommendation include: A communications strategy in which potential recruits are better informed of the fitness requirements prior to arriving at ADFA. This is in response to research which indicates that low fitness levels are linked with injury.20 The application is also intended to assist men and ‘ADF Active’ iPhone women increase their overall fitness levels and to help them pass the fitness tests.21 This may have a positive effect on injury rates. ADF’s
This represents significant improvement to the injury and health management at ADFA compared to previous years. As one undergraduate noted: Last year the rehab program…didn’t have a lot of substance to it, there wasn’t really anything there.17 The improvements to the rehabilitation program were recognised by other undergraduates, who commonly commented on the positive aspects of the program: As far as the management has gone, it’s much better this year. The rehab program has really improved. I spent a fair bit of time in rehab in my first year and it was pointless and it was lousy and I wasn’t well managed at all. And this year they’ve all got programs, they’ve got to sign in each day, they’re actually doing more during hours than most of the fit people at the Academy…it’s actually really improved.18 I know that the guys running the rehab…have really picked up that ball and run with it this year. Last year it was pretty much people would rock up to PT if you were on a chit or on a restriction…and do whatever you can do, whereas now they’ve… probably got about ten folders on the desk, from ankles, lower leg, hip injuries, back injuries, all the different sorts of injuries that cadets come in with and they have programs set out in there for each of them that are injured and run those programs under supervision on a weekly basis. So every time that div rocks up for PT those on restrictions go up and find their relevant folder, sign in, read through what they’ve got to do and then do it under supervision of the PTI’s.19 These comments from undergraduates and staff demonstrate the positive impact of improvements to health and injury management. Other examples of measures taken to address the intent of this Recommendation include: A communications strategy in which potential recruits are better informed of the fitness requirements prior to arriving at ADFA. This is in response to research which indicates that low fitness levels are linked with injury.20 The ‘ADF Active’ iPhone application is also intended to assist men and women increase their overall fitness levels and to help them pass the ADF’s fitness tests.21 This may have a positive effect on injury rates.