Pain PlayLab Workshop

"You helped me realise that squats and crab walks may help me rebuild strength after breaking my hip 10 months ago, but to really move past my injury, I need to rediscover the joy of moving in surprisingly delightful ways." Reb

"I left the session energised by the originality of the concepts and genuinely curious to explore more. This wasn’t just novel—it held immense potential for anyone dealing with physical ailments, which, let’s face it, is all of us." Steve

Every clinician has that patient.

The one who doesn't fit the textbook.

The one who doesn't respond to the treatment plan.

The one who quietly sits in the back of your mind long after the consultation has ended.

What happens when uncertainty arises?

How do you continue moving forward when the next step isn't obvious?

Pain PlayLab is an interactive workshop designed for allied health, clinical and movement practitioners who want practical ways to navigate uncertainty with confidence, curiosity and genuine partnership.

Rather than searching for the "right answer", we'll explore a wayfinding approach that helps clinicians work with complexity rather than against it.

Pain PlayLab brings together ideas that have been developed through research, clinical practice and presentations at leading national and international conferences, including the 2025 World Congress for International Positive Psychology Association and the 2024 Australian Pain Society Annual Scientific Meeting.

During this workshop you'll explore

• A practical framework for navigating uncertainty in clinical practice.

• Why uncertainty can feel uncomfortable and how to work productively with it.

• How athlete learning and wayfinding principles can inform clinical decision-making.

• Patient-centred approaches that move beyond fixing and towards discovery.

• Practical tools and conversations you can begin using immediately.

This workshop is for

• Physiotherapists

• Exercise Physiologists

• Occupational Therapists

• Osteopaths

• Chiropractors

• Sports Practitioners

• Strength & Conditioning Coaches

• Exercise Scientists

• Movement Practitioners

• Students and early career clinicians

• Any clinician interested in developing greater confidence in navigating uncertainty

Workshop format

This is not a lecture.

Expect discussion, reflection, practical activities and shared problem-solving in a highly interactive environment.

You'll leave with a practical process you can apply in the clinic on Monday morning.

Facilitators

Dr Hannah Macdougall PLY

Well-being & Inclusion Pracademic |

Paralympian, scientist, facilitator, and community leader with over twenty-eight years of experience across elite sport, athlete well-being and inclusion. Hannah's work explores how clinicians and athletes learn, adapt and navigate uncertainty together.

Dr Leanne Rath FACP

Physiotherapist | Clinical Educator | Innovator

Leanne is a Specialist Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist and educator whose work focuses on clinical processes that partner with patients experiencing pain. Her approach explores new frontiers in contemporary, person-centred approaches that embrace complexity and uncertainty.