Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
John Olver is Emeritus Professor at Monash University and Senior Research Associate within the Epworth Monash Rehabilitation Medicine (EMReM) research unit. As a Consultant Physician in Rehabilitation Medicine, he was the Medical Director of Rehabilitation at Epworth Healthcare, Melbourne, Australia for 25 years. His clinical practice has included the inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation of patients with traumatic brain injury, spasticity, stroke and concussion. In 2009, he was appointed to the Victor Smorgon Chair of Rehabilitation Medicine, Epworth HealthCare and Monash University, which he continued until 2024. He was Director of EMReM for fifteen years. He was also the Clinical Director of the Australasian Rehabilitation Outcomes Centre (AROC) for six years. In 2014, he was a Recipient of a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AM) “for significant service to medicine, particularly the treatment and rehabilitation of acquired brain injuries.”
Professor Olver’s main research interests and a focus of publications includes: traumatic brain injury, multi-trauma, spasticity management and stroke rehabilitation. He has co-authored over 120 papers and 5 book chapters. His doctoral thesis on balance deficits following traumatic brain injury was presented in 2000. He was on the editorial boards of one national and two international medical journals, was a past President of the Asia Oceania Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, a past President of the Australasian Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, was a member of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and was a member of the Presidents’ Cabinet of the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine for nine years (six as Treasurer). He was a regional Vice President of the World Neurological Rehabilitation Federation (WFNR). He was Convenor of the 2012 Melbourne WFNR Scientific Conference Committee and President of
the 2024 Sydney 18th World Congress of the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (ISPRM). He is co-supervising five PhD projects within EMReM.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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A qualitative exploration of lived experience and the role of occupational therapy, from the perspective of adults with Persistent Post-Concussion Symptoms
Licciardi, L. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Callaway, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Lalor, A. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Olver, J. (Associate Investigator (AI)) & Acher, R. (Associate Investigator (AI))
1/07/25 → 30/06/26
Project: Research
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An informatics approach to predict outcomes and monitor intervention efficacy following moderate to severe traumatic brain injury
Fitzgerald, M. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Gabbe, B. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Lannin, N. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Vallmuur, K. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Curtis, K. A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Harrison, J. E. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Young, J. T. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Menon, D. K. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Cullen, J. C. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Armstrong, E. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Eades, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Cameron, P. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Cooper, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Fitzgerald, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Balogh, Z. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Fatovich, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Honeybul, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Jeffree, R. L. (Chief Investigator (CI)), McNamara, R. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Mitchell, G. J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Delaney, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Reade, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Wells, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Williams, J. K. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Ponsford, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), McDonald, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Kendall, E. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Ownsworth , T. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Simpson, G. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Togher, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Hassett, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Fleming, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Williams, G. P. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Collins-Praino, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Reeder, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Mobbs, R. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Vickers, J. C. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Anderson, V. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Barlow, K. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Holland, A. J. A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Scheinberg, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Semple, B. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Parizel, P. M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), O'Brien, T. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Law, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Rose, S. E. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Varma, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Nasrallah, F. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Shultz, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Hellewell, S. C. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Bosio, E. (Associate Investigator (AI)), King, K. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Parr, M. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Udy, A. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Hill, A. F. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Olver, J. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Teague, W. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Egan, G. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Fisher, M. (Associate Investigator (AI)), York, L. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Bynevelt, M. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Maas, A. I. R. (Chief Investigator (CI)), O'Reilly, G. (Associate Investigator (AI)), McDonald, S. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Capell, J. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Gilroy, J. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Walsham, J. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Newcombe, V. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Geraghty, T. J. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Joyce, C. J. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Rosenfeld, J. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Elcock, M. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Ross, J. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Bragge, P. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Meka, S. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Chai, K. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Cowen, G. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Hasseler, L. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Ercole, A. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Wagland , J. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Alexander, T. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Babl, F. E. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Bidargaddi, N. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Mahoney, A. J. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Wright, D. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Crowe, L. M. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Robinson, S. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Rushworth, N. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Hansen, M. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Ellis, D. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Zeeman, H. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Francis, R. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Whiley, L. (Associate Investigator (AI)) & Reid, C. M. (Associate Investigator (AI))
1/07/21 → 30/06/23
Project: Research
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Exercise therapy for mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and persistent post-concussion symptoms (PPCS) across the lifespan
O'Brien, T. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Leddy, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Willmott, C. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Mitra, B. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Shultz, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Chen, Z. (Chief Investigator (CI)), McDonald, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Morokoff, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Caeyenberghs, K. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Ponsford, J. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Rushworth, N. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Akhlaghi, H. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Davies, K. (Associate Investigator (AI)) & Olver, J. (Associate Investigator (AI))
Department of Health and Aged Care (Australia)
1/06/21 → 31/05/24
Project: Research
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Early vocational intervention for people who have experienced trauma
Ross, P. E. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Ponsford, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Olver, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Fossey, E. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Barclay, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Hilton, G. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Downing, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), McKenzie, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Nunn, A. K. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Mortimer, D. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/06/19 → 31/03/24
Project: Research
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Development of a new health service delivery model for major trauma clients living in rural and remote Victoria
Stolwyk, R. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Ponsford, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Lannin, N. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Giummarra, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Olver, J. (Chief Investigator (CI))
14/02/19 → 1/06/20
Project: Research
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Early intervention vocational rehabilitation for return to work following traumatic injury: A randomized controlled trial
Ponsford, J. (Leading Author), Downing, M. G. (Leading Author), O'Kearney, E., Bedekar, Y., Hilton, G., Mortimer, D. (Leading Author), Fossey, E. (Leading Author), Barclay, L. (Leading Author), Olver, J., Castle, W., Nunn, A., McKenzie, D. (Leading Author) & Ross, P. (Leading Author), Jun 2025, In: Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine. 68, 5, 11 p., 101972.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
2 Citations (Scopus) -
Occupational Therapy Practice in Adult Rehabilitation of Persistent Postconcussion Symptoms: A Scoping Review
Licciardi, L., Lalor, A., Olver, J. & Callaway, L., 1 May 2025, In: American Journal of Occupational Therapy. 79, 3, p. 1-12 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
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Prevalence and clinical significance of sensory changes after moderate-severe traumatic brain injury: A cross-sectional study
Carmichael, J., Spitz, G., Marzolla, M. C., Gould, K. R., Olver, J., van Heugten, C. M. & Ponsford, J., Sept 2025, In: Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine. 68, 6, 10 p., 101993.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
The Australian Traumatic Brain Injury Initiative: Systematic Review and Consensus Process to Determine the Predictive Value of Pre-existing Health Conditions for People with Moderate-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury
Antonic-Baker, A., Auvrez, C., Tao, G., Bagg, M. K., Gadowski, A., McKimmie, A., Hicks, A. J., Hill, R., Romero, L., Ponsford, J. L., Lannin, N. A., Gabbe, B. J., Cameron, P. A., Cooper, D. J., Rushworth, N., Fitzgerald, M., O'Brien, T. J. & the AUS-TBI Initiative Investigators, Nov 2025, In: Journal of Neurotrauma. 42, 21-22, p. 2047-2061 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review Article › Research › peer-review
3 Citations (Scopus) -
A Systematic Review of the Effectiveness of Rehabilitation Programmes or Strategies to Treat People With Persistent Knee Pain Following a Total Knee Replacement
Johns, N., Naylor, J. M., McKenzie, D., Brady, B., Thirugnanam, B. & Olver, J., Sept 2024, In: Musculoskeletal Care. 22, 3, 8 p., e1945.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access2 Citations (Scopus)
Activities
- 1 Contribution to conference
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Pacific Rim Conference 2025
Licciardi, L. (Invited speaker), Olver, J. (Speaker), Lalor, A. (Speaker) & Callaway, L. (Speaker)
2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference