Rate My Professor Elijah Areli

Mr. Elijah Areli is a Lecturer in the School of Physiotherapy at the University of Otago's Faculty of Health Professional Programmes. A New Zealand-born Samoan, he earned his Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPhty) and Master of Physiotherapy from the University of Otago. Areli is recognized as the first Pacific physiotherapist to hold a lecturing position at the university. His professional journey includes extensive clinical practice in settings that prioritize collaborative healthcare models, involving multidisciplinary teams, whānau (family) engagement, and work in primary health care within GP practices. Throughout his career, he has engaged with a diverse range of patients, gaining insights into their stories of persistent pain, hope, triumph, and family dynamics.

As an early career researcher, Areli focuses on Pacific health, supported self-management strategies for pain, and the integration of allied health services in primary care. He strongly advocates for embedding Pacific values in Pacific-led research and clinical physiotherapy practice. His teaching responsibilities encompass occupational health physiotherapy, pain management, and primary care, serving as Paper Coordinator for PHTY355 Physiotherapy Clinical Practice 2 and PHTY539 Occupational Health Physiotherapy, and contributing to PHTY256 Physical Activity for Physiotherapy Practice. Key scholarly contributions include his 2025 publication "Exploring a Pacific worldview through ‘time’" in the New Zealand Journal of Physiotherapy (53(1), S9-S10), co-authored research article in 2021 titled "‘I think there is nothing . . . that is really comprehensive’: Healthcare professionals’ views on recommending online resources for pain self-management" published in the British Journal of Pain (15(4), 429-440), and a 2019 conference presentation at the New Zealand Pain Society Annual Scientific Meeting on healthcare providers' perspectives on online pain self-management resources. Affiliated with the Centre for Health, Activity, and Rehabilitation Research (CHARR), he is also a member of Physiotherapy New Zealand and the Pacifica Physiotherapy Association. Additionally, Areli provides student support within the School of Physiotherapy.