Our People

Dean

Gregory KoltProf Gregory Kolt is the Dean of Science and Health and Professor of Health Science at Western Sydney University. He also holds the role of Lead Dean - Workforce Development for the University. Prior to joining the University in December 2006 he was Associate Dean (Research), Professor of Health Science, and Founder and Co-Director of the Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research in the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences at Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand.

Gregory Kolt has an academic background that spans several disciplines including psychology (specifically health psychology), physiotherapy, sport and exercise science, and education. He holds a PhD in Psychology and has worked extensively in academic and practice settings, including senior University appointments. His research achievements are recognised internationally with over $5 million of research grant funding and the publication of several books and over 130 journal publications. His extensive research experience has covered areas including physical activity and health (in child, adolescent, and older populations), primary health care, health promotion, psychological aspects of injury and rehabilitation, adherence to rehabilitation, injury epidemiology, and stress management.

He has also served on review panels for several national research funding agencies, has supervised many doctoral research students, and has been a keynote speaker at a number of international conferences.

Gregory Kolt is the editor of the comprehensive books Physical Therapies in Sport and Exercise (now in its 2nd edition and published in 4 languages) and Psychology in the Physical and Manual Therapies, both published by Elsevier. He was also one of the Founding Editors of the international journal Physical Therapy in Sport where he served as Editor from 1999-2008, and is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. In addition, he sits on the editorial boards and advisory groups of several international journals.

g.kolt@westernsydney.edu.au
(02) 4620 3747

Dean's Unit

School Manager, Nicole Anderson

Associate Dean Research, Associate Prof Karen Liu

Associate Prof Karen Liu is an occupational therapist who has practised as a clinician in both Hong Kong and the USA before coming to Australia. She received the PhD in 2002 in rehabilitation sciences specialising in neurological rehabilitation. Karen had been an academic since 2001 at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University until February 2012 when she joined the Western Sydney University.

Karen's current focus of research includes the use of mental imagery and self-regulation in promoting daily task performance, neurological rehabilitation, memory strategies employed to enhance recall for elderly and people with mild cognitive impairments, dementia caregiving. She also conducts research in using various strategies to improve learning for children with developmental disabilities. For the above areas of studies, besides investigating the clinical efficacy of interventions, Karen is also interested in studying the behaviour and neural mechanism of individuals to understand how and why the intervention works.

Karen is actively seeking research collaboration with clinicians and industrial partners to facilitate the translation of research findings into practice.


karen.liu@westernsydney.edu.au
(02) 4620 3432

Deputy Dean, Prof Tony Rossi

Associate Dean Learning and Teaching, Dr Liz Thyer

Dr Liz Thyer is the Academic Program Advisor for the UWS Paramedicine degree.  She was an advanced life support paramedic in Victoria for 11 years including roles as a clinical instructor and peer support officer and lectured into the Victoria University Paramedic programs.  She also has a strong interest in learning and teaching and has most recently worked in the central learning and teaching group, Deakin Learning Futures, at Deakin University. Although her PhD was in physical anthropology her more recent research has focused on the developing field of paramedic education.
E.Thyer@westernsydney.edu.au
(02) 4620 3487

Directors of Academic Programs

Health and Physical Educaiton & Sport Development , Dr Andrew Bennie

Dr Andrew Bennie works on the traditional lands of the Darug Peoples, as a Senior Lecturer in Health and Physical Education(HPE). He completed an undergraduate Education degree specialising in HPE and Geography (Hons 1, 2002). After two years of school teaching, Dr. Bennie returned to complete a PhD at the University of Sydney to learn about ‘effective coaching’ within professional sport contexts (conferred 2009). Dr Bennie is a co-founder of Coaching Unlimited, an initiative that provides sport specific coaching accreditation and research-based health promotion workshops to support Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander coaches. Currently, his interdisciplinary research focuses on:
  • sports coaching,
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ sport participation, and
  • teaching and learning in Health and Physical Education.

(02) 47360 590

Occupational Therapy, Dr Rosalind Bye

Dr Rosalind Bye gained her undergraduate degree at Cumberland College of Health Sciences in 1989 and worked as a clinical occupational therapist at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. In 1991 Ros commenced her Masters research study into occupational therapy in palliative care and began her academic career at the University of Sydney, teaching on the undergraduate occupational therapy program. Ros completed her masters study, and then moved to the University of Western Sydney in 1996 to become a lecturer in occupational therapy. Ros has since completed her PhD study into family adaptation following an acquired brain injury of an adolescent child. Ros is currently the Director of Academic Program in Occupational Therapy. Along with her occupational therapy management role, she plays an active part in the School Academic Committee as Deputy Chair.

Ros has continued to teach on the undergraduate occupational therapy program, including honours and PhD supervision. Ros has teaching interests in areas related to occupational therapy theory, process and practice. These important teaching areas help occupational therapy students to understand their profession and commence their professional socialisation into their future clinical role. She also enjoys one-on-one honours supervision, helping occupational therapy honours students to commence their research training in a supportive and guided way. Ros was a part of the occupational therapy team that was awarded two teaching awards: (i) Carrick Australian Award for University Teaching, 2006, citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning (team award given to the occupational therapy program team); and (ii)  Vice-Chancellor's Excellence Award Teaching and Learning, 2005, Highly Commended (team award given to the occupational therapy program team).

Ros became the Director of Academic Program - Occupational Therapy in 2010. Ros is also a referee for the Australian Occupational Therapy Journal and the Qualitative Health Research Journal.

R.Bye@westernsydney.edu.au
(02) 4620 3353

Physiotherapy, Prof Roy Cheung

Prof Roy Cheung received his physiotherapy undergraduate and PhD degrees in Hong Kong, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Spaulding National Running Centre, Harvard Medical School. Professor Cheung specialized in human gait biomechanics and retraining research, in particular biomechanical factors of musculoskeletal conditions, neural control of gait, and development of wearable sensors for gait retraining. Roy has supervised a number of Master and PhD students with a diverse background (e.g., physical therapists, physicians, and engineers). His research work has been continuously supported by major competitive grants, and his research deliverables include US patents and international invention awards.

Roy.Cheung@westernsydney.edu.au
(02) 4620 3487

Speech Pathology, Dr Belinda Kenny

Dr Belinda Kenny is a speech pathologist and clinical educator with research interests in professional ethics, work integrated learning, clinical education and neurogenic communication and swallowing issues. She completed her speech pathology degree at Cumberland College of Health Sciences in 1985, receiving the graduand Private Speech Pathologists’ Association Prize for Clinical Proficiency.Belinda then acquired professional experience in acute hospital, rehabilitation, and community settings. In 1989 Belinda was appointed to a senior professional role as a clinical educator, within a Sydney teaching hospital, planning, implementing and evaluating clinical placement experiences for speech pathology students.During the following 12 years, Belinda developed strong interests in adult learning theories and clinical education research.

Dr Kenny completed a Masters by research program at Sydney University and was awarded the Speech Pathology Australia Association Master’s Thesis Prize in 1995 for her thesis investigating speech pathology students’ self-evaluation skills. Belinda’s professional, clinical education and research interests underpinned her active contributions to undergraduate speech pathology professional preparation programs at the University of Sydney. In 2002 Belinda was appointed to an academic position in the Discipline of Speech Pathology and comprehensively reviewed and innovated learning and teaching practices in the Professional Development streams of the undergraduate and graduate entry masters speech pathology programs.

Dr Kenny completed her PhD. in 2010 as a University of Sydney, Discipline Scholar. Belinda’s doctoral research program investigated ethical dilemmas and ethical reasoning in the speech pathology profession. A shared passion for ethical practice has led to Belinda’s active involvement with Speech Pathology Australia’s Board of Ethics where her research findings inform national ethics education programs for speech pathologists.

Following completion of her doctoral research, Dr Kenny successfully applied for a post- doctorate position at the University of Sydney and managed an NHMRC funded, five year, longitudinal project investigating communication outcomes for adults with severe, traumatic brain injury. Findings from this study provided new insights into the nature and timing of communication recovery following brain injury.

From 2016- 2019, Dr Kenny was employed as a lecturer in Work Integrated Learning. University of Sydney. This role involved facilitating quality clinical education experiences by developing innovative placement models, supporting clinical educators and students on placement and conducting research into best practice in clinical education.

In 2019, Dr Kenny was appointed as co-convenor and Director of Academic Program for speech patholog, Western Sydney University. She was awarded an Honary Affiliate role with the University of Sydney.

Dr Kenny’s research interests include professional workplace issues, ethics, communication and swallowing disorders in adults and student learning. Belinda has provided more than 30 publications and 70 conference presentations in ethics, work integrated learning and speech pathology practice. She has supervised a number of Higher Degree Research and Honours students to completion.  With her research teams, Belinda is focussed on innovative health professional education, ethical practice and quality clinical care outcomes for people with communication and swallowing disorders..

B.Kenny@westernsydney.edu.au
(02) 4620 3503

Health Science (Postgraduate), Dr David Lim

Paramedicine, Dr Paul Simpson

Dr Paul Simpson is a senior lecturer and the inaugural Director of Academic Program for Paramedicine at Western Sydney University.  He began his paramedicine career in 1996 with NSW Ambulance, where he worked as intensive care paramedic, clinical educator and research fellow. He completed his PhD in Public Health and Community Medicine, investigating epidemiology and clinical outcomes of older people who fall and receive care care from paramedics.  Paul's current research interests are diverse, and include work-integrated learning in undergraduate paramedicine programs, infection control in the prehospital setting, paramedic management of mental health, and paramedic academic leadership and workforce issues.

Paul is active in service to the profession of paramedicine.  Paul conceived and established the Australasian Council of Paramedicine Deans  in 2018 and was elected as the inaugural Council Chair, as role he continues to serve in. He is the current Chair of the National Research Committee for the Australasian College of Paramedicine, where he has been instrumental in establishing a national research mentorship program.

Paul continues to be active in clinical practice.  As a registered paramedic, he manages to find time here and there to work as an Intensive Care Paramedic with NSW Ambulance and in the private paramedicine sector in Sydney. Paul is committed to maintaining work-life balance, and having lost that balance at one point, seeks to promote the importance of such balance in academic life wherever he can.

P.Simpson@westernsydney.edu.au
(02) 4620 3574

Health Science (Undergraduate), Dr Caterina Tannous

Dr Caterina Tannous is the current Director of Undergraduate Health Science in the School of Health Science. She has been involved in interprofessional health science and occupational therapy education for over 20 years. She has extensive experience in curriculum design and delivery for both campus-based and online programs.  She teaches into the first year core interprofessional and occupational therapy subjects.

Her areas of interest include discipline-specific and interprofessional competencies and skills required for effective practice in the health professions. She is also interested in professional ethics, identity, and interprofessional readiness, university transition and student well-being. She has conducted quantitative and qualitative research projects. Her recent PhD study used a randomised cluster design to investigate the impact of interprofessional education experiences on first year health students. Previous qualitative research as part of a master degree explored decision and choice making by clients with intellectual disability within occupational therapy practice.

Areas of Interest: Professional competencies, occupational therapy practice; disability studies, intellectual disability, interprofessional education, student transition and support

C.Tannous@westernsydney.edu.au
(02) 4620 3341

Sport and Exercise Science, Dr Chloe Taylor

Dr Chloe Taylor undertook her PhD at Liverpool John Moores University in the UK and has been employed in Sport and Exercise Science at UWS since July 2011. Chloe's research focus is cardiovascular control, in particular the responses to physiological challenges such as exercise and orthostasis, and the effects of time of day. A key area of her research involves the assessment of cardiovagal and sympathetic baroreflex sensitivity and its role in blood pressure regulation with respect to these challenges. Current studies include the investigation of inter-individual differences in blood pressure responses to mental and physical stressors, looking specifically at the effects of gender and ageing and links with baroreflex sensitivity. Other work includes using microneurography to measure sympathetic nerve activity to contracting muscles, exploring the roles of central command and the metaboreflex.

C.Taylor@westernsydney.edu.au
(02) 4620 3298

Podiatry, Dr Steven Walmsley

Traditional Chinese Medicine, Associate Prof Xiaoshu Zhu

Associate Prof Xiaoshu Zhu is Associate Dean of School (International) and Director of Academic Program of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). She is also key senior researcher in cancer field at the National Institute of Complementary Medicine (NICM) which is hosted by the University. Xiaoshu was member of the inaugural Chinese Medicine Board of Australia appointed by the Australian Health Workforce Ministerial Council, serving as member of the Policies, Standards and Guidelines Advisory Committee. She also serves as Working Editor for the Gynaecology and Fertility Group, the Cochrane Collaboration, a well-regarded international healthcare information organisation. She is a member of Standards Australia committee (HE 031) for developing standards for TCM. She has numbers of important roles in the relevant international organisations including as Deputy Editor-in-Chief for series of unified textbooks organized by the World Federation of Chinese Medicine Society (WFCMS). She sits on the board of Overseas Expert of Advisory Committee, China Society of Geriatrics Oncology Rehabilitation. Dr Zhu graduated from Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (NJUTCM), one of the most prestigious TCM universities in China, with Bachelor’s Degree in 1984 and Masters' Degree in 1989. She completed her PhD (Health) study in 2008 at Western Sydney University.

x.zhu@westernsydney.edu.au
(02) 4620 3338

Academic Program Advisors

Health Science (Postgraduate), Stewart Alford

Stewart Alford is an Associate Lecturer in Health Services Management, with both undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in Health Services Management, Aged Care Management, Therapeutic Recreation and Mental Health Practice. Stewart has taught for a number of years both sessionally and on a permanent basis within College and University settings.

Stewart is currently in the latter stages of his PhD around facilitating self-determination and personal resilience in consumers with an enduring mental illness through the therapeutic recreation intervention - Recovery Camp. With developing research interests in the areas of: self-determination theory, resilience, volunteerism and consumerism in healthcare settings, recreation management and workplace learning.

Stewart.Alford@westernsydney.edu.au
(02) 4620 3745

Physiotherapy, Dr Rocco Cavaleri

Occupational Therapy, Dr Kristy Coxon

Dr Kristy Coxen is a registered occupational therapist with a PhD in Public Health from the University of Sydney.  She graduated from the University of Western Sydney Macarthur (UWS) in 1999 with first class honours and the university medal. Since graduation, Kristy has gained 20 years’ experience in clinical practice, education and research. Clinically, Kristy worked in Western Sydney across the health care continuum in acute, rehabilitation and outpatient occupational therapy services. Kristy has been involved in program development, program evaluation, and represented allied health on area wide collaboratives in clinical care.

Kristy began her academic career when she joined Western Sydney University in 2005, and secured a permanent position as lecturer in occupational therapy in 2006.  Kristy became the Academic Program Advisor for the occupational therapy program in 2015.  In this role, Kristy provides integrated academic advice and support to students at all stages of the occupational therapy program.  She is committed to providing a student-centric service to help students identify and plan their educational needs and goals, while navigating administrative requirements, to promote success in their studies and a positive student experience.   Kristy teaches first year students in core occupational therapy theory and practice skills, and co-ordinates first year practice education.  She enjoys supervising and guiding PhD, Masters and honours students in their research.  Kristy also holds a research fellow position in the Injury Division of The George Institute for Global Health, and is a member of the Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University.

Kristy's PhD research evaluated the effectiveness of an individualised program to promote safety and maintain mobility for drivers aged 75 years and older. This research has helped inform policy and practice in the area and bought about important insights into ways to assist older people maintain community mobility regardless of their driving status. Kristy has an ongoing program of research with older drivers including a four year follow up study of a large cohort of community-living older drivers and investigation into their use of seat belt and seat accessories. Kristy is also exploring the use of powered two-wheeled motorbikes in children.  She has established a strong research profile in the areas of transport, community mobility, safety and injury prevention.  Her research is driven by a strong interest in optimising participation and independence while preserving safety in community groups.  Kristy has presented papers at conferences both nationally and internationally, and has over 26 peer-reviewed publications and reports.

K.Coxon@westernsydney.edu.au
(02) 4620 3754

Speech Pathology, Dr Leigha Dark

Dr Leigha Dark is Senior Lecturer and Academic Program Advisor in Speech Pathology at Western Sydney University and is a Certified Practising Speech Pathologist with over 16 years experience. She holds BA (Hons) and PhD degrees in Speech Pathology and Communication Sciences from the University of Sydney and postgraduate qualifications in Higher Education. Leigha conducts research in areas including disability across the lifespan, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), learning and implementation of manual sign and gesture, client and family experiences of multimodal communication, and education of speech pathology students, utilising mostly qualitative methodology.

Leigha worked for 10 years as a Speech Pathologist within the not-for profit sector across numerous roles including clinical, supervisory, management, education and senior consultancy. Leigha's clinical work has primarily been in the field of disability and encompassed areas such speech, language and communication across the lifespan, Augmentative and Alternative Communication including Key Word Sign and gesture, swallowing and mealtime management, elearning and professional development.

Since 2013, Leigha held the role of Lecturer in Speech Pathology at Australian Catholic University where she contributed to the design, development and delivery of the new Bachelor of Speech Pathology program. Leigha taught across numerous range of practice areas within the discipline which included face to face, blended and simulation-based units focused on Professional Practice, Evidence Based Practice, Motor Speech Disorders, Voice Disorders, Multimodal Communication and Community Engagement.

In addition to her discipline specific research interests, Leigha has a keen interest in Scholarship of Learning and Teaching and has been successful in receiving a number of internal grants to further initiatives in the areas of blended learning and multimodal strategies to enhance student engagement, student assessment, and collaborative feedback practices. Leigha supervises Honours and HDR students within Speech Pathology and other Allied health disciplines, and is currently working with a number of HDR students towards completion.

L.Dark@westernsydney.edu.au
(02) 4620 3295

Podiatry, Kym Hennessy

Dr. Kym Hennessy completed her undergraduate degree at Western, and completed her PhD at Glasgow Caldedonian University.  

k.hennessy@westernsydney.edu.au
(02) 4620 3185

Sport and Exercise Science, Dr Shona Papalia

Health Science (Undergraduate), Dr Nicole Peel

Dr Nicole Peel is a Lecturer in Therapeutic Recreation in the School of Science and Health at Western Sydney University. Nicole holds a doctorate in philosophy from Western Sydney University and has completed a B. Leisure Studies M. Health Science and an M. Business Administration. Nicole is an established practitioner, and health educator with over 25 years of experience in working with people with an intellectual disability, people with a physical disability, people who are ageing, adolescents or marginalised individuals.

Her research and teaching focus on leisure and health, recreation therapy, creative approaches and innovative solutions. Nicole is interested in how systems operate and where the areas for change exist to optimise opportunities for healthy outcomes using leisure for marginalised individuals. Nicole is passionate about research, teaching and interventions aimed at improving the health and well-being of all, including those with a disability. Nicole honours a co-design approach working with the individual first and foremost. Nicole has been involved in projects funded to work in partnership with other Universities, Government and Non-Government Organisations. She has an enthusiasm for developing and implementing service models that effectively engage and provide support for marginalised individuals and their families. Nicole's PhD thesis utilised case studies and explanation building to understand leisure and its opportunities for young people in Out-of-Home Care for independent living.

Nicole is a registered HDR supervisor and welcomes inquiries from potential honours, masters and PhD students.

Nicole is actively engaged in the community with non-government organisations and professionals across NSW Area Health, disability services, children services and aged care providers. Nicole holds the following positions:

  • Chair of Western Sydney University Children in Out-of-Home care Steering Committee
  • Member, World Leisure Association Access and Inclusion Committee
  • Australian representative on the International Therapeutic Recreation Coalition
  • Board Member, Myrtle Cottage (not for profit service provider to the elderly and marginalised)
  • Board Member, Diversional Recreational Therapy Association
  • Executive Board Member, Cycling Without Age

N.Peel@westernsydney.edu.au
(02) 4620 3232

Sport Development, Dr Ryan Storr

Dr Ryan Storr is a Lecturer and Academic Program Advisor for the Sport Development undergraduate program. He recently completed his PhD at Victoria University, Melbourne, and his thesis is under examination. He was awarded an international PhD scholarship attached to an ARC Linkage project entitled "Participation vs Performance: Exploring how community sports clubs respond to diversity", and his thesis explored how volunteers in community sports clubs engaged with diversity work. He graduated from Loughborough University in the UK, in Geography and Sport and Leisure Management. Prior to the moving to Australia, he held a Graduate Tutor Position at Northumbria University in the UK, whereby he taught onto the Sport Development program within the School of Life Sciences in the Department of Sport Development, Management and Coaching. His research interests focused on sport volunteering and young people, and he was a committee member on the UK Sport Volunteering Research Network, which was a network of academics, professionals and policy makers involved with sport volunteering in the UK. His research interests currently focus on diversity and volunteering within community sports clubs, with a specific focus on LGBTI+ diversity. He recently has led several projects in Australia which have explored LGBTI+ inclusion within the Australian sport landscape, and was chief investigator for a funded evaluation for Cricket Australia and Cricket Victoria entitled "Exploring LGBT Inclusion in Australian Cricket". He is also the co-founder and director of Proud 2 Play, a LGBTI+ youth sport charity, which aims to increase participation in sport for LGBTI+ youth, their friends and families. This work has involved consultancy and partnerships with several State Sporting Organisations and National State Sporting Organisations and working with sports to engage them with LGBTI+ diversity. Proud 2 Play was a winner in the Vic Health Sport Innovation Challenge, in partnership with Cricket Victoria, and received a grant of $100,000 to run the ‘Proud Cricket Program’, an education and social cricket program for the Victoria LGBTI+ community.

R.Storr@westernsydney.edu.au
(02) 9685 9968

Health and Physical Educaiton, Dr Kylie Steel

Dr Kylie Steel: My early career involved teaching outdoor education for the NSW Department of Sport and Recreation, which was followed by several years teaching K-12 for the NSW and ACT Departments of Education. Concurrently over a six-year period I coached various sports at Pymble Ladies College in Sydney and worked in casual employment as a sport scientist with NSWIS and Mayne Health Solutions. Prior to commencing at Western I held the dual position of Sport Science Discipline Leader and Lecturer at the Australian College of Physical Education for degrees in Dance, Coaching, Movement Science and Physical Education.

My role at Western is as a senior lecturer in skill acquisition in the School of Science and Health, in addition to being a member of the MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development at Western Sydney University. My research focuses primarily on processes that involve learning in movement with a particular focus of the roles of vision, perception, cognition, creativity training and modelling. This research is frequently carried within sport, general, and special populations.

I have supervised numerous honours, masters and PhD students in sport science with an emphasis on the above topics. I welcome all queries regarding future supervision.

K.Steel@westernsydney.edu.au
(02) 47360 589

Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yu Ting Sun

Yu Ting Sun

(02) 4620 3455