The School of Health Science's Research into research in Allied health extends into the fields of Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Paramedicine, Speech Pathology, Podiatry and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Physiotherapy
The WSU Physiotherapy team has a variety of specialised research interest. Equipped with modern research laboratories, we regularly engage with industry partners to develop innovative interventions and products to enhance individual quality of life and performance. Below is a list of research interest among staff members:
- Chronic disease management, knowledge translation into clinical practice and cultural diversity: Dr Clarice Tang
- Non-invasive brain stimulation and pain: Mr Rocco Cavaleri
- Paediatrics and kids with disability: Dr Geneieve Dwyer and Dr Georgina Clutterbuck
- Wearable sensors, elite athletes and human movement: Professor Roy Cheung, Dr Amitabh Gupta and Mr Daniel Thomson
Occupational Therapy
WSU Occupational Therapy researchers aim to enhance the evidence base in occupational therapy through partnerships in research, education, and practice. Our research focuses on questions related to enabling inclusion in life, and fulfillment through engagement, for a wide range of people and communities. We support Honours, Higher Degree Research students, early career researchers, and practitioner-researchers to build their research capacity through training and mentoring in a range of research methodologies. We work in partnership with industry, service providers, consumers, their families, and communities, and strive for the translation of research findings and knowledge into practice, policy, and education to create an impact by improving inclusion and fulfillment through engagement for the people and communities we support.
Paramedicine
The paramedicine program has diverse research engagement and interests. The academic team have expertise in quantitative research including epidemiology and consensus processes, and in qualitative methods including grounded theory, phenomenology, thematic analysis and mixed methods. Areas of research focus include paramedic professionalism and identity; paramedic education and workforce; immersive simulation; mental health; paramedic wellness; infection control; quality improvement and evidence-based care; inter-professional learning; non-traditional paramedic roles; and occupational violence towards paramedics. The team are highly collaborative, and are committed to developing capacity for research within paramedicine. The program has strong research supervisory capacity, with three post-doctoral paramedics in the team.
Speech Pathology
Speech pathology academics research communication, swallowing and mealtime management across the lifespan, and contemporary issues impacting the profession. Our research supports members of the community to participate in social, education and vocational experiences through building and translating evidence based practice. Current research topics include:
- communication and swallowing recovery following stroke or traumatic brain injury and the impacts and outcomes for individuals living with a disability
- experiences of individuals and families using augmentative and alternative communication across the lifespan
- health literacy, communication access and participation for individuals living with communication difficulties
- ethical reasoning in professional practice
- innovative models of work integrated learning
Podiatry
Specific areas of research focus include:
- Foot and ankle rheumatology
- Footwear, wound healing
- The diabetic foot
- Morbid obesity
- Indigenous health
- Musculoskeletal injury and rehabilitation.
Traditional Chinese Medicine
TCM researchers have made substantial contribution to the ERA ranking 5 in complementary and alternative medicine as well as cancer research at Western Sydney University, the achievement is regarded as 'well above the world standard' according to the national ranking system. Our research focus on exploring scientific evidence on effectiveness and safety on use of Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture for many health conditions include cancer. We also explore opportunity of grow high quality of Chinese medicinal herbs in Australia with overseas partner. These are international and multi disciplinary research projects involving researchers and clinicians from South Western Sydney Local Health District, different schools and institutes at Western Sydney and many overseas hospitals and universities.
To find out more about a researcher, click on their name to be redirected to their staff profile.
Researchers
Assoc Prof Elise Baker, Associate Professor (Allied Health)
Research Expertise and Interests: Research translation and implementation; intervention research; outcome measurement; clinicians' conduct of evidence-based practice; models of service delivery; communication development and disorders in children; speech sound disorders; cultural and linguistic diversity.
Email:e.baker@westernsydney.edu.au
Rocco Cavaleri, Lecturer (Physiotherapy)
Research Expertise and Interests: Brain Stimulation; Neuroscience; Pain; Physiotherapy; Exercise
Email:R.Cavaleri@westernsydney.edu.au
Prof Roy Cheung, Professor (Physiotherapy)
Research Expertise and Interests: Biomechanics; Gait retraining; Wearable sensor; Motion analysis; Injury prevention; Musculoskeletal health
Email:Roy.Cheung@westernsydney.edu.au
Dr Georgina Clutterbuck, Lecturer (Physiotherapy)
Research Expertise and Interests: Paediatrics, Sport, Physical Literacy, Neurological Rehabilitation, Disability, Physical Activity, Cerebral Palsy, Physiotherapy
Email:G.Clutterbuck@westernsydney.edu.au
Dr Kristy Coxon, Snr Lecturer (Occupational Therapy)
Research Expertise and Interests: Driving; Older drivers; In-vehicle technologies; Injury prevention and safety; Participation; Community Mobility; Inclusion; Autism; Rehabilitation and Aged Care; Service evaluation
Email:K.Coxon@westernsydney.edu.au
Dr Leigha Dark, Snr Lecturer (Speech Pathology)
Research Expertise and Interests: Communication; Disability; Ageing; Augmentative and Alternative Communication; Participation; Access; Health Literacy
Email:L.Dark@westernsydney.edu.au
Dr Tinashe Dune, Senior Lecturer (Health Science)
Research Expertise and Interests: Community Mental Health; Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Populations; Minority Populations; Health Sociology; Indigenous Health; Interprofessional Education (IPE) in Health; Migrant Health; Public Health; Sexual and Reproductive Health and Wellbeing; Social Determinants of Health
Email:t.dune@westernsydney.edu.au
Dr Genevieve Dwyer, Snr Lecturer (Physiotherapy)
Research Expertise and Interests: Physical Activity in children (with and without disability); Disability in children and optimising participation in their communities; Preterm survivors and motor outcomes; Preterm infants and interventions; Childhood obesity; Health service delivery in paediatric physiotherapy (including telehealth)
Email:g.dwyer@westernsydney.edu.au
Dr Bronwyn Gill, Lecturer (Occupational Therapy)
Research Expertise and Interests: Transformative learning; addressing client sexual expression; practice placements; transition from student to therapist;
Email:Bronwyn.Gill@westernsydney.edu.au
Dr Amitabh Gupta, Lecturer (Physiotherapy)
Research Expertise and Interests: Motor control, Biomechanics, Human Movement Science; Falls, Balance and Gait; Musculoskeletal Science; Physiotherapy
Email:a.gupta@westernsydney.edu.au
Dr Frances Henshaw, Lecturer (Podiatry)
Research Expertise and Interests: Diabetes, Wound Healing, Ulcer prevention, Neuropathy, Vascular disease, Inflammation,Ultrasound, Medicinal Cannabis
Email:F.Henshaw@westernsydney.edu.au
Dr Belinda Kenny, Snr Lecturer (Speech Pathology)
Research Expertise and Interests: Communication; Swallowing; Ethics and Professionalism; Work Integrated Learning
Email:B.Kenny@westernsydney.edu.au
Prof Gregory Kolt, Dean (School of Health Sciences)
Research Expertise and Interests: Health promotion; lifestyle behaviour change; physical activity; public health; Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD)
Email:g.kolt@westernsydney.edu.au
Assoc Prof Karen Liu, Associate Dean (Research) & Associate Professor (Occupational Therapy)
Research Expertise and Interests: mental imagery and self-regulation in rehabilitation; strategies to promote participation in daily activities; neurological rehabilitation; memory strategies for older adults; education for dementia caregivers; use of physical activities to health promotion
Email:Karen.Liu@westernsydney.edu.au
Dr Caroline Mills, Lecturer (Occupational Therapy)
Research Expertise and Interests: 'Knowledge translation into clinical practice', 'physiotherapy',' chronic cardiovascular disease management', 'chronic respiratory disease', 'culturally and linguistically diverse communities'
Email:Caroline.Mills@westernsydney.edu.au
Dr Nicole Peel, Lecturer (Health Sciences)
Research Expertise and Interests: Leisure and vulnerable groups " leisure and health " health education" systems change" recreation therapy" leisure and sport for outcomes"
Email:n.peel@westernsydney.edu.au
Dr Stefania Penkala, Snr Lecturer (Podiatric Medicine)
Research Expertise and Interests: Rehabilitation; pain management; neuroplasticity; balance and falls prevention; postural control; occupational rehabilitation; osteoarthritis; Aboriginal health
Email:S.Penkala@westernsydney.edu.au
Dr Arianne Reis, Snr Lecturer (Lesisure and Recreation Studies)
Research Expertise and Interests: Therapeutic Recreation; Leisure, Sport and Physical Activity for Vulnerable and Marginalised Groups (e.g. refugees, migrants, low income communities, people in prison, etc.); Mental Health and Wellbeing; Public Spaces and Leisure; University Students' Learning
Email:a.reis@westernsydney.edu.au
Dr Nicole Sharp, Lecturer (Occupational Therapy)
Research Expertise and Interests: Qualitative research; co-design; disability; mental health; transitions; lived experience
Email:N.Sharp@westernsydney.edu.au
Dr Clarice Tang, Snr Lecturer (Physiotherapy)
Research Expertise and Interests: Knowledge translation into clinical practice, physiotherapy, chronic cardiovascular disease management, chronic respiratory disease, culturally and linguistically diverse communities
Email:c.tang@westernsydney.edu.au
Dr Liz Thyer, Snr Lecturer (Paramedicine)
Research Expertise and Interests: Paramedicine; Burnout; Education; Qualitative research; Work Integrated Learning;
Email:E.Thyer@westernsydney.edu.au
Dr Steven Walmsley, Lecturer (Podiatry)
Research Expertise and Interests: The foot in diabetes; rheumatology; musculoskeletal research and rehabilitation; chronic disease measurement; outcome measures.
Email:S.Walmsley@westernsydney.edu.au
