Dr Rocco Cavaleri

Position

Academic Program Advisor, Physiotherapy
Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy

Biography

Dr Rocco Cavaleri is a Senior Lecturer in the Physiotherapy department at Western Sydney University. Rocco completed his PhD in 2022 and also holds a B Health Science (Hons I)/ M Physiotherapy from Western Sydney.

In 2023, Rocco received a prestigious Fulbright Postdoctoral Scholarship to work with the Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy at the University of Southern California (USC). He is also an adjunct assistant professor at USC and an honorary research fellow at Queensland University of Technology. Prior to commencing his PhD, he worked clinically as a physiotherapist across both acute and private practice contexts.

Rocco currently leads the Brain Stimulation and Rehabilitation (BrainStAR) lab (opens in a new window)

in the School of Health Sciences. His research is dedicated towards understanding the neurophysiological processes underpinning musculoskeletal and neurological disorders. Rocco uses non-invasive brain stimulation techniques to assess brain changes in response to processes such as pain and motor learning, facilitating the development of novel diagnostic and treatment strategies.

Rocco is passionate about education and evidence-based teaching practices. He has received several awards in this space, including WSU Teacher of the Year and a National AAUT Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning. Rocco's dedication to learning and teaching has also been recognised internationally through his certification as a Senior Fellow of the Academy for Higher Education (Advance HE).

Research Interests

• Acute and chronic pain
• Non-invasive brain stimulation
• Rehabilitation
• Neuroscience

Memberships

• Brain Stimulation and Rehabilitation (BrainStAR) Lab (2021-present)
• Western Sydney Brain Rehabilitation and Neuroplasticity Unit (BRAiN-U) (2014-2020)
• Australian Physiotherapy Association (2012-present)
• Australian Pain Society (2018-present)
• Golden Key International Honour Society (2012-present)
• AHPRA (2012-present)

Committees

• Clinical Education Managers of Australia and New Zealand (CEMANZ) committee
• Moderation Guideline Working Group
• Physiotherapy Clinical Education Committee
• Physiotherapy External Advisory Board
• SoHS Academic Committee

Qualifications

• PhD Western Sydney University
• BHlthSci / MPhysio (with Distinction) Western Sydney University
• BHlthSci (Hons 1) Western Sydney University

Awards

• Fulbright Postdoctoral Scholarship 2023-24-02
• Western Sydney University Teacher of the Year 2022-12-08
• DVCA Excellence in Teaching - Early Career Academic 2022-12-08
• DVCA Excellence in Teaching (Team) 2022-12-08
• SoHS Award for Teaching Excellence 2021-12-10
• SoHS Commendations for Teaching Excellence 2020-12-12
• Western Sydney University Three-Minute Thesis Winner 2020-02-13
• Seven News Young Achiever Awards (WSU Academic Achievement) Finalist 2019-11-28
• University Medal (Western Sydney University) 2015-12-15
• SMSA Award in Health and Medicine 2015-12-15
• National Physiotherapy Board APA Student Prize 2014-12-14
• NSW APA Award for Academic Achievement 2014-12-14
• Western Sydney University Award for Academic Excellence 2014-11-14
• Elsevier Paediatrics Award 2014-06-14

Research & Publications

• For a full listing of my publications please view my publications page (opens in a new window)
• View my Western Sydney University Staff Profile (opens in a new window)
• View my ResearchGate profile (opens in a new window)
• BrainStAR Lab page (opens in a new window)

Contact Details