Associate Professor Sarah Wallace
Researcher biography
A/Prof Sarah Wallace is an NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow (2020-24; 2025-29) and Certified Practising Speech Pathologist. Her research interests include communication disability in ageing and enabling and measuring meaningful change in post-stroke (language/communication impairment following stroke) aphasia. Sarah uses qualitative and participatory methods to understand the lived experience of communication disability. She works in partnership with people with lived experience, clinicians and community members to co-produce interventions, systems and standards that improve quality of care and outcomes.
Sarah's research themes include: (a) Design and implementation of a national audit system to drive quality improvement in post-stroke aphasia services; (b) Development and implementation of methodological standards to improve aphasia research quality and reduce research wastage; (c) Development of technology-enhanced interventions to support self-management, promote equitable access to information and services, and empower people with aphasia; (d) Development of fit-for-purpose training and resources for aged care workers to help older Australians have better conversations about aged care.
Sarah leads four current MRFF-funded projects:
- Bridging the Digital Divide: Building Health Self-Efficacy through Communication-Accessible Online Environments
-
The Right Treatment for the Right Person at the Right Time. Driving High-Value Aphasia Care through Meaningful Health System Monitoring
-
Measuring, Monitoring, and Motivating Adherence to Self-Managed Aphasia Treatment
Recent publications can be viewed on my ORCID page: 0000-0002-0600-9343
Featured projects | Duration |
---|---|
Unspoken, Unheard, Unmet: Improving Access to Preventative Health Care through Better Conversations about Care. Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) |
|
Bridging the Digital Divide: Building Health Self-Efficacy through Communication-Accessible Online Environments Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) |