Research
Paediatrics: Healthy Start to Life
The Paediatric Healthy Start to Life Research Engagement Theme (RET) is composed of an interprofessional group of researchers and clinicians from Audiology, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, and Speech Pathology.
We seek collaborative research opportunities in areas that support everyday life of children, young people and their families. For example, school readiness and transition, family centred-practice, leisure participation, auditory functioning, communication and movement control. The age groups of children we work with are diverse. From infancy to post-school, our work reflects the dynamics of each life stage, ensuring that we address the unique developmental needs and interests of each stage while fostering inclusivity and support for every child. Our researchers work in partnership with national and international research and clinical communities.
Impact
The Paediatrics Health Start to Life RET works to advance the health, development, and well-being of children and young people across all stages of growth, from infancy to post-school transitions. Our primary focus is on enhancing child and family participation in school, at home, and during leisure activities through innovative, evidence-based interventions.
In partnership with national and international organisations, our projects target meaningful, family-centred outcomes that support children and youth with disabilities, illness, or injury to lead fulfilling lives. We emphasise the importance of accessible, sustainable interventions that are embedded in children's natural environments, supporting families to navigate developmental challenges effectively. We have a strong focus on family-centred care, directed at supporting and empowering families as key supports in children’s lives.
Child Development, Participation, and Inclusion in Everyday Life
Access to early developmental support and timely interventions for infants and children with neurodevelopmental challenges is critical to enhancing their participation in daily activities. Our research focuses on strategies to support the participation of children with physical, sensory, or developmental challenges in daily activities, school, sports, and leisure.
Early Intervention Family-Centred Practice and Engagement
This body of work centres on understanding and enhancing the vital role families play in supporting children’s well-being, resilience, and developmental outcomes. By co-designing and evaluating innovative screening, assessments, parent coaching, and early intervention approaches with families, clinical services, and community organisations, we aim to make intervention more accessible and effective, giving families the tools they need to support their child’s development.
Innovative Technologies in Assessment and Intervention
Our research group specialises in leveraging technology to advance the assessment, diagnosis, and delivery of therapeutic interventions for children with physical, sensory, or developmental challenges, with a particular focus on remote and underserved communities. Our work encompasses the use of telehealth platforms, advanced diagnostics such as Wideband Tympanometry, and digital tools to streamline access to essential services and enhance accuracy in clinical assessments.
Prevention and Health Promotion
We also understand the importance of prevention and promotion in paediatrics. Our research group focuses on collaborating with healthcare providers, educators, allied health professionals, and community organisations, to create a comprehensive approach that addresses the diverse needs of children and their families. A focus on interprofessional practice within the group fosters the sharing of knowledge and resources, and enables the development of research projects that promote healthy development and prevent potential health issues from arising.
Chair
- Joseph Kei, Associate Professor in Audiology
Deputy Chairs
- Rebecca Armstrong, Lecturer in Speech Pathology
- Tomomi McAuliffe, Lecturer in Occupational Therapy
Academic staff
- Georgina Clutterbuck, Lecturer in Physiotherapy
- Jodie Copley, Professor in Occupational Therapy
- Lauren Cox, Associate Lecturer in Physiotherapy
- Emma Crawford, Lecturer in Occupational Therapy
- Carlie Driscoll, Associate Professor in Audiology
- Sjaan Gomersall, Associate Professor in Physiotherapy
- Jess Hill, Lecturer in Occupational Therapy
- Julie MacDonald, Associate Lecturer in Physiotherapy
- Jeanne Marshall, Conjoint Senior Research Fellow in Speech Pathology
- Katelyn Melvin, Lecturer in Speech Pathology
- Mansoureh Nickbakht, Research Fellow
- Teresa Quinlan, Clinic Manager in Occupational Therapy
- Felipe Retamal Walter, Lecturer in Speech Pathology
- Nerina Scarinci, Professor in Speech Pathology
- Monique Waite, Senior Lecturer in Speech Pathology
- Wayne Wilson, Associate Professor in Audiology
Honourary affiliates
Honourary A/Professor Leanne Johnston, Executive Director Allied Health, Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Queensland Health
HDR students
Candidate | Degree | Supervision | Project title/Description |
---|---|---|---|
Davina Lo | PhD | Monique Waite, Rebecca Armstrong, Tanya Rose | Exploring the impact of childhood aphasia on adolescents |
Megan Gim | PhD | Rebecca Armstrong, Monique Waite, Rhonda Faragha | The influence of language on mathematics performance for Australian students in the early primary years |
Emily Fagan | PhD | Nerina Scarinci, Monique Waite, Teresa Ching | Behaviour Management in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children |
Roisin Higgins | PhD | Wayne Wilson, Helen Gurteen, Harvey Dillon, Sharon Cameron | On the Diagnosis of Auditory Processing Disorder |
Nicola Burn | PhD | Carlie Driscoll, Wayne Wilson, Rachael Beswick, Leanne Johnston | Shared risk factors for childhood hearing and vision loss and predictors of dual sensory loss |
Alison Collins | PhD | Carlie Driscoll, Rachael Beswick, Joseph Kei | Evaluating the strategies and outcomes of newborn hearing screening in Queensland |
Carl Francia | PhD | Leanne Johnston, Professor John Fraser, Professor Rob Justo |
|
Aisling Ryan | PhD | Leanne Johnston, Laura Miller, Tanya Rose |
|
Ankita Surpal | MPhil | Leanne Johnston, Laura Brown, Elizabeth Hurrion |
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Emily Cross | PhD | Joseph Kei, Carlie Driscoll | Automated innovative diagnosis for otitis media with effusion in young children using wideband absorbance |
Carolina Acuna | PhD | Jess Hill, Pam Meredith and Jackie Barfoot. | Effectiveness of an Occupational Therapy intervention using a sensory enriched and parent coaching approach with toddlers (18 to 42 months) with tactile defensiveness and their caregivers. |
Lee Svensson | PhD | John Cairney, Michalis Stylianou, Jess Hill and Stewart Trost. | Interventions to increase physical activity in children and youth with Autism |
Karen Graham | PhD | Dr Georgina Clutterbuck, Associate Professor Leanne Johnston, Dr Katrina Ostojic | Children with disabilities make a splash: Codesigning a pathway to true inclusion in swimming programs |
Afra Islam | PhD | Georgina Clutterbuck, Chelsea Mobbs, Stewart Trost, Sarah MacIntyre | The SPORTY Project: Sport Priorities and Objectives for Research and Translation for youth with disability |
Maria Yee | PhD | Leanne Johnston, Verity Pacey, Georgina Clutterbuck | Investigating the effects of dance-based interventions on young people with symptomatic generalised hypermobility |
Jessica Thackeray | PhD | Dr Melanie Hoyle, Dr Sarah Reedman, Professor Jodie Copley | Codesign of an intervention framework for children with spinal disabilities, their families and health professionals to promote participation at home, school and in the community. |
Anjana Rajagopal | PhD | Associate Professor Asaduzzaman Khan, Associate Professor Elizabeth Edwards, Associate Professor Alina Morawska | A family-based intervention to promote healthy screen use in Australian adolescents. |
Jermy Pang | PhD | Professor Nerina Scarinci, David Allen, Naomi Clarry | Paediatric to Adult Hearing Healthcare Transition Experiences of Emerging Adults who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. |
Jennifer Kefford | PhD | Dr Rebecca Packer, Dr Jeanne Marshall, Professor Liz Ward | Feeding characteristics and behaviours in young children with food allergies. |
Md Mahmudul, Sagar | PhD | Associate Professor Asad Khan, Professor John Cairney, Dr. George Thomas | Sports for Health and Wellbeing of Children and Adolescents. |
Lisa Gardener | PhD | Associate Professor Merrill Turpin, Dr Laura Desha, Professor Helen Bourke-Taylor | Adolescent Perspectives of Sharing Responsibility for the Management of Type 1 Diabetes Management in Secondary School |
Roisin Higgins | PhD | Wayne Wilson, Helen Gurteen, Sharon Cameron, Harvey Dillon | On the Diagnosis of Auditory Processing Disorder |
Joseph Vida | PhD | Georgina Clutterbuck, Merrill Turpin | Co-creating inclusive walking and running activities alongside young people with disabilities and their families: Participatory Action Research in a regional Australian community. |
- Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service
- Hear and Say Centre
- Northern Sydney Local Health District
- BUSHkids
- CanChild
- Holland Bloorview Kids Hospital
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
- Macquarie University
- The University of Melbourne
Enquiries
For all enquiries related to research in the School, contact the Senior Administration Officer (Research): research.shrs@uq.edu.au
For all enquiries related to joining the Communication Research and Engagement Theme contact the chairs Dr Rebecca Armstrong, Associate Professor Joseph Kei and Dr Tomomi McAuliffe.
For all general current HDR student queries and enquiries related to applications contact the HDR Liaison Officer: hdr.shrs@enquire.uq.edu.au.