I am a Lecturer in the Physiotherapy program with a main focus on paediatric content including the role of Course Coordinator for Physiotherapy with Children. I have significant experience in delivering and managing clinical education and have a strong focus on providing supportive clinical education environments within the physiotherapy program. I have over 15 years clinical experience in senior clinical physiotherapy roles in hospital, community and private practice sites across South Australia and Western Australia. I completed my PhD in 2011 for a project investigating the effect of intervention parameters for children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) and have a continued interest in research in this area and... Read more
About me
I am a Lecturer in the Physiotherapy program with a main focus on paediatric content including the role of Course Coordinator for Physiotherapy with Children. I have significant experience in delivering and managing clinical education and have a strong focus on providing supportive clinical education environments within the physiotherapy program. I have over 15 years clinical experience in senior clinical physiotherapy roles in hospital, community and private practice sites across South Australia and Western Australia. I completed my PhD in 2011 for a project investigating the effect of intervention parameters for children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) and have a continued interest in research in this area and paediatric orthopaedic conditions. I also have a strong engagement with the Australian Physiotherapy Association, having held the position of National Chairperson for the National Paediatric Group from 2011-2014 and the Scientific Committee Chairperson (Paediatrics Stream) 2019.
About me
Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA)
Member of APA National Paediatric Group - Special Group
About me
Doctor of Philosophy University of South Australia
Bachelor of Physiotherapy with Honours University of South Australia
Child Development,Developmental Coordination Disorder
Research
Excludes commercial-in-confidence projects.
Does the use of textured insoles improve gross motor measures balance domain outcomes in children with motor skill difficulties when compared to footwear alone. A multi-site feasibility trial, Australian Podiatry Education and Research Foundation, 27/01/2022 - 27/12/2022
Investigation of the broad scale impact of the frequency of clinic based early intervention services within the 0-4 age range with diagnosed/suspected developmental delay. - Collaborative project with Northern Adelaide Local Health Network funded by Allied Health Reseach Collboration Funding 2018/2019
Early Mobilisation in Paediatric Intensive Care - Collaborative project with Women's and Children's Health Network funded by Allied Health Reseach Collboration Funding 2018/2019
Research
Research outputs for the last seven years are shown below. Some long-standing staff members may have older outputs included. To see earlier years visit ORCID or Scopus
Open access indicates that an output is open access.
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2024 |
Open access
|
| 2024 |
Open access
|
| 2024 |
Open access
|
| 2023 |
Open access
3
3
9
|
| 2021 |
Open access
3
3
4
|
| 2021 |
1
1
3
|
| 2021 |
10
10
5
|
| 2020 |
Open access
1
|
| 2020 |
Open access
1
|
| 2019 |
Open access
1
1
8
|
| 2019 |
Open access
17
15
21
|
| 2018 |
Open access
14
10
11
|
| 2017 |
4
4
|
| 2011 |
|
Ward E, Tsiros M and Lefmann S (2018): Creating supportive learning environments on placement – where student learning feels facilitated not just adjudicated (conference abstract), Higher Education Research Group of Adelaide (HERGA) Conference, Adelaide, 26 September 2018
Ward E, Tsiros M, Lefmann S and Hillier S (2017): Student led preschool motor-skill screening clinics: a solution for building sustainable clinical placements and meeting a need in the health/education sector (accepted conference abstract), Australia and New Zealand Association of Health Professional Educators 2017 Conference, Adelaide, July 2017
External engagement & recognition
| Organisation | Country |
|---|---|
| Curtin University | AUSTRALIA |
| Edith Cowan University | AUSTRALIA |
| Northern Adelaide Local Health Network | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Adelaide | AUSTRALIA |
| University of South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| Women's and Children's Health Network | AUSTRALIA |
| Women's and Children's Hospital | AUSTRALIA |
External engagement & recognition
| Engagement/recognition | Year |
|---|---|
Scientific Chairperson (Paediatric Stream) APA ConferenceAustralian Physiotherapy Association (APA) |
2019 |
MemberAustralian Physiotherapy Association (APA) |
2018 |
Scientific Chairperson (Paediatric Stream) APA ConferenceAustralian Physiotherapy Association (APA) |
2018 |
Invited Expert Panel Member to redesign Carer Payment Application Form for Centrelink and Test new formsDepartment of Social Security - Government of Australia |
2017 |
MemberAustralian and New Zealand Association for Health Professionals Educators |
2017 |
MemberAustralian Physiotherapy Association (APA) |
2017 |
Invited Expert Panel Member to redesign Carer Payment Application Form for Centrelink and Test new formsDepartment of Social Security - Government of Australia |
2016 |
MemberAustralian Physiotherapy Association (APA) |
2016 |
Immediate Past Chair, National Paediatric GroupAustralian Physiotherapy Association (APA) |
2015 |
Invited Speaker Professional DevelopmentAustralian Physiotherapy Association (APA) |
2015 |
Member, Paediatric Scientific CommitteeAustralian Physiotherapy Association (APA) |
2015 |
Professional Development to Country Health SA PhysiotherapistsSA Health |
2015 |
Chairperson, National Paediatric GroupAustralian Physiotherapy Association (APA) |
2014 |
Chairperson, National Paediatric GroupAustralian Physiotherapy Association (APA) |
2013 |
MemberAustralian Physiotherapy Association (APA) |
2013 |
Member, Paediatric Scientific CommitteeAustralian Physiotherapy Association (APA) Conference |
2013 |
Chairperson, National Paediatric GroupAustralian Physiotherapy Association (APA) |
2012 |
Member, Scientific Committee10th Biennial National Conference, Early Childhood Intervention Australia (ECIA), Perth |
2012 |
Chairperson, National Paediatric GroupAustralian Physiotherapy Association (APA) |
2011 |
Child and Adolescent Community Health Workforce DevelopmentMotor Coordination Workshop Perth, WA |
2011 |
Scientific Chair of Paediatric Stream Australian Physiotherapy Association Conference 2019
Paediatric Physiotherapy,Child Development,Clinical Education
Teaching & student supervision
Teaching & student supervision
Supervisions from 2010 shown
| Thesis title | Student status |
|---|---|
| Investigating the mechanisms of impaired motor control in children with DCD and other coordination disorders through the use of active video gaming in therapy. | Current |
