Welcome to my home page. I am Course Coordinator for REHB 4057 & REHB 6017 (Physiotherapy with Children and Families) and Senior Lecturer in various physiotherapy subjects including Physiotherapy Studies 200, Neurosciences in Physiotherapy and Physiotherapy Studies 201. I am also First Year and Second Year Physiotherapy Program Coordinator.
I am a very experienced univeristy educator as well as clinical educator and supervisor in community health settings. I have worked for 20 years as a physiotherapist, with a clinical background in paediatrics. I have wide ranging clinical and research interests in paediatric disorders, in particular neurological and developmental disorders. However, my passion and focus... Read more
About me
Welcome to my home page. I am Course Coordinator for REHB 4057 & REHB 6017 (Physiotherapy with Children and Families) and Senior Lecturer in various physiotherapy subjects including Physiotherapy Studies 200, Neurosciences in Physiotherapy and Physiotherapy Studies 201. I am also First Year and Second Year Physiotherapy Program Coordinator.
I am a very experienced univeristy educator as well as clinical educator and supervisor in community health settings. I have worked for 20 years as a physiotherapist, with a clinical background in paediatrics. I have wide ranging clinical and research interests in paediatric disorders, in particular neurological and developmental disorders. However, my passion and focus these days is teaching and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL), helping students become the best version of their professional selves that they can be.
I also enjoy supporting research students. I am currently overseeing educational research on student readiness for clinical placement (doctoral student), usability of rehabilitation equipment by children, parents and physiotherapists (honours student), and service design in the government health sector (honours student). I collaborate with research teams, most recently exploring robotic rehabilitation. I am an experienced principal research supervisor (Honours, Masters and PhD).
When I am not directly managing courses and teaching students, I am active in national and international committees with a focus on the scholarship of teaching and learning and higher education practice, helping to build staff and student knowledge of this important domain of academic practice.
About me
National and International Association Memberships
International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (ISSOTL) Subcommitee
Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia member and SA branch secretary
Australian Physiotherapy Association (Educator Special Interest Group Committee)
Registered Physiotherapist with Australia Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
About me
Doctor of Philosopy James Cook University
University of South Australia
James Cook University
Queensland Health
Private Practice
Areas of research interest:
Paediatric physiotherapy and rehabilitation
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
Health services and systems research
Research
Excludes commercial-in-confidence projects.
Channel 7 Research Grant (2020 - ):
"Can robotic technology assist children with cerebral palsy after botulinum toxin injection?" with Angela Tully, Ray Russo, Susan Hillier
Womens and Children's Hospital Foundation research grant (2017-2019):
"What are the benefits of robotic-assisted rehabilitation compared to conventional therapy? A randomised controlled clinical trial in children with acquired brain injury". with Christopher Innes-Wong, Ray Russo, Susan Hillier
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, ResearcherID or Scopus
Open access indicates that an output is open access.
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2024 |
Open access
|
| 2017 |
Open access
88
78
10
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2022 |
9
7
2
|
| 2022 |
Open access
|
| 2020 |
Open access
1
1
|
| 2020 |
Open access
1
|
| 2017 |
Open access
88
78
10
|
| 2016 |
4
2
3
|
| 2016 |
Open access
12
13
|
| 2015 |
Open access
4
|
| 2015 |
Open access
37
36
6
|
| 2014 |
Open access
9
8
|
| 2014 |
6
7
|
| 2013 |
Open access
21
19
|
| 2010 |
23
23
|
| 2010 |
130
|
| 2010 |
24
|
| 2010 |
|
Book chapter: Integrating technology into clinical practice in neurological rehabilitation. In Umphred’s Neurological Rehabilitation (7th Ed.) Ed. Lazaro, R. Elsevier: released 2019.
Editorial: Lefmann, SA and Crane, JL (2016). Establishing the diverse value of the emergency department physiotherapist. Journal of Physiotherapy, 62 (1).
Co-lead investigator: "Perspectives on children's physiotherapy services and Disability Care Australia", Practical Design Fund, Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. (2013).
**For journal articles written prior to 2008 (nee Anaf) - please refer to my ORCID link for access**
Research
Areas of research interest:
Paediatric physiotherapy and rehabilitation
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
Health services and systems research
National and international engagement
External engagement & recognition
| Organisation | Country |
|---|---|
| James Cook University | AUSTRALIA |
| Northern Adelaide Local Health Network | AUSTRALIA |
| Townsville Hospital and Health Service | AUSTRALIA |
| University of South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| Women's and Children's Hospital | AUSTRALIA |
External engagement & recognition
| Engagement/recognition | Year |
|---|---|
Member paediatric SA/NT and Educator committeesAustralian Physiotherapy Association |
2023 |
Member paediatric SA/NT and Educator committeesAustralian Physiotherapy Association |
2022 |
Member paediatric SA/NT and Educator committeesAustralian Physiotherapy Association |
2021 |
Member paediatric SA/NT and Educator committeesAustralian Physiotherapy Association |
2020 |
Member paediatric SA/NT and Educator committeesAustralian Physiotherapy Association |
2019 |
Member paediatric SA/NT and Educator committeesAustralian Physiotherapy Association |
2018 |
Associate EditorBMC Public Health |
2017 |
Committee member, National Paediatric GroupAustralian Physiotherapy Association (APA) |
2017 |
Member paediatric SA/NT and Educator committeesAustralian Physiotherapy Association |
2017 |
Associate EditorBMC Public Health |
2016 |
Hospital Foundation GrantWomen's and Children's Hospital |
2016 |
*Full member- International Federation of National Teaching Fellows
*Senior Fellow Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)
*2024 - Australian Award for University Teaching Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning
*UniSA AHHP Award for Sustained Teaching Excellence.
*UniSA Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning (Conservative Management of Pelvic Organ Prolapse - Lefmann, Neumann, Das, Chalmers, Bell).
*UniSA Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning (Physiotherapy with Children - Ward, Tsiros, Lefmann)*
Teaching & student supervision
Teaching & student supervision
Supervisions from 2010 shown
| Thesis title | Student status |
|---|---|
| 111124 - GoPro360° technology's potential in physiotherapy student learning outcomes in pre-placement years | Current |
| What are the benefits of robotic-assisted rehabilitation compared to conventional therapy? A randomised controlled clinical trial in children with acquired brain injury. | Completed |
