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The University of Queensland has a long held reputation for world class Research in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. Find out more about our research strengths and interests. The Research and Postgraduate Committee aims to promote collaborative research within the School and provide support and information for staff and postgraduate students in their research activities.

Research within the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences covers a broad range of investigations in each of the constituent disciplines - Audiology, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, and Speech Pathology, as well as interdisciplinary projects involving researchers across the School, and with colleagues within other University faculties. All divisions have an internationally recognised research profile.

Audiology staff conduct cutting edge research in the areas of: Rehabilitation of older people with hearing impairment; Neonatal hearing testing; Amplification use in young adults with profound hearing impairment; Central auditory processing (CAP) and central auditory processing disorder (CAPD); Communication in residential aged care facilities; Anticancer drugs in children, effects on hearing; The diagnosis and management of acoustic neuromas.

In Occupational Therapy research is broadly grouped into the areas of: Adults’ Occupational Performance and Participation; Children’s Occupational Performance and Participation; Cognition, Efficacy and Vocational Participation; and Evidence Based Practice in Occupational Therapy. International collaboration with colleagues in Canada, Israel, The United Kingdom, The United States, and New Zealand continues to expand.

Physiotherapy has a number of internationally recognised research units including: The Human Neuroscience Research Unit, The Cervical Spine and Whiplash Research Unit, The Musculoskeletal Pain and Injury Research Unit, The Joint Stability Research Unit, The Paediatric Physiotherapy Research Unit, and The Geriatric and Neurology Research Unit. The core research areas are motor control, pain, prevention and rehabilitation of movement and musculoskeletal dysfunction.

Speech Pathology promotes international collaborations and conducts world class research. In addition to research in paediatrics, the Division administers two Category 1 Research Centres and co-administers one Category 2 Research Centre. The Category 1 Research Centres are the Motor Speech Research Unit and the Communication Disability in Ageing Research Unit, and the Category 2 Centre for Research in Language Processing and Linguistics.

One of the core strengths of the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences is its ability to integrate the collective clinical and research skills and expertise of academic staff and postgraduate students within the four primary health and rehabilitation professions of audiology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and speech pathology.

In addition to research within the separate disciplines, a number of research groups have been established across the School. These groups share skills and expertise in teaching, research, and postgraduate student supervision. To date, these are:

The Children's Research Unit - Communication, Occupation and Movement
This group comprises Associate Professor Jenny Ziviani, Dr Sylvia Rodger, Dr Anne Ozanne (La Trobe University), Mrs Pauline Watter, Dr Gail Woodyatt. Dr Sylvia Rodger is the current convenor and contact person for this group.

Evaluating the Process and Outcomes of Age-Friendly Standards: The Case Study of Public Bus Transport.

The research project is an Australian Research Council Linkage Project, which supports collaborative research between universities and industry. The project team includes Associate Professor Linda Worrall (Division of Speech Pathology/CDARC), Dr Kryss McKenna (Division of Occupational Therapy), and Elizabeth Savina (PhD student)) from the University of Queensland; Professor Duncan Boldy from Curtin University of Technology in Western Australia; Martin Thomsett from Queensland Transport and Peta Jervois from the Office for Seniors, Queensland Department of Communities;

The Qualitative Research Interest Group
This interdisciplinary group of staff and postgraduate students within the School shares an interest in qualitative research methodologies. The group meets on a monthly basis. Topics related to qualitative research methodology are discussed, current research is presented, and information and resources are shared.

A number of other interdisciplinary research groups are evolving.

Annual School Report
The School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences produces an Annual School Report, containing grants received, projects undertaken, staff interests and the School's bibliographic record.