Title

Menzies Scholarship awarded to Physiotherapy lecturer

Document Type

Media Release

Publication Date

Spring 24-9-2008

Publisher Name

The University of Notre Dame, Fremantle Campus

Publication Place

Fremantle

Abstract

Physiotherapy Clinical Co-ordinator & Senior Lecturer, Ms Anne-Marie Hill has been awarded the Sir Robert Menzies Allied Health Sciences Scholarship for her PhD research studies. She is completing her PhD through the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at The University of Queensland under the supervision of Dr Terrence Haines.

The prestigious research scholarship, which is valued at $25,000 per annum for each of two years, is open to graduates in any of the health sciences who have enrolled for a PhD in an Australian University and who have completed the first stage of their doctoral program. The purpose of the scholarship is to try to improve the health of Australians by supporting an outstanding applicant from one of the non-medical allied health disciplines whose research is likely to fall outside the conventional areas of medical research. In 2008 the scholarship attracted a field of 25 candidates, including the disciplines of physiotherapy, speech pathology, psychology, nutrition, sports science and orthoptics. In addition to grading by the discipline assessors, the academic qualifications and publication record of each candidate and the scientific validity of the various projects was considered. Interviews were held in Melbourne in August, 2008. The interview panel consisted of Professor John Coghlan (Executive Director, The Menzies Foundation), Professor Alison Perry (La Trobe University), Assoc Professor Jennifer Boldero (University of Melbourne) and Dr Deborah Walsh (University of Queensland and previous Menzies Scholar). Ms Hill holds the degree of Master of Physiotherapy (2001) from Curtin University of Technology and the Graduate Certificate in University Teaching (University of Notre Dame Australia). Her PhD project is entitled: The role of patient education in prevention of in-hospital falls in the older population.

Associate Dean of Health Sciences, Professor Peter Hamer said that being awarded for the Menzies Scholarship is an excellent achievement.

“Anne-Marie joins the ranks of past Menzies Scholars of the ilk of Professor Paul Hodges, Dr Julie Hides, and a host of other leaders and contributors to the Allied Health professions (dominated by Physiotherapy Scholars).”

Ms Hill said, “I feel extremely honoured to be supported in my research by the Menzies Foundation. I also thank all my colleagues at The University of Notre Dame Australia in Fremantle who have supported me to this point in my career.”

Media contact:

Michelle Ebbs 08 9433 0610, 0408 959 138

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