Clinical, Community and Industry Partnerships

Professor Annette Briley

Annette is one of the most experienced midwifery researchers in Australia, bringing her extensive understanding of undertaking clinical research and delivering high quality maternity care in the UK.

Working with the Northern Adelaide Local Health Network, Annette is exploring how the health care professionals at the Lyell McEwin and Modbury hospitals can improve pregnancy outcomes and the short, medium and long term health of mothers and babies from some of the most socially and economically disadvantaged areas of Adelaide.

Professor Tiffany Conroy

Tiffany, a Registered Nurse, is the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network Professor of Nursing and Director of Nursing and Midwifery Research, a joint appointment with Flinders University.  She is an experienced educator and researcher in nursing, knowledge translation, evidence based healthcare, and systematic review. 

Tiffany is working with the nurses and midwives across all SALHN sites to improve fundamental care, grow research capacity, and increase the profile of nursing and midwifery research.

Dr Suzanne Dawson

Suzanne holds a joint appointment as Senior Research Fellow (Mental Health) between the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network (SALHN) Mental Health Division and Flinders University Caring Futures Institute.  She has over 25 years’ experience working as an occupational therapist in mental health services in the UK and Australia and brings a wealth of knowledge to the role.

Suzanne is working alongside clinical and non-clinical staff to support the implementation of best practices and approaches into mental health care across SALHN mental health services.

Professor Stacey George

Stacey is Professor of Healthy Ageing, Support and Care, a joint appointment between the Adelaide Primary Health Network and Flinders University. Stacey is a practicing occupational therapist and a leader in design and implementation of innovative models of assessment and intervention for chronic conditions in the primary care setting.  She also has an internationally recognised track record in rehabilitation and driving research.   

Dr Heather Block

Heather holds a joint appointment with Adelaide Primary Health Network and the Caring Futures Institute. Her work involves co-designing, implementing, and evaluating initiatives in healthy ageing, disability care, social prescribing, and multidisciplinary primary care.

Heather’s research focuses on enabling older adults to live well and access high-quality care through integrated health systems. She collaborates closely with people with lived experience, health professionals, and service organisations to conduct applied, translational research that drives innovation and system improvement.

Professor Kate Laver

Kate holds a joint appointment in Allied Health and Active Ageing between Southern Adelaide Local Health Network and Flinders University.  Her research aims to maximise independence and quality of life in older people and people with disabilities. She co-designs, develops, implements and evaluates rehabilitation interventions and new models of care.

She works collaboratively with health professionals and consumers to design and conduct high quality research that meets community needs. She is an experienced, registered occupational therapist. 

Professor Catherine Paterson

Catherine Paterson is Professor of Cancer Nursing a joint appointment between Flinders University and the Central Adelaide Local Health Network.

The focus of her applied research is on improving and addressing the unmet supportive care needs of people affected by cancer across the lifespan.

'We develop clinically meaningful outcomes and address what matters most to people living with and beyond cancer, while providing cost-effective solutions to reduce economic burden in primary and secondary care. Our synergistic clinical and academic research partnerships mean we lead and develop research that has a translational pathway for impact directly back into practice. Our aim is to improve the lives of the estimated 130,000 Australians diagnosed with cancer each year.'

Associate Professor Maayken van den Berg

Maayken, a Physiotherapist and Movement Scientist, is the Allied Health Chair of Research in the Northern Adelaide Local Health Network, a joint appointment with Flinders University. She fosters research excellence through building research capacity and capability across both institutions. She works collaboratively with consumers, clinicians and research staff to codesign research for healthcare practice relevant to Adelaide’s northern communities.

Maayken’s interdisciplinary research advances allied health clinical practice, evaluating novel interventions to support neurological and aged care rehabilitation and self-management. Her work explores ways to improve access to services and optimise outcomes for older people, people with disabilities, and their families. She sees her leadership role as an opportunity to mentor clinical researchers committed to delivering impactful research and positively contribute towards improved health outcomes. 

Shenelle Fernando

Shenelle, Senior Research Officer in Primary Care and System Integration, is jointly appointed by Flinders University and Adelaide Primary Health Network (PHN). With a background in Psychology and Neuroscience, she is committed to improving the care experiences of vulnerable populations in the community.

Shenelle supports health services research, contributing to initiatives that drive meaningful system-level change. She also advances the implementation of Adelaide PHN’s research strategy – expanding strategic partnerships and embedding research insights into their commissioning cycle to enhance service delivery and outcomes.