Michael Dillon

Professor Dillon currently serves as the Dean (People and Resources) in the College of Human Sciences and Culture at Flinders University.

Over his academic career, Professor Dillon has taught a wide range of areas including transfemoral prosthetics, evidence-based practice, and critical appraisal subjects. As an accomplished tertiary educator, Professor Dillon has received numerous Vice-Chancellor’s commendations for outstanding student satisfaction, and taught undergraduate students and experience clinicians in Hong Kong, Japan and the United States of America. Professor Dillon has also taught masterclasses and symposia internationally on topics including curriculum design, and shared decision-making. 

Professor Dillon’s research has focused on the outcomes after lower limb amputation and includes studies describing the lived experience of amputation, outcomes after amputation surgery, biomechanics, epidemiology, core outcome set development, and health economics. Professor Dillon has also led research into workforce changes and professional regulation that have influenced Government policy and skilled migration of prosthetists/orthotics into Australia. Much of Professor Dillon's research has been deliberately translated into practical resources such as the Telehealth Guide for the Orthotic/Prosthetic Profession or the Amputation Decision Aid; a suite of shared decision-making resource for people facing difficult decisions about partial foot amputation due to peripheral vascular disease. 

Prior to commencing at Flinders University, Professor Dillon served senior leadership roles over the last 10 years, including a series of Head of Department roles with responsibly for the oversight of a diverse range of allied health disciplines. In these roles, Professor Dillon initiated and led significant programs of work with a focus on: role clarity, efficient systems and processes, delegating authority and responsibility to those closest to the work and best placed to make decisions, leadership capability and development, academic workforce planning, and promoting a culture where meaningful conversations about performance and career development are the norm. For this work Professor Dillon has received numerous cultural quality awards celebrating innovation, accountability, connectedness, and care.

Professor Dillon has served as a co-Editor-in-Chief of the journal, Prosthetics and Orthotics International. Professor Dillon currently services the NDIS Evidence Advisory Committee - Assistive Technology and Capital SubCommittee - which critically appraises research evidence on various forms of assistive technology and advises government about which supports are suitable for funding under the scheme.

Professor Dillon is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has served national boards and expert advisory committees, bringing together subject matter expertise, research and analytical skills, and governance experience.