Professor (Research)
College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Sue works with aged care providers and the community to optimise ageing, aged care and the effective use of technology through research translation.
Sue brings over 20 years of physiotherapy experience and more than 15 years of academic experience to the role of Professor of Healthy Ageing. She joined Flinders University in late 2015 in a position joint funded by Aged Care and Housing Group who she works closely with to promote a healthy ageing agenda. Her research involves collaboration with local government, aged care and health service providers and colleagues from other universities. She is investigating healthy ageing and functional decline to better understand the opportunities to identify, measure, limit and reverse early changes that are often covert.
Her research in aged care workforce development has included investigating the effectiveness of simulation and coaching interventions to decrease aggressive incidents, improve person centred care and build compassion.
Her work with the Flinders Digital Health Research Centre and the ARC funded Digital Enhanced Living Hub has developed and trialled Apps for the measurement of prefrailty and frailty, and assistance for people with mild cognitive impairment.
Doctor of Philosophy (Health Science) University of South Australia
Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy) South Australian Institute of Technology
Graduate Diploma in Business Administration Australian Institute of Business
Graduate Certificate Tertiary Teaching James Cook University
Best Oral presentation, 2016 Asia Pacific Lymphology Conference
James Cook University award for outstanding status (top 10% of University subjects) in student satisfaction for PS5103 Physiotherapy rehabilitation research and evidence, Study Period 1 2015.
Australian Learning and Teaching Council Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning. Gordon S, Bonassi M, Jones A and Gray M. (2010). For the development, implementation and review of Individual Learning Plans in allied health which successfully respect and support first year students as individuals.
College research section lead 'Health across the life course'.
Endeavour research fellowship 2011 -
Member of the Australian American Leadership Dialogue 2012-2014 -
Lymphoedema Consultant Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases (CNTD) Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine - FEB 2018