HDR Supervision

Many members of ORA are supervisors of students studying research higher degrees (PhDs, Professional Doctorates and Masters by Research).

If you would like to discuss your research proposal, please feel free to email the supervisor(s).

Sandra headshot
Professor Sandra Grace, Southern Cross University

Professor Sandra Grace

PhD ​

E: sandra.grace@scu.edu.au 

Completed supervision

  • Lisa Beasley: 2024; Evaluating adaptability to and readiness for change in allied health
  • Trish Long: 2024; Strengthening Connections: Trauma-informed care for midwives and adverse childhood experiences screening for pregnant women
  • Joel Alcantara: 2023; The quality of life, sense of coherence, patient satisfaction and lived experience of pregnant patients attending care in a chiropractic practice-based research network

Completed supervision (continued)

  • Lucy Shinners: 2023; Exploring nurses’ experience and perception of Artificial Intelligence in the delivery of healthcare
  • Vanessa Tyler: 2023; The impact of a safety culture programme in a NSW regional local health district
  • Tracey Mulvihill: 2023; Trauma Centre Trauma Sensitive Yoga for post-traumatic stress disorder: A mixed methods study
  • Jacqueline Schroeder: 2023; Why ‘Women's Health Services?’ A case study of community-based, non-government women's health centres in NSW.
  • Shelley Barlow: 2021, The lived experiences of physiotherapists in their encounters with people with chronic pain: A phenomenological enquiry.
  • Maggie Scorey: 2021, Exploring the lived experiences of professional surfers returning to surfing after   an acute physical injury: A phenomenological study
  • Donald McDowell: 2021, What is the contemporary relevance of the chiropractic principle of tone – an historical analysis
  • Dennis Richards: 2021, Vitalism and value in chiropractic
  • Olivia King:  2018,  Role boundaries and scopes of practice: the interdisciplinary diabetes educator role
  • Paul Orrock: 2017, Developing an evidence base for osteopathic healthcare

Current supervision

  • Graeme Turner: Evaluating a training program for practice nurses in early Identification and management of chronic kidney disease
  • Kate Baltrotsky: An evaluation of Aware Parenting Training
  • Curtis Rigney: Attrition from the chiropractic profession: a retrospective cohort study
  • Isabelle Taye: The use of probiotics in osteoarthritic pain: an N-of-1 study
  • Kirsty Greenwood: The use of manual therapy supporting infants with difficulties breastfeeding
  • Bimbi Gray: Healthcare practitioner concordance with evidence for the management of Osteoarthritis: an investigation into Quality Indicators and Knowledge Translation tools to evaluate an e-learning strategy.
Dr Roger Engel
Dr Roger Engel, Southern Cross University

Dr Roger Engel

Current Supervision

PhD

E: roger.engel@scu.edu.au 

  • Kirsty Greenwood, ‘Manual therapy for infants with breastfeeding difficulties’
  • Des Wiggins, ‘Determinants of Scope of Practice in Australian Chiropractic’

Completed Supervision

Masters by Research​

  • Lindsay Gorrell, ‘The effect of manual and instrument applied cervical spine manipulation on mechanical neck pain’
  • Sheridan Beaumont, ‘The relationship between systemic inflammatory biomarkers, lung function and exercise in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease’
  • Jaxson (Chloe) Wearing, ‘A phenotype analysis of the effect of spinal manipulative therapy and pulmonary rehabilitation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease’
  • Christopher Burrell, ‘An appraisal of adverse event reporting systems associated with spinal manipulative therapy’
  • Des Wiggins ‘19th century American social milieu and alternate disease theories: origins of Chiropractic’
  • Chris Burrell, ‘Attitudes and behaviours of Australian chiropractors towards reporting adverse events’
  • Raymond Blaich, ‘The anatomical sciences within osteopathic education in Australia and New Zealand’
Dr Amie Steel - Australian HDR supervisor
Dr Amie Steel, University of Technology Sydney

Dr Amie Steel

E: Amie.Steel@uts.edu.au

See Completed Research Students below

See Current Research Students below

Student Project title Course Institution Role Completion date
1. Hope Foley Patient perceptions of empathy, empowerment and patient-centred care in complementary medicine student clinics Bachelor of Health Science (Naturopathy) Honours Endeavour College of Natural Health Primary supervisor December 2016 (Class 1)
2. Joshua Sutherland Understanding how complementary and alternative medicine practitioners relate to and interpret evidence in clinical practice Bachelor of Health Science (Nutritional Medicine) Honours Endeavour College of Natural Health Co-supervisor June 2017 (Class 1)
3. Helene Diezel The inclusion of complementary medicine in Australian nursing and midwifery courses: a survey pre-test Masters of Health Services (Research) University of Technology Sydney Co-supervisor July 2017
4. Greg Cope Academic identity in complementary medicine educators Masters of Clinical Education Griffith University Co-supervisor December 2017
5. Bradley Leech Investigation into nutritionists and naturopath’s knowledge on intestinal permeability and what they are currently administrating in clinical practice. Bachelor of Health Science (Naturopathy) Honours Endeavour College of Natural Health Primary Supervisor February 2018 (Class 1)
6. Cassie Davenport Activated B Vitamins Vs
Standard B Vitamins for stress
in higher education students:
Randomised Control Trial		 Bachelor of Health Science (Naturopathy) Honours Endeavour College of Natural Health Co- Supervisor January 2019
7. Kirsten Baker Exploring the characteristics of marginalised populations seeking acupuncture: An observational study of a community health service Bachelor of Health Science (Acupuncture) Honours Endeavour College of Natural Health Co-supervisor June 2019
8. Cherie Caut Assessing the dietary habits and diet quality of Australian men and women with infertility against the Australian Dietary Guidelines and the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating: A cross-sectional study. Bachelor of Health Science (Nutritional Medicine) Honours Endeavour College of Natural Health Primary supervisors June 2019
9. Nicole Hannan Exploring the use of complementary medicines, burden of disease and satisfaction with care in paediatric eosinophilic oesophagitis: an investigation into parent’s perceptions Masters of Medical Research Griffith University Co-supervisor November 2020
10. Carolyn Ledwosky Investigating differences in pregnancy and fertility outcomes between oral 5-MTHF and folic acid supplementation in women and men with MTHFR polymorphisms. Bachelor of Health Science (Naturopathy) Honours Endeavour College of Natural Health Primary Supervisor January 2021
11. Alaia Harvie Classical Chinese Medicine in Community Health with a Focus on Self-Care: Participant, Staff and Practitioner Perspectives on a Pilot Program Master of Health Services (Research) University of Technology Sydney Primary supervisor February 2021
12. Peter James Traditional herbal medicine use during pregnancy in Sierra Leone within the context of the free healthcare initiative Doctor of Philosophy University of Technology Sydney Co-supervisor January 2021
13. Hope Foley The Role, Value and Patient Experience of Complementary Medicine Use for Chronic Disease Management Doctor of Philosophy University of Technology Sydney Co-supervisor July 2021
14. Alastair Gray An examination of the readiness and capacity of colleges of Complementary Medicine to deliver quality educational outcomes in the training of health professionals using learning technologies and elearning: A mixed method study in Australia and the US Doctor of Philosophy University of Technology Sydney Co-supervisor March 2022
15. Bradley Leech The Development, Dissemination and Implementation of a Clinical Practice Guideline for the Assessment and Management of Increased Intestinal Permeability Doctor of Philosophy University of Technology Sydney Co-supervisor January 2023
16. Kim Graham The use of complexity science to understanding naturopathic philosophy and practice Doctor of Philosophy University of Technology Sydney Primary supervisor April 2023
17. Mel Morns The Characteristics and Symptoms of Women Who Self-identify as Experiencing the Phenomena of Nursing Aversion Doctor of Philosophy University of Technology Sydney Primary supervisor September 2023
18. Rebecca Redmond Assessing naturopathic prescriptions in endometriosis, uterine fibroids and polycystic ovarian syndrome: clinical insights into Australian naturopathic practice Doctor of Philosophy University of Technology Sydney Primary supervisor June 2024
19. Kirsten Baker Exploring the Characteristics of Marginalised Populations Seeking Acupuncture: An Observational Study of a Community Health Service Doctor of Philosophy University of Technology Sydney Primary supervisor August 2024

Student Project title Course Institution Role Status
1. Kylie McWhirter An Observational Cohort Study of the effect of Rhythmic Movement Training International (RMTi) on Integrational Primitive Reflexes in Children and the Development of Learning Difficulties Doctor of Philosophy University of Technology Sydney Primary Supervisor Confirmed
2. Cherie Caut Preconception health knowledge, information-seeking behaviours and attitudes of health professionals, women and men in Australia and the United Kingdom: An exploratory sequential mixed methods study. Doctor of Philosophy University of Technology Sydney Primary supervisor Confirmed
3. Tristan Carter Paternal Preconception Care – The health behaviours, attitudes and intentions of first-time Australian fathers. Doctor of Philosophy University of Technology Sydney Primary supervisor Confirmed
4. Carolyn Ledowsky Comparative effectiveness of 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate and folic acid intake in women with MTHFR polymorphisms and recurrent pregnancy loss Doctor of Philosophy University of Technology Sydney Primary supervisor Confirmed
5. Tina Taylor Patient-focused public health information shared by Complementary Medicine practitioners in clinical encounters and patient engagement Doctor of Philosophy University of Technology Sydney Primary supervisor Candidate
6. Chanelle Mastronardo Complementary medicine practitioner-shared public health information and consumer engagement Doctor of Philosophy University of Technology Sydney Primary supervisor Candidate
7. Ian Breakspear Determining Clinical Success: the perspectives and practices of naturopathic and herbal medicine practitioners Doctor of Philosophy University of Technology Sydney Primary supervisor Candidate
8. Jenny Caré Australian stakeholder attitudes and perceptions towards unregulated health professions pursuing occupational regulation. Doctor of Philosophy University of Technology Co-supervisor Confirmed
9. David Casteleijn The effectiveness of individualized herbal medicine for the treatment of anxiety Doctor of Philosophy University of Technology Sydney Co-supervisor Confirmed
10. Jill Dunn Mapping the naturopathic landscape: an examination of regulatory, education and policy infrastructures and policy frameworks in a global emerging profession Doctor of Philosophy University of Technology Sydney Co-supervisor Confirmed
11. Sophia Gerontakos Developing a new model of delivery for naturopathic care: a pilot feasibility study on group delivered naturopathy for endometriosis Doctor of Philosophy Southern Cross University Co-supervisor Confirmed
12. Meagan McWhirter Endocannabinoid levels in Australian mothers with postnatal depression Doctor of Philosophy Southern Cross University Co-supervisor Confirmed
Head and shoulders of Danielle Baxter
Dr Danielle Baxter

Dr Danielle Baxter

PhD(Comp.Med), MSc(Osteo), BA

E: danielle.baxter@rmit.edu.au

Current Projects

  • The use of respiratory patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) in the management of COPD: Perceptions of Australian osteopaths
  • Osteopathic Approaches to Treatment: A study of consecutive consultations in Australian osteopathic clinics.

Future Projects/Interests

  • The role of osteopaths in the management of older adults / healthy ageing
  • Non-pharmacological management of chronic diseases - special interest in respiratory conditions
  • Clinical education
  • Osteopathy-related clinical studies

HDR supervisor

Has supervised Honours student to completion.

Brett Vaughan
Dr Brett Vaughan, Adjunct Professional Fellow, Faculty of Health

Dr Brett Vaughan

PhD, BSc, MHlthSc(Osteo), GradCert TertEd, GCertPubHlth

E: brett.vaughan@unimelb.edu.au

Current projects

  • Helen McGregor – motivations of allied health professionals to undertake continuing professional development (co-supervisor)
  • Michael Fleischmann – osteopathic management of neck pain (co-supervisor)
  • Amy Lawton – the role of allied health in community falls prevention (co-supervisor)
  • Rachael Lim – Australian optometrists and engagement in reflective practice (co-supervisor)