People

Dr Natalie Fini

Senior Lecturer, Postdoctoral Fellow, physiotherapist

Natalie is a Senior Lecturer and Postdoctoral stroke researcher (funded by a National Health and Medical REsearch Council of Australia Emerging Leadership 1 Fellowship) in the Department of Physiotherapy at the University of Melbourne. Natalie is an experienced physiotherapist with over 15 years of clinical experience in Australia and the UK. Natalie is passionate about physical activity after stroke and completed her PhD in this area at La Trobe University in 2020.  

Natalie continues to pursue this area of research in her postdoctoral work and is particularly interested in early phase trial designs to target how much physical activity is optimal for subgroups of stroke survivors. Natalie is currently leading an innovative trial funded by the Stroke Foundation of Australia. Her early postdoctoral work focussed on co-designing physical activity interventions with stroke survivors, carers and clinicians and developing an international consensus on post-stroke physical activity measurement.  

Emily Dalton

Postdoctoral Fellow, occupational therapist

Emily completed her PhD in  February 2023 through the Melbourne School of Health Sciences, University of Melbourne. Her primary PhD supervisor was Kate Hayward, and her co-supervisors were Leonid Churilov (Professor, University of Melbourne), Natasha Lannin (Professor, Monash University) and Bruce Campbell (Professor, University of Melbourne). 

The goal of Emily's work is to systematically investigate dose and its examination through novel, early phase designs. Emily has published several papers. 

Prior to enrolling in her PhD, Emily was a senior occupational therapist on the stroke unit at Royal Melbourne Hospital. Emily remains clinically active working as a senior occupational therapist at Austin Health and Melbourne Health campuses.  

Matthew Wingfield 

PhD student,  physiotherapist 

Matthew is a PhD student in the Melbourne School of Health Sciences, University of Melbourne. His primary PhD supervisor is Kate Hayward, and his co-supervisors are Amy Brodtmann (Professor, The Florey), Gavin Williams ( Professor, University of Melbourne), and Natalie Fini (Senior Lecturer, University of Melbourne).

The aim of Matthew's thesis it to examine what therapy 'ingredients' drive brain changes in people with severe upper limb disability. Matthew commenced his PhD in July 2020. 

Matthew is also a senior physiotherapist at Epworth Health in Melbourne and Lecturer in the Department of Physiotherapy. He also co-leads the podcast 'A NeuroPhysio Podcast'.

Cristina Levy

PhD student, Physiotherapist

Cristina is a PhD student in the Melbourne School of Health Sciences, University of Melbourne. Cristina's research will be supervised by Kate Hayward, and her co-supervisors are Bruce Campbell (Professor, University of Melbourne), Amy Brodtmann (Professor, The Florey), Sandy Brauer (Professor, University of Queensland) and Leonid Churilov (Professor, University of Melbourne).

The aim of Cristina’s thesis is to combine neuroimaging and neurophysiological biomarkers to advance our capacity to identify early after stroke who has the potential to recover everyday arm function and the ability to walk. 

Cristina also works as a senior clinical physiotherapist at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. 

Sarah Newton 

Occupational Therapist, Research Assistant and Masters by Research student

Sarah is a PhD student in the Melbourne School of Health Sciences, University of Melbourne. Sarah's research is supervised by Kate Hayward, and her co-supervisors are Leonid Churilov (Professor, University of Melbourne) and Marlena Klaic (Dr, University of Melbourne). 

The aim of Sarah's thesis is to examine usual upper limb therapy after stroke and feasibility of electronic dose recording and monitoring. 

Sarah also works as a senior occupational therapist at Austin Health, and Project Manager for the SCORES competency training program for stroke rehabilitation outcomes. 

Joanne Quek 

Physiotherapist and Research Assistant 

Jo is a research assistant on multiple projects within the REPAIR research.  Jo also works clinically as a physiotherapist at St Vincent's Health and Austin Health in neurological and geriatric rehabilitation. 

Bron Williams

Physiotherapist, Research Assistant

Bron is a physiotherapist with over 30 years experience in public hospital system. Bron is now lead upper limb therapist on the UPLIFT trial.

Elliott Lim

Speech Pathologist, Research Assistant

Elliott is a speech pathologist with prior experience in the public health system. Elliott now works as a therapist on the UPLIFT trial.

Elise Cowley

Clincial Trials Governance 

Elise is an experienced clinical trial coordinator - managing all aspects of ethics and governance. Elise manages governance of the UPLIFT trial.

Gemma Hughes

Physiotherapist, Research Assistant 

Gemma started working with the REPAIR group when she was completing her Masters of Physiotherapy at La Trobe University. Gemma is now a physiotherapist at Austin Health and continues to support REPAIR research through recruitment to DOSE-UP and UPLIFT trials.

Molly Eaton

Occupational Therapist, Research Assistant

Molly is an occupational therapist at Royal Melbourne Hospital and supports recruitment to DOSE-UP and UPLIFT trials within REPAIR through her role.