About Us
Optimising the health and wellbeing of the community we serve
The School of Health Sciences Early to Mid-Career Academics Association (EMCAA) is established to facilitate inter-connectedness and collaboration between anyone who identifies as an early or mid-career academic within the Department of Nursing, Department of Audiology or Speech Pathology, Department of Optometry, Department of Physiotherapy or Department of Social Work.
EMCAA Structure
Co-Chairs
EMCAA has five co-chairs representing each of the Departments within the School of Health Sciences.

Dr Michelle Hall
Senior Research Fellow, NHMRC Emerging Leader, Dame Kate Campbell Fellow | Research areas include osteoarthritis. exercise, biomechanics; meta-analyses, clinical trials
halm@unimelb.edu.au

Dr Gemma McKibbin
Research fellow | Specialises in interviews with children and young people about sensitive issues like child sexual abuse and family violence. Interested in research collaborations that benefit the health and social lives of children and young people in Australia and across the globe
gemma.mckibbin@unimelb.edu.au
Steering Committee
The steering committee meets monthly to discuss how we provide opportunities to enhance collaboration between the five Departments within the School of Health Sciences.

Dr Belinda Lawford
Research Assistant | Areas of research include telehealth and implementation of health services to help improve the lives of those with chronic musculoskeletal pain (e.g. osteoarthritis)
belinda.lawford@unimelb.edu.au

Dr Elaina Kefalianos
Senior Lecturer | Research areas include child communication development, stuttering, epidemiological studies, implementation science
elaina.kefalianos@unimelb.edu.au

Dr Kade Paterson
NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow, Dame Kate Campbell Senior Research Fellow | Research includes lower limb biomechanics of walking and running, and the clinical and biomechanical effects of foot-based interventions for musculoskeletal conditions
kade.paterson@unimelb.edu.au

Dr Natalie Fini
Senior Lecturer, Post-Doctoral Researcher | Research areas include physical activity after neurological injury, stroke recovery and rehabilitation
natalie.fini@unimelb.edu.au

Dr Thorlene Egerton
Senior Lecturer | Research focus is on design of models of health service delivery to implement evidence-based practice for osteoarthritis and other chronic conditions
thorlene.egerton@unimelb.edu.au

Dr Marianne Coleman
Orthoptist, Clinical Vision Research Fellow | Research areas include Digital Health, Childrens Vision, Public Eye Health, Eyecare across the Lifespan, Binocular Vision.
marianne.coleman@unimelb.edu.au

Dr Kate Hayward
Senior Research Fellow | Research areas include the brain-behaviour nexus during rehabilitation after stroke
kate.hayward@unimelb.edu.au

Associate Professor Kristin Diemer
Associate Professor | kNOwVAWdata; safe, ethical and inclusive measurement of violence against women and children with a focus in Asia and the Pacific
k.diemer@unimelb.edu.au

Dr Rebecca Jarden
Lecturer | Research areas include nurse wellbeing and critical care
rebecca.jarden@unimelb.edu.au

Dr Mark Merolli
Physiotherapist, Senior Lecturer, Research Fellow | Digital Technologies
merollim@unimelb.edu.au