Overview
Background
Dr Rebecca Packer is a Senior Lecturer in Speech Pathology at the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences. Dr Packer has attracted over 2.2M in research funding and published over 40 research articles and book chapters with her main focus on the impacts of swallowing disorders in head and neck cancer on survivors and their families.
Availability
- Dr Rebecca Packer is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours), The University of Queensland
- Postgraduate Diploma, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Swallowing disorders
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International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)
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Third-Party Disability
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Family-Centred Care
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Psychosocial Impact of Swallowing Disorders
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Psychosocial Interventions for Swallowing Disorders
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Head and neck cancer
Research impacts
Dr Packer is an emerging leader in the psychosocial impacts of swallowing disorders following head and neck cancer. She has been invited to present at both national and international conferences regarding her work on understanding survivor and family members perspectives of living with swallowing disorders post head and neck cancer treatment.
Works
Search Professor Rebecca Packer’s works on UQ eSpace
2026
Journal Article
Caregiver Experiences of Intervention for Paediatric Feeding Disorder: A Scoping Review
Wong, Mia, Packer, Rebecca L., Gent, Valerie and Marshall, Jeanne (2026). Caregiver Experiences of Intervention for Paediatric Feeding Disorder: A Scoping Review. Acta Paediatrica apa.70675. doi: 10.1111/apa.70675
2026
Journal Article
Exploring the Effects of Frailty and Sarcopenia on Dysphagia in Head and Neck Cancer: A Scoping Review
Perera, Rishni, Ward, Elizabeth C., O'Donnell, Nicole, Yates, Paul and Packer, Rebecca L. (2026). Exploring the Effects of Frailty and Sarcopenia on Dysphagia in Head and Neck Cancer: A Scoping Review. Head & Neck hed.70379. doi: 10.1002/hed.70379
2026
Conference Publication
Dysphagia risk in older adults with head and neck cancer: The role of frailty and sarcopenia
Perera, Rishni, Ward, Elizabeth (Liz), O'Donnell, Nicole, Yates, Paul and Packer, Rebecca (2026). Dysphagia risk in older adults with head and neck cancer: The role of frailty and sarcopenia. HOBOKEN: WILEY.
2026
Journal Article
“It's the exact same treatment … except only 5 min away”: A RE ‐ AIM evaluation of a speech‐language pathology shared‐care model for rural patients with head and neck cancer
Patterson, Corey, Ward, Elizabeth C., Packer, Rebecca L., Foley, Jasmine, Wishart, Laurelie R., Burns, Clare L., Pether, Sally and Comben, Wendy (2026). “It's the exact same treatment … except only 5 min away”: A RE ‐ AIM evaluation of a speech‐language pathology shared‐care model for rural patients with head and neck cancer. Head and Neck hed.70311. doi: 10.1002/hed.70311
2026
Journal Article
The impact of dysphagia on carers of people with head and neck cancer: development and preliminary validation of the significant other scale for eating in head and neck cancer (SOSE-H&N)
Packer, Rebecca L., Wishart, Laurelie R., Brown, Bena, Patterson, Joanne, Watson, Laura-Jayne, Hutchison, Alana, Iyo, Jasmin Jie Min, Scarinci, Nerina, Ward, Elizabeth C. and Porceddu, Sandro V. (2026). The impact of dysphagia on carers of people with head and neck cancer: development and preliminary validation of the significant other scale for eating in head and neck cancer (SOSE-H&N). Disability and Rehabilitation, 48 (11), 3591-3606. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2025.2594575
2026
Journal Article
Clinician insights into pediatric temporary feeding tube management: unseen barriers, unclear roles revealed from a prospective mixed methods study
Reilly, Claire, Packer, Rebecca, Marshall, Jeanne, Thapar, Nikhil and Foley, Jasmine (2026). Clinician insights into pediatric temporary feeding tube management: unseen barriers, unclear roles revealed from a prospective mixed methods study. Nutrition in Clinical Practice PMID 8606733. doi: 10.1002/ncp.70093
2026
Journal Article
The all-encompassing nature of motor neuron disease caregiving: a qualitative study of Australian caregivers
Neville, Sally A., Ngo, Shyuan T., Steyn, Frederik J. and Packer, Rebecca (2026). The all-encompassing nature of motor neuron disease caregiving: a qualitative study of Australian caregivers. Disability and Rehabilitation, 1-15. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2026.2690908
2025
Journal Article
The healthcare experiences of people with head and neck cancer and associated communication changes: an interpretative phenomenological study
Checklin, Martin, Foster, Abby M., Packer, Rebecca, Dixon, Benjamin and O'halloran, Robyn (2025). The healthcare experiences of people with head and neck cancer and associated communication changes: an interpretative phenomenological study. Qualitative Health Research 10497323251392788, 1-16. doi: 10.1177/10497323251392788
2025
Journal Article
More than meets the eye: the hidden burden of temporary feeding tubes on children and their families
Reilly, Claire, Foley, Jasmine, Packer, Rebecca, Thapar, Nikhil, Keramat, Syed Afroz and Marshall, Jeanne (2025). More than meets the eye: the hidden burden of temporary feeding tubes on children and their families. Nutrition in Clinical Practice, 41 (2) ncp.70048, 662-679. doi: 10.1002/ncp.70048
2025
Journal Article
Living with dysphagia and dysarthria: a qualitative exploration of the perspectives of people with motor neuron disease and their caregivers
Packer, Rebecca, Rumbach, Anna, Farrell, Anna, Hutchinson, Nicole, Verner-Wren, Stacey, Henderson, Robert and McCombe, Pamela (2025). Living with dysphagia and dysarthria: a qualitative exploration of the perspectives of people with motor neuron disease and their caregivers. Healthcare, 13 (18) 2306, 1. doi: 10.3390/healthcare13182306
2025
Conference Publication
Beyond traditional bulbar function measures: automated speech analysis and patient experience of communication change as integrated biomarkers in ALS
Whelan, B. M., Vogel, A., Henderson, R., Taubert, S., Aiken, P., Angwin, A., Packer, R., Penman, A., Copland, D. and Charania, S. (2025). Beyond traditional bulbar function measures: automated speech analysis and patient experience of communication change as integrated biomarkers in ALS. Pan-Asian Consortium for Treatment and Research in ALS, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 7-9 September 2025.
2025
Journal Article
Experiences and insights from parents of children with temporary feeding tubes
Reilly, Claire, Marshall, Jeanne, Packer, Rebecca, Thapar, Nikhil, Syrmis, Maryanne, Frederiksen, Nadine and Bell, Kristie L. (2025). Experiences and insights from parents of children with temporary feeding tubes. Journal of Child Health Care 13674935251370415, 1-12. doi: 10.1177/13674935251370415
2025
Journal Article
“It's just us”: families' experiences with temporary tube feeding
Reilly, Claire, Marshall, Jeanne, Foley, Jasmine, Thapar, Nikhil and Packer, Rebecca (2025). “It's just us”: families' experiences with temporary tube feeding. Nutrition in Clinical Practice, 41 (2) ncp.70019, 1-15. doi: 10.1002/ncp.70019
2025
Journal Article
“I like to accommodate as much as possible”: a survey of food service professionals’ awareness of dysphagia and experiences in dietary modifications
Packer, Rebecca L., Howells, Simone, Lim, Esther Kay Ying, Hutchison, Alana, Rumbach, Anna, Wishart, Laurelie and Brown, Bena (2025). “I like to accommodate as much as possible”: a survey of food service professionals’ awareness of dysphagia and experiences in dietary modifications. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 1-11. doi: 10.1080/17549507.2025.2544738
2025
Journal Article
Current practices and recommendations for children with food allergies and feeding behaviours: Insights from a survey among Australian health professionals
Kefford, Jennifer, Packer, Rebecca L., Netting, Merryn, Ward, Elizabeth C. and Marshall, Jeanne (2025). Current practices and recommendations for children with food allergies and feeding behaviours: Insights from a survey among Australian health professionals. Children, 12 (7) 905, 1-14. doi: 10.3390/children12070905
2025
Journal Article
First Nations Australians and head and neck cancer: health professionals’ priorities for improving the pathway of care
Ng, Stephanie, Ward, Elizabeth C., Garvey, Gail, Butler, Tamara, Tesiram, Joanne, Brown, Bena, Foley, Jasmine, Packer, Rebecca and Hansen, Aaron (2025). First Nations Australians and head and neck cancer: health professionals’ priorities for improving the pathway of care. Supportive Care in Cancer, 33 (7) 624, 1-12. doi: 10.1007/s00520-025-09651-y
2025
Journal Article
Assessment of the “MND-Prism” smartphone application as a tool for self-management
Neville, Sally, Ziser, Laura, Henders, Anjali, Milne, Jane, Ngo, Shyuan T., Packer, Rebecca and Steyn, Frederik J. (2025). Assessment of the “MND-Prism” smartphone application as a tool for self-management. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration, 26 (7-8), 1-10. doi: 10.1080/21678421.2025.2511119
2025
Journal Article
Implementing a nurse-enabled, integrated, shared-care model involving specialists and general practitioners in early breast cancer post-treatment follow-up (EMINENT): a single-centre, open-label, phase 2, parallel-group, pilot, randomised, controlled trial
Chan, Raymond J., Crawford-Williams, Fiona, Han, Chad Yixian, Jones, Lee, Chan, Alexandre, McKavanagh, Daniel, Ryan, Marissa, Carrington, Christine, Packer, Rebecca L., Crichton, Megan, Hart, Nicolas H., McKinnell, Emma, Gosper, Melissa, Ryan, Juanita, Crowe, Bethany, Joseph, Ria, Ee, Carolyn, Lee, Jane, McPhail, Steven M., Cuff, Katharine, Teleni, Laisa and Emery, Jon (2025). Implementing a nurse-enabled, integrated, shared-care model involving specialists and general practitioners in early breast cancer post-treatment follow-up (EMINENT): a single-centre, open-label, phase 2, parallel-group, pilot, randomised, controlled trial. eClinicalMedicine, 81 103090, 103090-81. doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2025.103090
2024
Journal Article
Patient Reported Outcome Measures in cancer care: a hybrid effectiveness-Implementation trial to optimise Symptom control and health service Experience (PROMISE)–protocol for a randomised controlled trial of electronic self-reporting of symptoms versus usual care during and following treatment in patients with cancer
Webb, Penelope M, Brown, Amy, Brown, Bena, Collins, Louisa G, Crawford Williams, Fiona, Doupain, Kerrie, Eastgate, Melissa, Fennelly, Vicki, Girgis, Afaf, Hartel, Gunter, Ladwa, Rahul, Martin, Karen, Mason, Robert, McGuire, Peter, Miller, Elizabeth, O’Brien, Suzanne, Packer, Rebecca, Pinkham, Mark B, Sabesan, Sabe, Sanmugarajah, Jasotha, Slapp, Georgia, Tapsall, Doreen, White, Jeanie, Wishart, Laurelie R, Wyld, David and Chan, Raymond J (2024). Patient Reported Outcome Measures in cancer care: a hybrid effectiveness-Implementation trial to optimise Symptom control and health service Experience (PROMISE)–protocol for a randomised controlled trial of electronic self-reporting of symptoms versus usual care during and following treatment in patients with cancer. BMJ Open, 14 (11) e090836, 1-10. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-090836
2024
Journal Article
Navigating childhood hearing loss: the experiences of parents, grandparents and siblings
Loh, Denise Siying, Packer, Rebecca L. and Scarinci, Nerina A. (2024). Navigating childhood hearing loss: the experiences of parents, grandparents and siblings. Disability and Rehabilitation, 47 (11), 2846-2857. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2024.2403723
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Rebecca Packer is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Available projects
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Measuring the impact of swallowing disorders on family members
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Psychosocial support for people with swallowing disorders following head and neck cancer and their families
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Development of a core set of outcome measures for dysphagia in HNC
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigating the interplay among frailty, sarcopenia, and dysphagia in the head and neck cancer population
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Elizabeth Ward
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Master Philosophy
Establishing Quality Indicators for Mealtime Management Plans in Adult Dysphagia Care: A Multi-Method Study
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Elizabeth Ward
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Doctor Philosophy
Feeding Behaviours of Young Children with Food Allergy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Elizabeth Ward, Dr Jeanne Marshall
Completed supervision
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2026
Doctor Philosophy
Beyond burden: Psychosocial impacts, challenges and digital self-management in the Australian Motor Neuron Disease community.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Shyuan Ngo, Associate Professor Taylor Dick, Associate Professor Frederik Steyn
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2026
Doctor Philosophy
The Clinical-Family Interface: Professional Perspectives and Family Experiences in Paediatric Temporary Feeding Tube Management
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jeanne Marshall
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
Early intervention services for children with hearing loss in Kuwait
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Mansoureh Nickbakht, Professor Nerina Scarinci
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Enhancing the Understanding of, and Access to, Speech Pathology Head and Neck Cancer Services in Rural Areas
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Hon Assoc Professor Laurelie Wishart, Professor Elizabeth Ward
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
A year in the life: The impact of dysarthria for people with MND
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Anna Rumbach, Professor Nerina Scarinci
Media
Enquiries
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