Associate Professor Sarah Wallace
Associate Professor

Sarah Wallace

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 334 67453

Background

I am a research leader who believes the best science is built with the people it is designed to serve. As a two-time NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow and Certified Practising Speech Pathologist, I lead a transdisciplinary team of more than 20 researchers at the University of Queensland. We work in partnership with consumers, clinicians, communities, government, and industry to co-produce interventions, technologies, systems, and standards that drive real change and serve the public good.

My research themes include: (a) Design and implementation of a national audit system to drive quality improvement in post-stroke aphasia services; (b) Development and implementation of methodological standards to improve aphasia research quality and reduce research wastage; (c) Development of technology-enhanced interventions to support self-management, promote equitable access to information and services, and empower people with communication support needs; (d) Development of fit-for-purpose training and resources for aged care workers to help older Australians have better conversations about aged care.

I lead the Living Experience (Lex) Lab, the Qualitative Collective, and the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Communication Research and Engagement Theme (CommRET). I am a UQ Research Integrity Advisor.

Availability

Associate Professor Sarah Wallace is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Aged health care Allied health and rehabilitation science Digital health Health Sciences Health and community services Health informatics and information systems Health services and systems Health surveillance Health systems Rehabilitation Speech pathology

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Speech Pathology, The University of Queensland
  • Graduate Certificate in Gerontology, La Trobe University
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Research interests

  • Ageing and aged care

  • Communication disability

  • Aphasia rehabilitation

  • Core Outcome Set development

  • Consensus techniques and stakeholder engagement

  • Co-design

  • Outcome measurement

Search Professor Sarah Wallace’s works on UQ eSpace

129 works between 2013 and 2026
All (129) Journal Article (96) Other Outputs (5) Conference Publication (26) Book Chapter (2)

1 - 20 of 129 works

Featured

2024

Journal Article

Establishing quality indicators and implementation priorities for post-stroke aphasia services through end-user involvement

Shrubsole, Kirstine, Stone, Marissa, Cadilhac, Dominique A., Kilkenny, Monique F., Power, Emma, Lynch, Elizabeth, Pierce, John E., Copland, David A., Godecke, Erin, Burton, Bridget, Brogan, Emily and Wallace, Sarah J. (2024). Establishing quality indicators and implementation priorities for post-stroke aphasia services through end-user involvement. Health Expectations, 27 (5) e14173, 1-18. doi: 10.1111/hex.14173

Establishing quality indicators and implementation priorities for post-stroke aphasia services through end-user involvement

Featured

2022

Journal Article

Measuring communication as a core outcome in aphasia trials: Results of the ROMA-2 international core outcome set development meeting

Wallace, Sarah J., Worrall, Linda, Rose, Tanya A., Alyahya, Reem S.W., Babbitt, Edna, Beeke, Suzanne, de Beer, Carola, Bose, Arpita, Bowen, Audrey, Brady, Marian C., Breitenstein, Caterina, Bruehl, Stefanie, Bryant, Lucy, Cheng, Bonnie B.Y., Cherney, Leora R., Conroy, Paul, Copland, David A., Croteau, Clare, Cruice, Madeline, Dipper, Lucy, Hilari, Katerina, Howe, Tami, Kelly, Helen, Kiran, Swathi, Laska, Ann-Charlotte, Marshall, Jane, Murray, Laura L., Patterson, Janet, Pearl, Gill ... Dorze, Guylaine Le (2022). Measuring communication as a core outcome in aphasia trials: Results of the ROMA-2 international core outcome set development meeting. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders, 58 (4), 1017-1028. doi: 10.1111/1460-6984.12840

Measuring communication as a core outcome in aphasia trials: Results of the ROMA-2 international core outcome set development meeting

Featured

2022

Journal Article

Establishing reporting standards for participant characteristics in post-stroke aphasia research: an international e-Delphi exercise and consensus meeting

Wallace, Sarah J., Isaacs, Megan, Ali, Myzoon and Brady, Marian C. (2022). Establishing reporting standards for participant characteristics in post-stroke aphasia research: an international e-Delphi exercise and consensus meeting. Clinical Rehabilitation, 37 (2), 026921552211312-214. doi: 10.1177/02692155221131241

Establishing reporting standards for participant characteristics in post-stroke aphasia research: an international e-Delphi exercise and consensus meeting

Featured

2019

Journal Article

A core outcome set for aphasia treatment research: the ROMA consensus statement

Wallace, Sarah J., Worrall, Linda, Rose, Tanya, Le Dorze, Guylaine, Breitenstein, Caterina, Hilari, Katerina, Babbitt, Edna, Bose, Arpita, Brady, Marian, Cherney, Leora R., Copland, David, Cruice, Madeline, Enderby, Pam, Hersh, Deborah, Howe, Tami, Kelly, Helen, Kiran, Swathi, Laska, Ann-Charlotte, Marshall, Jane, Nicholas, Marjorie, Patterson, Janet, Pearl, Gill, Rochon, Elizabeth, Rose, Miranda, Sage, Karen, Small, Steven and Webster, Janet (2019). A core outcome set for aphasia treatment research: the ROMA consensus statement. International Journal of Stroke, 14 (2), 180-185. doi: 10.1177/1747493018806200

A core outcome set for aphasia treatment research: the ROMA consensus statement

2026

Journal Article

Quality and outcomes of acute stroke care for people with and without aphasia

Stone, Marissa, Wallace, Sarah J., Copland, David A., Cadilhac, Dominique A., Hill, Kelvin, Purvis, Tara, Reyneke, Megan and Kilkenny, Monique F. (2026). Quality and outcomes of acute stroke care for people with and without aphasia. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 107 (2), 188-197. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2025.07.007

Quality and outcomes of acute stroke care for people with and without aphasia

2026

Journal Article

An international core outcome set for primary progressive Aphasia (COS-PPA): commonalities in what people want to change about their lives with PPA across seventeen countries

Volkmer, A., Alves, E., Bar-Zeev, H., Battista, P., Brotherhood, E. V., Cadorio, I. R., Cartwright, J., Farrington-Douglas, C., Freitas, M. I. D., Hendriksen, H. M. A., Jiskoot, L., Kingma, R., Lifshitz-Ben-Basat, A., Jokel, R., Meinzer, M., Mendez-Orellana, C., Millanski, C., Montagut, N., Norvik, M., Nowenstein, I. E., Paplikar, A., Renard, A., Rysop, A. U., Taylor-Rubin, C., Unger, N., Van Ewijk, L., Wielaert, S., Winsnes, I. E., Yasa, I. C. ... Dedios-Stern, S. (2026). An international core outcome set for primary progressive Aphasia (COS-PPA): commonalities in what people want to change about their lives with PPA across seventeen countries. Aphasiology, 1-25. doi: 10.1080/02687038.2026.2620491

An international core outcome set for primary progressive Aphasia (COS-PPA): commonalities in what people want to change about their lives with PPA across seventeen countries

2026

Journal Article

Comparing inpatient stroke rehabilitation care and outcomes for people with and without aphasia in Australia

Stone, Marissa, Wallace, Sarah J., Copland, David A., Burns, Catherine, Purvis, Tara, Cadilhac, Dominique A., Hill, Kelvin and Kilkenny, Monique F. (2026). Comparing inpatient stroke rehabilitation care and outcomes for people with and without aphasia in Australia. Clinical rRehabilitation 02692155251413258, 2692155251413258. doi: 10.1177/02692155251413258

Comparing inpatient stroke rehabilitation care and outcomes for people with and without aphasia in Australia

2026

Journal Article

Communication partner training (CPT) in Australian post-stroke aphasia services: a national survey investigating implementation barriers, facilitators and training needs

Shrubsole, Kirstine, Wallace, Sarah J., Isaksen, Jytte, Copland, David A. and Power, Emma (2026). Communication partner training (CPT) in Australian post-stroke aphasia services: a national survey investigating implementation barriers, facilitators and training needs. Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation, 33 (1), 16-28. doi: 10.1080/10749357.2025.2532412

Communication partner training (CPT) in Australian post-stroke aphasia services: a national survey investigating implementation barriers, facilitators and training needs

2026

Journal Article

Improving communication partner training of familiar partners of people with aphasia: results of a pilot stepped wedge implementation trial and embedded process evaluation

Shrubsole, Kirstine, Rogers, Kris, Wallace, Sarah J., Isaacs, Megan, Ong, Wen Xuan, Worrall, Linda, McCluskey, Annie and Power, Emma (2026). Improving communication partner training of familiar partners of people with aphasia: results of a pilot stepped wedge implementation trial and embedded process evaluation. Disability and Rehabilitation, 48 (5), 1314-1334. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2025.2534525

Improving communication partner training of familiar partners of people with aphasia: results of a pilot stepped wedge implementation trial and embedded process evaluation

2025

Journal Article

Comment on Panuccio et al. quality of assessment tools for aphasia: a systematic review

Wallace, Sarah J., Hilari, Katerina, Willmes, Klaus, Meinzer, Marcus, Peñaloza, Claudia, van Ewijk, Lizet, Palmer, Rebecca, Zingelman, Sally, Hula, William D. and Breitenstein, Caterina (2025). Comment on Panuccio et al. quality of assessment tools for aphasia: a systematic review. Brain Sciences, 15 (11) 1233, 1233. doi: 10.3390/brainsci15111233

Comment on Panuccio et al. quality of assessment tools for aphasia: a systematic review

2025

Journal Article

Collaboration in aphasia research: benefits to researchers and society

Martínez Ferreiro, Silvia, Scobbie, Lesley, Periera, Diana, McArthur, Jaclyn, Wallace, Sarah J., Breitenstein, Caterina, Brady, Marian C. and on behalf of the CATs Executive Committee (2025). Collaboration in aphasia research: benefits to researchers and society. Aphasiology, 1-21. doi: 10.1080/02687038.2025.2578179

Collaboration in aphasia research: benefits to researchers and society

2025

Journal Article

Important outcomes for children and adolescents with cognitive-communication disorders after traumatic brain injury: an international multiperspective consensus study

Crumlish, Lauren, Angwin, Anthony J., Burton, Bridget and Wallace, Sarah J. (2025). Important outcomes for children and adolescents with cognitive-communication disorders after traumatic brain injury: an international multiperspective consensus study. American Journal of Speech - Language Pathology, 34 (6), 3118-3147. doi: 10.1044/2025_ajslp-24-00516

Important outcomes for children and adolescents with cognitive-communication disorders after traumatic brain injury: an international multiperspective consensus study

2025

Other Outputs

UQ conversations about care decision-making in aged care roundtable - feedback and complaints - 5 November 2025

King, Michelle, Wallace, Sarah J., Fothergill, Lauren, Hudson, Kyla, Zingelman, Sally and Patch, Jimmy (2025). UQ conversations about care decision-making in aged care roundtable - feedback and complaints - 5 November 2025. Brisbane, Australia: Conversations about Care Project, University of Queensland.

UQ conversations about care decision-making in aged care roundtable - feedback and complaints - 5 November 2025

2025

Journal Article

Development of an mHealth application for self‐management of post‐stroke aphasia: protocol for experience‐based co‐design, user experience testing, feasibility field test and process evaluation

Wallace, Sarah J., Ng, Zheng Yen, Burton, Bridget, Isaacs, Megan, Deslandes, Ryan, Sinh, Gopal, Barron, Kim, Jamieson, Phill, Shrubsole, Kirstine A., Copland, David A., Wiles, Janet, Palmer, Victoria J., Evans, Pippa, Hudson, Kyla, Angwin, Anthony J., Hill, Annie J., Timmer, Barbra H. B., Gullo, Matthew J., Campbell, Jessica H. and Worthy, Peter (2025). Development of an mHealth application for self‐management of post‐stroke aphasia: protocol for experience‐based co‐design, user experience testing, feasibility field test and process evaluation. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders, 60 (6) e70162, 1-8. doi: 10.1111/1460-6984.70162

Development of an mHealth application for self‐management of post‐stroke aphasia: protocol for experience‐based co‐design, user experience testing, feasibility field test and process evaluation

2025

Other Outputs

UQ Conversations about Care: Co-designing CommSNAP – A Communication Profiling Tool for Aged Care (August 2025)

Fothergill, Lauren, Patch, Jimmy, Hudson, Kyla, Zingelman, Sally, Worthy, Peter, Yang, Yifei (Yves), King, Michelle and Wallace, Sarah (2025). UQ Conversations about Care: Co-designing CommSNAP – A Communication Profiling Tool for Aged Care (August 2025). Brisbane, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland.

UQ Conversations about Care: Co-designing CommSNAP – A Communication Profiling Tool for Aged Care (August 2025)

2025

Journal Article

Does a champion-led implementation toolkit have the potential to improve aphasia guideline adherence? Results from a feasibility study

Shrubsole, Kirstine, Levine, Rachel, Lynch, Elizabeth, Briffa, Charmaine, Pierce, John E., Trebilcock, Megan, Do, Chau-Anh, Wallace, Sarah J. and Power, Emma (2025). Does a champion-led implementation toolkit have the potential to improve aphasia guideline adherence? Results from a feasibility study. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 1-16. doi: 10.1080/17549507.2025.2573342

Does a champion-led implementation toolkit have the potential to improve aphasia guideline adherence? Results from a feasibility study

2025

Journal Article

Experience-based co-design of a smartphone app for post-stroke aphasia self-management: a process evaluation

Hudson, Kyla, Burton, Bridget, Worthy, Peter, Isaacs, Megan, Shrubsole, Kirstine, Palmer, Victoria J., NG, Zheng Yen, Copland, David A., Angwin, Anthony, Wiles, Janet, Timmer, Barbra, Gullo, Matthew J., Hill, Annie J. and Wallace, Sarah J. (2025). Experience-based co-design of a smartphone app for post-stroke aphasia self-management: a process evaluation. Brain Impairment, 26 (4) IB24127, 1-15. doi: 10.1071/ib24127

Experience-based co-design of a smartphone app for post-stroke aphasia self-management: a process evaluation

2025

Journal Article

To treat or not to treat: a scoping review of speech treatment for dysarthria in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

Whelan, Brooke-Mai, Aldridge, Danielle, Ruhle, Jessica, Whitelock, Persephone, Taubert, Shana, Collins, Annette, Kearney, Elaine, Charania, Salma, Henderson, Robert D., Wallace, Sarah J., Mitchell, Claire, Stipancic, Kaila L., Kuruvilla-Dugdale, Mili and Vogel, Adam P. (2025). To treat or not to treat: a scoping review of speech treatment for dysarthria in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Healthcare, 13 (19) 2434, 1-22. doi: 10.3390/healthcare13192434

To treat or not to treat: a scoping review of speech treatment for dysarthria in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

2025

Conference Publication

Factors that influence return to driving for people with aphasia: recommendations from lived experience

Wallace, Helen E., Gullo, Hannah L., Copland, David A. and Wallace, Sarah J. (2025). Factors that influence return to driving for people with aphasia: recommendations from lived experience. Australian and New Zealand Stroke Organisation (ANZSO), Hobart, TAS Australia, 2-5 September 2025. Basel, Switzerland: S. Karger.

Factors that influence return to driving for people with aphasia: recommendations from lived experience

2025

Conference Publication

Co-design of a digital tool for remote monitoring of stroke survivors by general practice: a modified Delphi process

Olaiya, Muideen, Freak-Poli, Rosanne, Purvis, Tara, Wallace, Sarah J., Sanders, Lauren M., Nelson, Mark R., Cadilhac, Dominique A., Slater, Jared, Thayabaranathan, Tharshanah, Cameron, Jan, Kempson, Clive, Dhananjay, Samiksha, Tan, Kennice and Kilkenny, Monique F. (2025). Co-design of a digital tool for remote monitoring of stroke survivors by general practice: a modified Delphi process. Australian and New Zealand Stroke Organisation (ANZSO), Hobart, TAS Australia, 2-5 September 2025. Basel, Switzerland: S. Karger.

Co-design of a digital tool for remote monitoring of stroke survivors by general practice: a modified Delphi process

Current funding

  • 2026 - 2030
    Profound Pathways: Health Care Transition and Decision-Making for Young Adults with Profound Intellectual and Multiple Disabilities (PIMD)
    NHMRC MRFF Improving Health Outcomes of People with Intellectual Disability
    Open grant
  • 2026
    Unlocking the internet for people with communication disability: Accessible evaluation of the CommuniKey web browser extension
    auDA Community Grant
    Open grant
  • 2025 - 2029
    Lost Voices: Improving Outcomes for Older Australians with Communication Disability through Identification, Inclusion and Improved Quality of Care.
    NHMRC Investigator Grants
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2029
    Aphasia Treatment TranslAtIon Network (ATTAIN)
    NHMRC MRFF Rapid Applied Research Translation Grant
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2029
    Whose Care is Left Behind? A Multi-Level collective strategy to address structural inequalities in new models of care with priority populations (MRFF grant administered by The University of Melbourne)
    University of Melbourne
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2026
    The Right Treatment for the Right Person at the Right Time. Driving High-Value Aphasia Care through Meaningful Health System Monitoring
    NHMRC MRFF Cardiovascular Health
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2027
    Unspoken, Unheard, Unmet: Improving Access to Preventative Health Care through Better Conversations about Care
    NHMRC MRFF Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2026
    Implementation of Comprehensive High-dose Aphasia Treatment (CHAT)
    NHMRC Partnership Projects
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2024 - 2026
    Co-designing a pet robot to support people living with dementia
    Australian Assocation of Gerontology R M Gibson Research Grant
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2025
    Codesign of an interdisciplinary intervention to support text-messaging for adults with post-stroke aphasia: The SMS study
    National Stroke Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2025
    Bridging the Digital Divide: Building Health Self-Efficacy through Communication-Accessible Online Environments
    NHMRC MRFF PPHR - Consumer Led Research
    Open grant
  • 2023
    Plug-In and Power-Up: Boosting Health Self-Efficacy through Communication-Accessible Online Environments
    UQ Foundation Research Excellence Awards
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2023
    Maximising the impact of speech and language therapy for children with speech sound disorder (Non UQ Lead)
    National Institute for Health Research UK
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2022
    Co-design of a template for aphasia accessible research reporting (COTAR)
    Glasgow Caledonian University
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2024
    Measuring, Monitoring, and Motivating Adherence to Self-Managed Aphasia Treatment
    NHMRC MRFF - Cardiovascular Health Mission
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2023
    Improving Conversations about Care through Experience-Based Co-Design
    University of New South Wales
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2024
    Driving quality improvement through Meaningful Evaluation of Aphasia SeRvicES (MEASuRES)
    NHMRC Investigator Grants
    Open grant

Availability

Associate Professor Sarah Wallace is:
Available for supervision

Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Driving High-Quality Care through Adherence to Quality Indicators in Rural and Regional Australia

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Kirstine Shrubsole

  • Doctor Philosophy

    MEASuRE up! Driving High-Quality Care through Adherence to Quality Indicators

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Kirstine Shrubsole

  • Doctor Philosophy

    How can we help people with aphasia return to driving following stroke?

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor David Copland, Dr Hannah Gullo

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Describing the delivery and outcomes of post-stroke aphasia rehabilitation in Australia using a minimum dataset

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor David Copland

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Co-Designing Technology-Enhanced Training for Aged Care Workers

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Peter Worthy

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Development of change champion training to improve the implementation of aphasia services.

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor David Copland, Dr Kirstine Shrubsole

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Associate Professor Sarah Wallace directly for media enquiries about:

  • Aged care
  • Aphasia
  • Co-design
  • Communication
  • Lived experience
  • Speech pathology
  • Stroke

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au