Overview
Background
A/Prof Sarah Wallace is an NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow (2020-24; 2025-29) and Certified Practising Speech Pathologist. Her research interests include communication disability in ageing and enabling and measuring meaningful change in post-stroke (language/communication impairment following stroke) aphasia. Sarah uses qualitative and participatory methods to understand the lived experience of communication disability. She works in partnership with people with lived experience, clinicians and community members to co-produce interventions, systems and standards that improve quality of care and outcomes.
Sarah's 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 aphasia; (d) Development of fit-for-purpose training and resources for aged care workers to help older Australians have better conversations about aged care.
Sarah leads four current MRFF-funded projects:
- Bridging the Digital Divide: Building Health Self-Efficacy through Communication-Accessible Online Environments
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The Right Treatment for the Right Person at the Right Time. Driving High-Value Aphasia Care through Meaningful Health System Monitoring
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Measuring, Monitoring, and Motivating Adherence to Self-Managed Aphasia Treatment
Recent publications can be viewed on my ORCID page: 0000-0002-0600-9343
Availability
- Associate Professor Sarah Wallace is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Speech Pathology, The University of Queensland
- Postgraduate Diploma, University of Victoria
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Ageing and aged care
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Communication disability
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Aphasia rehabilitation
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Core Outcome Set development
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Consensus techniques and stakeholder engagement
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Co-design
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Outcome measurement
Works
Search Professor Sarah Wallace’s works on UQ eSpace
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
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
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
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
2024
Journal Article
Animal-assisted services for adults with acquired neurogenic communication disorders: A scoping review
McSween, Marie-Pier, Day, Tasman, Hill, Jessica and Wallace, Sarah J (2024). Animal-assisted services for adults with acquired neurogenic communication disorders: A scoping review. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders. doi: 10.1111/1460-6984.13119
2024
Journal Article
“It’s the car, that is the wor, that is worst .” The importance of driving and experience of driving cessation for people with aphasia post-stroke: a systematic search and review
Wallace, Helen E., Gullo, Hannah L., Copland, David A., Rotherham, Annette and Wallace, Sarah J. (2024). “It’s the car, that is the wor, that is worst .” The importance of driving and experience of driving cessation for people with aphasia post-stroke: a systematic search and review. Aphasiology, 1-27. doi: 10.1080/02687038.2024.2406462
2024
Journal Article
Inclusive research: Making more impact through accessibility and collaboration
Liddle, Jacki, Redman, Bobby, Frost, Dennis, Worthy, Peter, Jamieson, Phil and Wallace, Sarah J. (2024). Inclusive research: Making more impact through accessibility and collaboration. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 71 (5), 641-643. doi: 10.1111/1440-1630.12990
2024
Journal Article
Impact of quality of care on outcomes in survivors of stroke with aphasia: A linked registry and hospital data observational study
Thayabaranathan, Tharshanah, Wallace, Sarah J., Kim, Joosup, Kilkenny, Monique F., Olaiya, Muideen T., Andrew, Nadine E., Brogan, Emily, Baker, Caroline, Godecke, Erin, Copland, David A., Rose, Miranda L., Birhanu, Mulugeta M. and Cadilhac, Dominique A. (2024). Impact of quality of care on outcomes in survivors of stroke with aphasia: A linked registry and hospital data observational study. Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 466 123251, 123251. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2024.123251
2024
Journal Article
Measuring successful conversations in couples with and without aphasia: a scoping review
Rotherham, Annette, Shrubsole, Kirstine, Croteau, Claire, Hilari, Katerina, Wallace, Helen and Wallace, Sarah J. (2024). Measuring successful conversations in couples with and without aphasia: a scoping review. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders. doi: 10.1111/1460-6984.13098
2024
Other Outputs
Understanding important changes in aphasia recovery: A co-designed, aphasia-friendly handout of research results
Zingelman, Sally, Cadilhac, Dominique A., Kim, Joosup, Stone, Marissa, Harvey, Sam, Unsworth, Carolyn, O'Halloran, Robyn, Hersh, Deborah, Mainstone, Kathryn and Wallace, Sarah J. (2024). Understanding important changes in aphasia recovery: A co-designed, aphasia-friendly handout of research results. Brisbane, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland.
2024
Journal Article
'A meaningful difference, but not ultimately the difference i would want': a mixed-methods approach to explore and benchmark clinically meaningful changes in aphasia recovery
Zingelman, Sally, Cadilhac, Dominique A., Kim, Joosup, Stone, Marissa, Harvey, Sam, Unsworth, Carolyn, O'Halloran, Robyn, Hersh, Deborah, Mainstone, Kathryn and Wallace, Sarah J. (2024). 'A meaningful difference, but not ultimately the difference i would want': a mixed-methods approach to explore and benchmark clinically meaningful changes in aphasia recovery. Health Expectations, 27 (4) e14169, 1-12. doi: 10.1111/hex.14169
2024
Conference Publication
Quality of stroke care and outcomes for people with and without aphasia within Australian rehabilitation hospitals.
Stone, Marissa, Wallace, Sarah J., Copland, David, Burns, Catherine, Cadilhac, Dominique A., Hill, Kelvin and Kilkenny, Monique F. (2024). Quality of stroke care and outcomes for people with and without aphasia within Australian rehabilitation hospitals.. International Aphasia Rehabilitation Conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 1-3 July 2024.
2024
Journal Article
The validation of aphasia united best practice recommendations with people with aphasia and their caregivers in Vietnam: a nominal group technique study
Tran, Duc Huu, Pham, Dinh Ngan Thanh, Le An, Pham, Hudson, Kyla and Wallace, Sarah J. (2024). The validation of aphasia united best practice recommendations with people with aphasia and their caregivers in Vietnam: a nominal group technique study. Aphasiology, 1-27. doi: 10.1080/02687038.2024.2367624
2024
Journal Article
Qualitative Exploration of Speech Pathologists' Experiences and Priorities for Aphasia Service Design: Initial Stage of an Experience‐Based Co‐Design Project to Improve Aphasia Services
Anemaat, Lisa, Palmer, Victoria J., Copland, David A., Binge, Geoffrey, Druery, Kent, Druery, Julia, Mainstone, Kathryn, Aisthorpe, Bruce, Mainstone, Penelope and Wallace, Sarah J. (2024). Qualitative Exploration of Speech Pathologists' Experiences and Priorities for Aphasia Service Design: Initial Stage of an Experience‐Based Co‐Design Project to Improve Aphasia Services. Health Expectations, 27 (3) e14105, e14105. doi: 10.1111/hex.14105
2024
Journal Article
Understanding experiences, unmet needs and priorities related to post-stroke aphasia care: stage one of an experience-based co-design project
Anemaat, Lisa N., Palmer, Victoria J., Copland, David A., Binge, Geoffrey, Druery, Kent, Druery, Julia, Mainstone, Kathryn, Aisthorpe, Bruce, Mainstone, Penelope, Burton, Bridget and Wallace, Sarah J. (2024). Understanding experiences, unmet needs and priorities related to post-stroke aphasia care: stage one of an experience-based co-design project. BMJ Open, 14 (5) e081680, e081680. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-081680
2024
Journal Article
COS-PPA: protocol to develop a core outcome set for primary progressive aphasia
Volkmer, Anna, Copland, David A., Henry, Maya L., Warren, Jason D., Varley, Rosemary, Wallace, Sarah J. and Hardy, Chris J. D. (2024). COS-PPA: protocol to develop a core outcome set for primary progressive aphasia. BMJ Open, 14 (5) e078714, 1-9. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-078714
2024
Journal Article
Invaluable benefits of 10 Years of the International Collaboration of Aphasia Trialists (CATs)
Breitenstein, Caterina, Wallace, Sarah J., Gilmore, Natalie, Finch, Emma, Pettigrove, Kathryn, Brady, Marian C. and CATs Executive Committee (2024). Invaluable benefits of 10 Years of the International Collaboration of Aphasia Trialists (CATs). Stroke, 55 (4), 1129-1135. doi: 10.1161/strokeaha.124.046487
2024
Journal Article
What does it mean to be aphasia aware? An international survey of stakeholder perspectives and experiences of aphasia awareness
Bennington, Claire, Shiggins, Ciara, Isaksen, Jytte, Beesley, Emma, Beesley, Kim and Wallace, Sarah J. (2024). What does it mean to be aphasia aware? An international survey of stakeholder perspectives and experiences of aphasia awareness. Aphasiology, ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print), 1-24. doi: 10.1080/02687038.2024.2330145
2024
Journal Article
Comprehensive quality assessment for aphasia rehabilitation after stroke: protocol for a multicentre, mixed-methods study
Harvey, Sam, Stone, Marissa, Zingelman, Sally, Copland, David A, Kilkenny, Monique F, Godecke, Erin, Cadilhac, Dominique A, Kim, Joosup, Olaiya, Muideen T, Rose, Miranda L, Breitenstein, Caterina, Shrubsole, Kirstine, O'Halloran, Robyn, Hill, Annie J, Hersh, Deborah, Mainstone, Kathryn, Mainstone, Penelope, Unsworth, Carolyn A, Brogan, Emily, Short, Kylie J, Burns, Clare L, Baker, Caroline and Wallace, Sarah J (2024). Comprehensive quality assessment for aphasia rehabilitation after stroke: protocol for a multicentre, mixed-methods study. BMJ Open, 14 (3) e080532, e080532. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-080532
2024
Journal Article
Developing consensus-based clinical competencies to guide stroke clinicians in the implementation of psychological care in aphasia rehabilitation
Baker, Caroline, Ryan, Brooke, Rose, Miranda L., Kneebone, Ian, Thomas, Shirley, Wong, Dana and Wallace, Sarah J. (2024). Developing consensus-based clinical competencies to guide stroke clinicians in the implementation of psychological care in aphasia rehabilitation. Brain Impairment, 25 (1) ARTN IB23091, 1-13. doi: 10.1071/ib23091
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Sarah Wallace is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
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MEASuRE up! Driving High-Quality Care through Adherence to Quality Indicators - Earmarked Domestic Scholarship Available
This research aims to improve outcomes for people with post-stroke aphasia by auditing adherence with quality indicators across multiple sites and determining the impact of an implementation intervention.
An earmarked domestic scholarship is available for this project. https://study.uq.edu.au/study-options/phd-mphil-professional-doctorate/projects/measure-driving-high-quality-care-through-adherence-quality-indicators
This project forms part of a program of research being conducted by A/Prof Sarah Wallace within her Investigator Grant: Lost Voices: Improving Outcomes for Older Australians with Communication Disability through Identification, Inclusion and Improved Quality of Care. The successful applicant will be provided with infrastructure and support through the Queensland Aphasia Research Centre.
Project Description: The translation of existing evidence to practice has the potential to improve outcomes for people with aphasia after stroke. This study will audit adherence with MEASuRES quality indicators across multiple sites and determine the impact of an implementation intervention on improving adherence.
Aim: (1) To identify evidence-practice gaps in aphasia services by collecting a minimum set of quality indicators. (2) To determine the impact of an implementation intervention on identified variances in care.
Design: Mixed-methods design with a nonrandomized, multicentre, controlled before and after comparison, with a process evaluation. Baseline collection of MEASuRES quality indicators for 12 months via chart audit. Adherence to indicators will be assessed for each site. Tailored implementation interventions will be matched to identified variances in care quality in collaboration work being undertaken by Dr Kirstine Shrubsole, whose EL1 Investigator Grant (2024-28) is developing an aphasia implementation toolkit. Post-intervention collection of indicators for 12 months.
Outputs and outcomes: Evidence of current implementation gaps and effectiveness of implementation interventions.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
How can we help people with aphasia return to driving following stroke?
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Copland, Dr Hannah Gullo
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Doctor Philosophy
Unspoken, Unheard, Unmet: Improving Access to Preventative Health Care through Better Conversations about Care.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kirstine Shrubsole
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Doctor Philosophy
International Stakeholder Perspectives, Experiences, and Priorities for Aphasia Awareness: Co-design of a Unified Campaign
Principal Advisor
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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
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Doctor Philosophy
Measuring Conversation in Aphasia: Development of an Outcome Measure
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kirstine Shrubsole
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Doctor Philosophy
The M.O.S.T-Project: Meaningful Outcomes for School-aged Children and Adolescents with Cognitive-Communication Disorders from Traumatic Brain Injuries
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Anthony Angwin, Dr Tanya Rose
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Doctor Philosophy
Measuring what matters: Establishing clinically relevant benchmarks of change in post-stroke aphasia research and improving the ability to undertake economic evaluations.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Sam Harvey
Completed supervision
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Using experience-based co-design to understand unmet needs and priorities across the continuum of care: A blueprint for aphasia service development
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Copland
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Prognostication in post-stroke aphasia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Copland
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Self-management of aphasia: building and supporting a communication infrastructure
Associate Advisor
Media
Enquiries
Contact Associate Professor Sarah Wallace directly for media enquiries about:
- Aged care
- Aphasia
- Co-design
- Communication
- Lived experience
- Speech pathology
- Stroke
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