Overview
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
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
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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
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
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.
2025
Conference Publication
Communication Partner Training (CPT) in stroke services: a national survey investigating current practice, implementation barriers and training preferences
Shrubsole, Kirstine, Wallace, Sarah J., Isaksen, Jytte, Copland, David and Power, Emma (2025). Communication Partner Training (CPT) in stroke services: a national survey investigating current practice, implementation barriers and training preferences. Australian and New Zealand Stroke Organisation (ANZSO), Hobart, TAS Australia, 2-5 September 2025. Basel, Switzerland: S. Karger.
2025
Conference Publication
Prevalence of unmet needs of stroke survivors in the community and associated factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Tan, Kennice, Thayabaranathan, Tharshanah, Purvis, Tara, Wang, Yiran, Kilkenny, Monique F., Nelson, Mark R., Cadilhac, Dominique A., Sanders, Lauren M., Wallace, Sarah J., Freak-Poli, Rosanne, Cameron, Jan, Slater, Jared, Kempson, Clive and Olaiya, Muideen (2025). Prevalence of unmet needs of stroke survivors in the community and associated factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Australian and New Zealand Stroke Organisation (ANZSO), Hobart, TAS Australia, 2-5 September 2025. Basel, Switzerland: S. Karger.
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.
2025
Journal Article
Bridging the digital divide for people with aphasia: a study protocol for codesigning web accessibility tools and guidelines
Lee, Jennifer, Worthy, Peter, Deslandes, Ryan, Burton, Bridget, Copland, David A., Jamieson, Phill, Barron, Kim, Togher, Leanne, Shrubsole, Kirstine, Shiggins, Ciara, Campbell, Jessica, Hill, Annie, Wiles, Janet, Haslam, S. Alexander and Wallace, Sarah J. (2025). Bridging the digital divide for people with aphasia: a study protocol for codesigning web accessibility tools and guidelines. BMJ Open, 15 (8) e099273, 1-11. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-099273
2025
Other Outputs
UQ conversations about care decision-making in aged care roundtable 2 August 2025
King, Michelle, Patch, Jimmy, Fothergill, Lauren, Hudson, Kyla, Lee, Jennifer, Zingelman, Sally and Wallace, Sarah J. (2025). UQ conversations about care decision-making in aged care roundtable 2 August 2025. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Conversations about Care Project, The University of Queensland.
2025
Journal Article
Co-designing aphasia services: evaluation of involvement and processes to support inclusion of people with post stroke aphasia
Anemaat, Lisa, Copland, David A., Palmer, Victoria J. and Wallace, Sarah J. (2025). Co-designing aphasia services: evaluation of involvement and processes to support inclusion of people with post stroke aphasia. Health Expectations, 28 (4) e70372, 1-16. doi: 10.1111/hex.70372
2025
Journal Article
Aphasia-specific or generic outcomes? a comparison of two health-related quality of life instruments for economic evaluations of aphasia treatments
Zingelman, Sally, Wallace, Sarah J., Kim, Joosup, Harvey, Sam, Rose, Miranda L., Pierce, John E., Bagot, Kathleen L. and Cadilhac, Dominique A. (2025). Aphasia-specific or generic outcomes? a comparison of two health-related quality of life instruments for economic evaluations of aphasia treatments. Quality of Life Research, 34 (10), 1-12. doi: 10.1007/s11136-025-04040-8
2025
Journal Article
Factors influencing communication for older adults in residential and community aged care: a scoping review
Manchha, Asmita V., Burton, Bridget, Siyambalapitiya, Samantha, Wood, Joanne M., Hickson, Louise, Fetherstonhaugh, Deirdre, King, Michelle and Wallace, Sarah J. (2025). Factors influencing communication for older adults in residential and community aged care: a scoping review. The Gerontologist, 65 (7) gnaf140, 7. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnaf140
2025
Journal Article
International priorities for a unified aphasia awareness campaign: a nominal group technique study across five countries
Bennington, Claire, Isaksen, Jytte, Shiggins, Ciara, Beesley, Emma, Beesley, Kim, Simmons-Mackie, Nina, Worrall, Linda, Quique, Yina M, Aguilar, Oscar, Guo, Emily and Wallace, Sarah J (2025). International priorities for a unified aphasia awareness campaign: a nominal group technique study across five countries. Disability and Rehabilitation, 48 (2), 1-21. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2025.2510558
2025
Journal Article
How do we measure dysarthria after stroke? A systematic review to guide the core outcome set for dysarthria
Mitchell, Claire, El Kouaissi, Sabrina, Duncan-Zaleski, Martha, Bowen, Audrey, Conroy, Paul, Whelan, Brooke-Mai, Wallace, Sarah J. Jane, Cheyne, Joshua and Kirkham, Jamie J. (2025). How do we measure dysarthria after stroke? A systematic review to guide the core outcome set for dysarthria. BMJ Open, 15 (5) e099662, 1-8. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-099662
2025
Journal Article
Priorities for post-stroke aphasia service development: prioritisation phase of an experience-based co-design study
Anemaat, Lisa, Palmer, Victoria J., Copland, David A., Binge, Geoffrey, Druery, Kent, Druery, Julia, Mainstone, Kathryn, Aisthorpe, Bruce and Wallace, Sarah J (2025). Priorities for post-stroke aphasia service development: prioritisation phase of an experience-based co-design study. Clinical Rehabilitation, 39 (3), 353-365. doi: 10.1177/02692155241310579
2025
Journal Article
Communication partner training for aged-care workers: a scoping review
Burton, Bridget, Shrubsole, Kirstine, Manchha, Asmita, King, Michelle and Wallace, Sarah J. (2025). Communication partner training for aged-care workers: a scoping review. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders, 60 (2) e70016, e70016. doi: 10.1111/1460-6984.70016
2025
Journal Article
Aphasia centre science: what makes an aphasia centre work?
Forrester, Bridget, Anemaat, Lisa, McSween, Marie-Pier, Copland, David A. and Wallace, Sarah J. (2025). Aphasia centre science: what makes an aphasia centre work?. Aphasiology, 39 (10), 1361-1380. doi: 10.1080/02687038.2024.2425000
2025
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. (2025). “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, 39 (8), 1039-1065. doi: 10.1080/02687038.2024.2406462
2024
Conference Publication
Finalising the core outcome set for dysarthria after stroke: what to measure, how to measure and what next?
Mitchell, C., El Kouaissi, S., Bowen, A., Woodward-Nutt, K., Conroy, P., Whelan, B., Wallace, S., Dancer, A., Taylor, S., Bugler, J., Cheyne, J. and Kirkham, J. (2024). Finalising the core outcome set for dysarthria after stroke: what to measure, how to measure and what next?. 19th UK Stroke Forum Conference, Liverpool, United Kingdom, 3-5 December 2024. London, United Kingdom: SAGE Publications.
2024
Conference Publication
Altruism and research nurses are key: successful recruitment for the longitudinal dysarthria Speech After Stroke Recovery Study (SAYS)
Mitchell, C., Woodward-Nutt, K., Benafif, S., Bowen, A., Conroy, P., Whelan, B., Wallace, S., Dancer, A., Taylor, S., Bugler, J. and Kirkham, J. (2024). Altruism and research nurses are key: successful recruitment for the longitudinal dysarthria Speech After Stroke Recovery Study (SAYS). 19th UK Stroke Forum Conference, Liverpool, Kingdom, 3-5 December 2024. London, United Kingdom: SAGE Publications.
2024
Journal Article
An international core outcome set for primary progressive aphasia (COS-PPA): Consensus-based recommendations for communication interventions across research and clinical settings
Volkmer, Anna, Alves, Emily Viega, Bar-Zeev, Hagit, Barbieri, Elena, Battista, Petronilla, Beales, Ashleigh, Beber, Barbara Costa, Brotherhood, Emilie, Cadorio, Ines Ribeiro, Carthery-Goulart, Maria Teresa, Cartwright, Jade, Crutch, Sebastian, Croot, Karen, Freitas, Maria Isabel D Ávila, Gallée, Jeanne, Grasso, Stephanie M., Haley, Katarina, Hendriksen, Heleen, Henderson, Shalom, Jiskoot, Lize, Almeida, Isabel Junqueira, Kindell, Jackie, Kingma, Rachel, Kwan-Chen, Lorinda Ly, Lavoie, Monica, Lifshitz-Ben-Basat, Adi, Jokel, Regina, Mahut-Dubos, Aurore, Matias-Guiu, Jordi A. ... Hardy, Chris J. D. (2024). An international core outcome set for primary progressive aphasia (COS-PPA): Consensus-based recommendations for communication interventions across research and clinical settings. Alzheimer's and Dementia, 21 (1) e14362. doi: 10.1002/alz.14362
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, 59 (6), 2858-2877. doi: 10.1111/1460-6984.13119
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
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
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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
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
Driving High-Quality Care through Adherence to Quality Indicators in Rural and Regional Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kirstine Shrubsole
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Doctor Philosophy
MEASuRE up! Driving High-Quality Care through Adherence to Quality Indicators
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kirstine Shrubsole
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Doctor Philosophy
Co-Designing Technology-Enhanced Training for Aged Care Workers
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Peter Worthy
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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
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
Measuring conversation in couples where one person has aphasia: development of a patient-reported outcome measure
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kirstine Shrubsole
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
Measuring what Matters: Interpreting meaningful outcomes in clinical care and economic evaluation for people with post-stroke aphasia.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Sam Harvey
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
International Stakeholder Perspectives, Experiences, and Priorities for Aphasia Awareness: Co-design of a Unified Campaign
Principal Advisor
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
The M.O.S.T-Project: Meaningful Outcomes for School-aged Children and Adolescents with Cognitive-Communication Disorders arising from Traumatic Brain Injuries
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Anthony Angwin, Dr Tanya Rose
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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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