Overview
Background
Dr Kirstine Shrubsole is an NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow at the Queensland Aphasia Research Centre. She holds a Bachelor of Speech Pathology (First Class Honours) from The University of Queensland, and completed her PhD in 2018. Kirstine has a research focus on improving implementation of evidence into practice in speech pathology and multidisciplinary services, with a special interest in stroke and aphasia rehabilitation. She has demonstrated that practice change is achievable for healthcare teams working in aphasia, leading to positive outcomes for patients, clinicians, and organisations.
Kirstine has published over 50 peer-reviewed journal articles, and has been awarded over $11 million in competitive research funding. Kirstine previously worked as the Conjoint Research Fellow in Speech Pathology (Princess Alexandra Hospital and The University of Queensland), providing research capacity building and mentoring to speech pathologists and supporting multidisciplinary research. Kirstine is the co-founder and Deputy Lead of the Collaboration of Aphasia Triallists’ Implementation Science in Aphasia working group, and a research affiliate of the Centre for Research Excellence in Aphasia Rehabilitation and Recovery.
Kirstine is completing a NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellowship on the following topic:
She is a chief investigator on three MRFF grants, including:
Availability
- Dr Kirstine Shrubsole is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Implementation science
Kirstine's research covers the full scope of implementation science, including identifying implementation barriers and enablers, designing and evaluating implementation strategies, and sustaining implementation outcomes.
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Aphasia
Kirstine collaborates with leaders in aphasia research across the continuum of care, including assessment, intervention and long-term support.
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Stroke
Kirstine works with the Stroke Foundation on several projects and advocates for national strategies to improve guideline implementation.
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Parkinson's disease
Kirstine has worked clinically with this population and conducted research that seeks to improve models of care through applying implementation science frameworks.
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Myasthenia Gravis
Kirstine has a research interest in the care of people with Myasthenia Gravis, including access to allied health services for long-term management.
Works
Search Professor Kirstine Shrubsole’s works on UQ eSpace
Featured
2025
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 (2025). Communication partner training (CPT) in Australian post-stroke aphasia services: a national survey investigating implementation barriers, facilitators and training needs. Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation, 1-13. doi: 10.1080/10749357.2025.2532412
2025
Journal Article
Diagnosis, evaluation and management of cognitive disorders in Parkinson’s disease: A systematic review
Pourzinal, Dana, Elgey, Charlotte, Bailey, Daniel X., Yang, Jihyun, Lehn, Alexander, Tinson, Helen, Liddle, Jacki, Brooks, Deborah, Naismith, Sharon L., Shrubsole, Kirstine, Marsh, Rodney, Mitchell, Leander K., Pachana, Nancy A., King, James and Dissanayaka, Nadeeka N. (2025). Diagnosis, evaluation and management of cognitive disorders in Parkinson’s disease: A systematic review. International Psychogeriatrics 100081, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.inpsyc.2025.100081
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
2023
Journal Article
Communication partner training with familiar partners of people with aphasia: A systematic review and synthesis of barriers and facilitators to implementation
Shrubsole, Kirstine, Power, Emma and Hallé, Marie‐Christine (2023). Communication partner training with familiar partners of people with aphasia: A systematic review and synthesis of barriers and facilitators to implementation. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders, 58 (2), 601-628. doi: 10.1111/1460-6984.12805
Featured
2022
Journal Article
Fragmented care and missed opportunities: the experiences of adults with myasthenia gravis in accessing and receiving allied health care in Australia
Devlin, Isobel, Williams, Katrina L. and Shrubsole, Kirstine (2022). Fragmented care and missed opportunities: the experiences of adults with myasthenia gravis in accessing and receiving allied health care in Australia. Disability and Rehabilitation, 45 (15), 1-9. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2022.2094481
2025
Journal Article
Clinical effectiveness of the comprehensive, high-dose aphasia treatment program for people with poststroke aphasia
Dignam, Jade, Burfein, Penni, Campbell, Jessica, Coleman, Adele, Fraser, Caitlin, Halpin, Jessica, Hill, Annie, O'Brien, Kate, O'Neill, Emma, Roxas, Katherine, Short, Kylie, Shrubsole, Kirstine, Stuckey, Renee, Wedley, Hannah and Copland, David A. (2025). Clinical effectiveness of the comprehensive, high-dose aphasia treatment program for people with poststroke aphasia. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 1-12. doi: 10.1044/2025_jslhr-25-00336
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
2025
Journal Article
Enhancing neuropsychological assessment clinical pathways in Parkinson's disease through the use of technology
Lobo, Elton H., Worthy, Peter, Brooks, Deborah, Shrubsole, Kirstine, Pourzinal, Dana, Sriram, Deepa, Fels, Rachel, Yang, Ji Hyun, Liddle, Jacki, Mitchell, Leander K. and Dissanayaka, Nadeeka N. (2025). Enhancing neuropsychological assessment clinical pathways in Parkinson's disease through the use of technology. Frontiers in Digital Health, 7 1681221, 1681221. doi: 10.3389/fdgth.2025.1681221
2025
Conference Publication
Evaluating the acceptability of components of TeleCHAT when delivered in a clinical rehabilitation service: perspectives of people with aphasia
Wedley, Hannah, Dignam, Jade, Shrubsole, Kirstine, Vuong, Genevieve, Copland, David and Hill, Annie (2025). Evaluating the acceptability of components of TeleCHAT when delivered in a clinical rehabilitation service: perspectives of people with aphasia. 2025 Smart Strokes Conference, Newcastle, NSW, Australia, 15-17 October 2025. Thousand Oaks, CA, United States: Sage Publications. doi: 10.1177/17474930251367150
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. doi: 10.1071/ib24127
2025
Conference Publication
Improving diagnosis of dementia in Parkinson’s disease: PDCogniCare Australian Program
Dissanayaka, Nadeeka, Pourzinal, Dana, McCann, Emily, Lobo, Elton Henry Savio, Brooks, Deborah, Sriram, Deepa, Au, Tiffany, Mitchell, Leander K., Pachana, Nancy, Naismith, Sharon, Broome, Annette, Lehn, Alexander, Kelder, Anna, Liddle, Jacki, King, James, Marsh, Rodney, Robertson, Stuart, Shrubsole, Kirstine, Tinson, Helen, Verreynne, Martie-Louise, Wood, Brian, Worthy, Peter, Yang, Julia, Nestor, Peter J., Chatfield, Mark, Keramat, Syed Afroz, Tan, Edwin, Piccinini, Tomas, Beattie, Elizabeth ... O'Sullivan, John (2025). Improving diagnosis of dementia in Parkinson’s disease: PDCogniCare Australian Program. Movement Disorders International Congress, Honolulu, HI United States, 5-9 October 2025.
2025
Conference Publication
Critical steps to enhance identification of mild cognitive impairment and dementia in Parkinson’s disease: PDCogniCare Australian Program.
Dissanayaka, Nadeeka, Pourzinal, Dana, McCann, Emily, Lobo, Elton Henry Savio, Brooks, Deborah, Sriram, Deepa, Au, Tiffany, Mitchell, Leander K., O'Sullivan, John, Naismith, Sharon, Broome, Annette, Lehn, Alexander, Kelder, Anna, Liddle, Jacki, King, James, Robertson, Stuart, Shrubsole, Kirstine, Tinson, Helen, Verreynne, Martie-Louise, Wood, Brian, Worthy, Peter, Yang, Jihuyn, Nestor, Peter, Chatfield, Mark, Keramat, Syed Afroz, Tan, Edwin, Piccinini, Tomas, Beattie, Elizabeth, Marsh, Rodney ... Pachana, Nancy (2025). Critical steps to enhance identification of mild cognitive impairment and dementia in Parkinson’s disease: PDCogniCare Australian Program.. International Psychogeriatric Association Congress, Kanazawa, Japan, 25-27 September 2025.
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
Journal Article
"The most important thing is having patience, both of us." Successful conversations from the perspective of people with aphasia and their primary conversation partners
Rotherham, A., Shrubsole, K., Croteau, C., Hilari, K. and Wallace, S. J. (2025). "The most important thing is having patience, both of us." Successful conversations from the perspective of people with aphasia and their primary conversation partners. Disability and Rehabilitation, 1-17. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2025.2546077
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
Journal Article
A "special ingredient": development of an intervention to implement structured and collaborative clinical planning processes for Comprehensive, High-dose Aphasia Treatment (CHAT)
Levine, Rachel, Dignam, Jade, McSween, Marie-Pier, Hill, Annie, Copland, David and Shrubsole, Kirstine (2025). A "special ingredient": development of an intervention to implement structured and collaborative clinical planning processes for Comprehensive, High-dose Aphasia Treatment (CHAT). Disability and Rehabilitation, ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print), 1-18. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2025.2536179
2025
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 (2025). 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, 1-21. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2025.2534525
2025
Conference Publication
Enhancing utility of neuropsychological evaluation for earlier and effective diagnosis of dementia in Parkinson’s disease: PDCogniCare Project
Dissanayaka, Nadeeka, Au, Tiffany, Beattie, Elizabeth, Brooks, Deborah, Broome, Annette, Byrne, Gerard, Chatfield, Mark, Lehn, Alexander, Kelderm, Anna, Liddle, Jacki, Keramat, Syed Afroz, King, James, Lobo, Elton Henry Savio, Marsh, Rodney, McCann, Emily, Naismith, Sharon, Nestor, Peter, O'Sullivan, John, Pachana, Nancy, Piccinini, Tomas, Pourzinal, Dana, Robertson, Stuart, Shrubsole, Kirstine, Spooner, Donna, Sriram, Deepa, Tan, Edwin, Tinson, Helen, Verreynne, Martie-Louise, Wood, Brian ... Mitchell, Leander K. (2025). Enhancing utility of neuropsychological evaluation for earlier and effective diagnosis of dementia in Parkinson’s disease: PDCogniCare Project. 7th Pacific Rim Conference, Brisbane, Qld Australia, 2-5 July 2025.
2025
Journal Article
Diagnosis, evaluation, and management of cognitive disorders in Parkinson's disease: consensus recommendations from a modified Delphi process
Pourzinal, Dana, Brooks, Deborah, Sriram, Deepa, Mitchell, Leander K., Pachana, Nancy A., Shrubsole, Kirstine, Wood, Brian, O'Sullivan, John D., Marsh, Rodney, Lehn, Alexander, Liddle, Jacki, Tan, Edwin C. K., Halford, W. Kim, Page, Neil and Dissanayaka, Nadeeka N. (2025). Diagnosis, evaluation, and management of cognitive disorders in Parkinson's disease: consensus recommendations from a modified Delphi process. Alzheimer's and Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment and Disease Monitoring, 17 (3) e70152, 1-13. doi: 10.1002/dad2.70152
2025
Journal Article
Evaluating evidence for a neuropsychological toolkit to predict cognitive decline in PD: a systematic review
Pourzinal, Dana, King, James, Sivakumaran, Kumareshan, Yang, Jihyun, McCann, Emily, Mitchell, Leander K., Brooks, Deborah, Lehn, Alexander, Liddle, Jacki, Pachana, Nancy A., Tinson, Helen, Shrubsole, Kirstine, Bailey, Daniel X. and Dissanayaka, Nadeeka N. (2025). Evaluating evidence for a neuropsychological toolkit to predict cognitive decline in PD: a systematic review. The Clinical Neuropsychologist, 1-28. doi: 10.1080/13854046.2025.2511966
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Kirstine Shrubsole is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Implementation of Comprehensive High-dose Aphasia Treatment (CHAT)
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Copland
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Doctor Philosophy
Development and evaluation of a Co-Designed Implementation Toolkit to improve speech pathology provision of evidence-based aphasia services.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Copland, Associate Professor Sarah Wallace
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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 Michelle King
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigating the Feasibility of a Communication Partner Training Programme for Bilingual Patients with Aphasia and Their Significant Others
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Stephen Wilson, Professor David Copland
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Doctor Philosophy
Driving High-Quality Care through Adherence to Quality Indicators in Rural and Regional Australia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Sarah Wallace
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Doctor Philosophy
Implementation of a Comprehensive High-Dose Aphasia Treatment (CHAT) Program
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Copland, Dr Jade Dignam
Completed supervision
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
The feasibility, acceptability and potential effectiveness of implementing structured and collaborative clinical planning for Comprehensive, High-dose Aphasia Treatment (CHAT)
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor David Copland, Dr Jade Dignam
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
Measuring conversation in couples where one person has aphasia: development of a patient-reported outcome measure
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Sarah Wallace
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Media
Enquiries
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