Researcher

Dr Kathleen Hall

Senior Lecturer & Course Coordinator, Physiotherapy (Brisbane)
School of Allied Health, Faculty of Health Sciences

Areas of expertise: cardiorespiratory physiotherapy; cystic fibrosis; bronchiectasis; airway clearance; allied health workforce; respiratory physiotherapy; exercise and physical activity; student-led rehabilitation; simulation-based education; curriculum design

Email: kathleen.hall@acu.edu.au

Location: ACU Brisbane Campus

ORCID ID: 0000-0001-9607-0043

Dr Kathleen Hall is a Senior Lecturer and Course Coordinator in Physiotherapy at Australian Catholic University, Brisbane. With extensive experience across clinical practice and academia, she is recognised for her leadership in cardiorespiratory physiotherapy, particularly in cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, and innovative workforce and service delivery models.

Her research focuses on airway clearance techniques, physiotherapy service models, and exercise-based interventions in chronic respiratory disease. She has contributed to national physiotherapy guidelines, secured competitive research funding, and collaborated widely across multidisciplinary respiratory networks.

Kathleen is equally committed to high quality education. She leads curriculum development in cardiorespiratory physiotherapy, embedding simulation, digital resources, and culturally responsive teaching. She has played a key role in developing student led rehabilitation clinics, strengthening community partnerships and improving access to care.

Her work is grounded in compassion, evidence-based practice, and a commitment to ACU's mission of service and the common good.

Select publications

• Full list available via ORCID

Projects

• ACT-NTM Study - Multisite RCT on airway clearance for bronchiectasis.

• ETI Modulator Therapy Project - Real-world impacts on treatment burden and physiotherapy needs.

• Student-led Pulmonary & Cardiac Rehabilitation Study - Pre-post evaluation demonstrating improved patient outcomes.

• Allied Health Assistant Role Evaluation (PI) - $68k competitive grant, adult cystic fibrosis physiotherapy workforce redesign.

Awards

• Health Practitioner Research Scheme Grant (PI), 2015-2017.

Appointments and Affiliations

• Registered Physiotherapist (AHPRA).

• APA

• TSANZ

• CFPhysio.com

• Australasian Bronchiectasis Consortium - Clinical Practice Group.

Grant agency review panels

• CFWA Postgraduate Top-Up Scholarship Reviewer, Cystic Fibrosis Australia.

Public engagement

• Invited speaker at TSANZ, Australian Lung Foundation, APA IGNITE, and Australasian CF Conference.

• Educational webinars and patient forums on airway clearance, dysfunctional breathing, and NTM bronchiectasis.