Dr Caroline Fryer

Research Interests

Applied Ethics Clinical Education Health Health education and promotion Physiotherapy

Teaching Strengths

Technology-enhanced learning
Cultural competency
Research informed teaching
Practical class teaching

Dr Caroline Fryer

Senior Research Fellow

School of Allied Health and Human Performance

College of Health

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.

I am the Research Coordinator for the Healthy Choices Program - a partnership between UniSA and City of Charles Sturt (unisa.edu.au/healthy-choices-program). My career has spanned clinical physiotherapy practice across multiple sectors and regions, teaching next generations of allied health professionals using innovative education practices, and researching important issues for clients and clinicians in health ethics, cultural competency, environmental physiotherapy, evidence-based practice, and rehabilitation. Recently, I have worked as a consultant supporting research in other industry sectors. I enjoy bringing the diversity of my experience to my work with different teams and projects. 

Communication in healthcare,Improving healthcare and health outcomes for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds,Ethics in physiotherapy,Patient-centred rehabilitation

Date Position Institution name
2024 - ongoing Senior Research Fellow University of South Australia
2013 - 2022 Senior lecturer - Physiotherapy University of South Australia

Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
2024 Teaching Award Innovation Award - Allied Health and Human Performance University of South Australia Australia -

Date Institution name Country Title
2017 - 2019 University of South Australia Australia Graduate Diploma in Education Studies (Digital Learning)
2008 - 2012 University of South Australia Australia PhD Health Sciences
2006 - 2007 University of Newcastle Australia Australia Graduate Diploma in Clinical Epidemiology
1992 - 1996 University of South Australia Australia Bachelor of Applied Science in Physiotherapy (Honours 1)

Date Title Institution Country
2022 Project101x: Introduction to Project Management University of Adelaide Australia

Year Citation
2025 van Kessel, G., Mackintosh, S., Murray, C. M., Guerin, M., Fryer, C. E., & Stanley, M. (2025). Empowerment through choice: the interplay of choice and control after spinal cord or brain injury. Disability and Rehabilitation, 47(14), 3613-3620.
DOI
2025 Li, L. S. K., Fryer, C. E., Chi, L., & Boucaut, R. (2025). Physiotherapy and planetary health: a scoping review. European Journal of Physiotherapy, 27(1), 20-30.
DOI Scopus7 WoS8
2024 McEvoy, M., Fryer, C., Ward, E., & Kumar, S. (2024). Telehealth usability in a university student physiotherapy clinic during COVID-19. Musculoskeletal Care, 22(2), 8 pages.
DOI Scopus2 WoS2 Europe PMC2
2024 Chi, L., Boucaut, R., Li, L. S. K., Fryer, C. E., & Kumar, S. (2024). Australian physiotherapists' knowledge and views on the relationship between climate change, health, and physiotherapy. Physiotherapy Research International, 29(2), 10 pages.
DOI Scopus6 WoS8 Europe PMC4
2023 Karran, E. L., Fryer, C. E., Middleton, J. W., & Moseley, G. L. (2023). Pain and pain management experiences following spinal cord injury - a mixed methods study of Australian community-dwelling adults. Disability and Rehabilitation, 45(3), 455-468.
DOI Scopus11 WoS13 Europe PMC9
2023 Sturm, A., Edwards, I., Fryer, C. E., & Roth, R. (2023). (Almost) 50 shades of an ethical situation - international physiotherapists' experiences of everyday ethics: a qualitative analysis. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 39(2), 351-368.
DOI Scopus7 WoS10 Europe PMC6
2022 Murray, C. M., Weeks, S., van Kessel, G., Guerin, M., Watkins, E., Mackintosh, S., . . . Stanley, M. (2022). Perspectives of choice and control in daily life for people following brain injury: A qualitative systematic review and meta-synthesis. Health Expectations, 25(6), 2709-2725.
DOI Scopus7 WoS7 Europe PMC6
2022 Serrada, I., Fryer, C., Hordacre, B., & Hillier, S. (2022). Can body awareness training improve recovery following stroke: a study to assess feasibility and preliminary efficacy. Clinical Rehabilitation, 36(5), 650-659.
DOI Scopus6 WoS6 Europe PMC5
2022 Ong, E. K. M., Fryer, C., Graham, K., & Causby, R. S. (2022). Investigating the experience of receiving podiatry care in a tertiary care hospital clinic for people with diabetes related foot ulcers. Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, 15(1), 11 pages.
DOI Scopus7 WoS7 Europe PMC5
2022 Karran, E. L., Fryer, C. E., Middleton, J. W., & Moseley, G. L. (2022). Exploring the Social Determinants of Health Outcomes for Adults with Low Back Pain or Spinal Cord Injury and Persistent Pain: A Mixed Methods Study. Journal of Pain, 23(9), 1461-1479.
DOI Scopus26 WoS23 Europe PMC19
2022 Raj, S. E., Mackintosh, S., Kernot, J., Fryer, C., & Stanley, M. (2022). Development and feasibility testing of an evidence-based occupational therapy program for adults with both Down syndrome and dementia. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 19(4), 396-407.
DOI
2022 Van Kessel, G., Fryer, C., Flynn, B., Ferrar, K., & Roush, S. (2022). A Review of the Effectiveness of Training in Changing Allied Health Student Clinical Practice Cultural Competence Skills. INTERNET JOURNAL OF ALLIED HEALTH SCIENCES AND PRACTICE, 20(1), 17 pages.
WoS1
2021 Fryer, C., Sturm, A., Roth, R., & Edwards, I. (2021). Scarcity of resources and inequity in access are frequently reported ethical issues for physiotherapists internationally: an observational study. BMC Medical Ethics, 22(1), 16 pages.
DOI Scopus11 WoS9 Europe PMC6
2021 Fryer, C., Edney, S., & van Kessel, G. (2021). An interactive teaching module for increasing undergraduate physiotherapy students' cultural competence: a quantitative survey. Physiotherapy Research International, 26(1, article no. e1880), 1-9.
DOI Scopus6 WoS5 Europe PMC4
2021 Raj, S. E., Mackintosh, S., Fryer, C., & Stanley, M. (2021). Home-based occupational therapy for adults with dementia and their informal caregivers: a systematic review. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 75(1, article no. 7501205060), 1-27.
DOI Scopus11 WoS9 Europe PMC5
2020 McEvoy, M., Luker, J., Fryer, C., & Lewis, L. K. (2020). Changes in physiotherapists' perceptions of evidence-based practice after a year in the workforce: a mixed-methods study. PLoS ONE, 15(12), 15 pages.
DOI Scopus14 WoS11 Europe PMC7
2020 Raj, S., Stanley, M., Mackintosh, S., & Fryer, C. (2020). Scope of occupational therapy practice for adults with both Down syndrome and dementia: a cross-sectional survey. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 67(3), 218-228.
DOI Scopus8 WoS7 Europe PMC2
2019 Delany, C., Edwards, I., & Fryer, C. (2019). How physiotherapists perceive, interpret, and respond to the ethical dimensions of practice: a qualitative study. Physiotherapy theory and practice, 35(6), 663-676.
DOI Scopus18 WoS14 Europe PMC10
2019 Te, M., Blackstock, F., Fryer, C., Gardner, P., Geary, L., Kuys, S., . . . Chipchase, L. (2019). Predictors of self-perceived cultural responsiveness in entry-level physiotherapy students in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. BMC medical education, 19(1), 1-10.
DOI Scopus12 WoS13 Europe PMC8
2019 Phillips, A. C., Mackintosh, S. F., Gibbs, C., Ng, L., & Fryer, C. E. (2019). A comparison of electronic and paper-based clinical skills assessment: Systematic review. Medical Teacher, 41(10), 1151-1159.
DOI Scopus5 WoS5 Europe PMC2
2017 Lynch, E., Luker, J., Cadilhac, D., Fryer, C., & Hillier, S. (2017). A qualitative study using the Theoretical Domains Framework to investigate why patients were or were not assessed for rehabilitation after stroke. Clinical Rehabilitation, 31(7), 966-977.
DOI Scopus21 WoS21 Europe PMC15
2017 Causby, R. S., McDonnell, M. N., Reed, L., Fryer, C. E., & Hillier, S. L. (2017). A qualitative evaluation of scalpel skill teaching of podiatry students. Journal of foot and ankle research, 10(21), 1-14.
DOI Scopus8 WoS5 Europe PMC4
2016 Fryer, C., Luker, J., Mcdonnell, M., & Hillier, S. (2016). Self management programmes for quality of life in people with stroke. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2016(8), CD010442-1-CD010442-75.
DOI Scopus90 WoS170 Europe PMC116
2016 Fryer, C. E., Luker, J. A., McDonnell, M. N., & Hillier, S. L. (2016). Self-management programs for quality of life in people with stroke. Stroke, 47(12), 266-267.
DOI Scopus23 WoS16 Europe PMC10
2016 Raj, S., Stanley, M., Mackintosh, S., & Fryer, C. (2016). Home-based occupational therapy for adults with Down syndrome: A systematic review. Journal of intellectual disability research, 60(7-8), 723.
DOI
2015 Delany, C., Fryer, C., & Van Kessel, G. (2015). An ethical approach to health promotion in physiotherapy practice. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 26(3), 255-262.
DOI Scopus9 WoS8 Europe PMC6
2015 Lynch, E. A., Luker, J. A., Cadilhac, D. A., Fryer, C. E., & Hillier, S. L. (2015). What prevents acute Stroke Unit clinicians from assessing the rehabilitation requirements of every patient with stroke?. International Journal of Stroke, 10(3), 28.
2015 Lynch, E. A., Luker, J. A., Cadilhac, D. A., Fryer, C. E., & Hillier, S. L. (2015). Why aren't all patients with stroke on Australian acute stroke units considered for rehabilitation?. International Journal of Stroke, 10(S2), 178.
DOI
2015 Lynch, E., Luker, J. A., Cadilhac, D. A., Fryer, C. E., & Hillier, S. L. (2015). Improving rehabilitation assessment and referral practices for patients with stroke in Australia. A mixed methods cluster-randomized implementation trial. International Journal of Stroke, 10(S2), 178.
WoS1
2013 Fryer, C. E., Luker, J. A., McDonnell, M. N., & Hillier, S. L. (2013). Self-management programs for quality of life in people with stroke. Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2013(3), 1-9.
DOI Scopus107
2013 Fryer, C. E., Mackintosh, S. F., Stanley, M. J., & Crichton, J. A. (2013). 'I understand all the major things': how older people with limited English proficiency decide their need for a professional interpreter during health care after stroke. Ethnicity and health, 18(6), 610-625.
DOI Scopus31 WoS21 Europe PMC17
2012 Fryer, C. E., Mackintosh, S. F. H., Stanley, M. J., & Crichton, J. A. (2012). Qualitative studies using in-depth interviews with older people from multiple language groups : methodological systematic review. Journal of advanced nursing, 68(1), 22-35.
DOI Scopus27 WoS25 Europe PMC11
2011 Fryer, C., Mackintosh, S., Batchelor, F., Hill, K., & Said, C. (2011). The effect of limited English proficiency on falls risk and falls prevention after stroke. Age and ageing, 41(1), 104-107.
DOI Scopus10 WoS10 Europe PMC10
2009 Mackintosh, S., Fryer, C., & Hill, K. (2009). Telephone and face-to-face interviews generate similar falls circumstances information from community-dwelling adults with stroke. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 33(3), 295-296.
DOI Scopus4 WoS3 Europe PMC5
2008 Guerin, M., Mackintosh, S., & Fryer, C. (2008). Exercise class participation among residents in low-level residential aged care could be enhanced: a qualitative study. Australian journal of physiotherapy, 54(2), 111-117.
DOI Scopus29 WoS24 Europe PMC15
2007 Mackintosh, S. F. H., Fryer, C. E., & Sutherland, M. (2007). For falls sake: Older carers' perceptions of falls and falls risk factors. The Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice, 5(3), 9 pages.
WoS11
2006 Mackintosh, S., Datson, N., & Fryer, C. (2006). A balance screening tool for older people: Reliability and validity. International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 13(12), 558-561.
DOI Scopus9 WoS11

Year Citation
2017 Raj, S., Stanley, M., Mackintosh, S., & Fryer, C. (2017). The scope of home-based occupational therapy for adults with both Down syndrome and dementia: a cross-sectional survey. In BRITISH JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY Vol. 80 (pp. 19-20). SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD.
2013 Fryer, C., Mackintosh, S., Stanley, M., & Crichton, J. (2013). 'No ambulance, you bring me': How older people with limited English proficiency access emergency healthcare after stroke. In INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF STROKE Vol. 8 (pp. 19). WILEY-BLACKWELL.
2008 De Jonge, J., Mackintosh, S. F. H., & Fryer, C. E. (2008). A systematic review of evidence of the effectiveness on human anatomy teaching models used in tertiary education. In Health Sciences Conference 2007 (pp. 46-62). Australia: University of South Australia.

Year Citation
2016 Fryer, C., Delaney, C., & Edwards, I. (2016). A novel narrative approach to analysing ethical issues for physiotherapists. Poster session presented at the meeting of International journal of qualitative methods. Canada: University of Alberta.
DOI
2015 Fryer, C. E., Luker, J. A., Mcdonnell, M. N., & Hillier, S. L. (2015). Self management programmes for quality of life in people with stroke. Poster session presented at the meeting of International Journal of Stroke. Toronto, Canada: WILEY-BLACKWELL.
DOI WoS1

  • Healthy Choices, MRFF - Clinical Trials and Registries, 01/07/2024 - 31/05/2026

Programs I'm associated with

  • IBPZ - Bachelor of Physiotherapy

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