Sophie Lefmann

Teaching Strengths

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
Preclinical skills in early student years
Community - based rehabilitation for children
Communication & behaviour management

Dr Sophie Lefmann

Senior Lecturer, Physiotherapy

School of Allied Health and Human Performance

College of Health

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


Welcome to my home page. I am Course Coordinator for REHB 4057 & REHB 6017 (Physiotherapy with Children and Families) and Senior Lecturer in various physiotherapy subjects including Physiotherapy Studies 200, Neurosciences in Physiotherapy and Physiotherapy Studies 201. I am also First Year and Second Year Physiotherapy Program Coordinator.
I am a very experienced univeristy educator as well as clinical educator and supervisor in community health settings. I have worked for 20 years as a physiotherapist, with a clinical background in paediatrics. I have wide ranging clinical and research interests in paediatric disorders, in particular neurological and developmental disorders. However, my passion and focus these days is teaching and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL), helping students become the best version of their professional selves that they can be. 
I also enjoy supporting research students. I am currently overseeing educational research on student readiness for clinical placement (doctoral student), usability of rehabilitation equipment by children, parents and physiotherapists (honours student), and service design in the government health sector (honours student). I collaborate with research teams, most recently exploring robotic rehabilitation. I am an experienced principal research supervisor (Honours, Masters and PhD).
When I am not directly managing courses and teaching students, I am active in national and international committees with a focus on the scholarship of teaching and learning and higher education practice, helping to build staff and student knowledge of this important domain of academic practice.

Areas of research interest:

Paediatric physiotherapy and rehabilitation

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

Health services and systems research

Year Citation
2022 Boucaut, R., & Lefmann, S. (2022). SAFER: an occupational health and safety teaching framework for nursing students. Athens Journal of Health and Medical Sciences, 9(4), 199-214.
DOI
2022 Argall, N. L., Johnson, E., Cox, E., Hislop, C., & Lefmann, S. A. (2022). Exploring parental perceptions of a family-centred model of care in a public child development service. Journal of Child Health Care, 26(1), 5-17.
DOI
2020 Tsiros, M. D., Ward, E. J., Lefmann, S., & Hillier, S. (2020). The physiotherapy in preschools program: describing a student-led assessment service for children with possible motor skill difficulties. Adapted physical activity quarterly : APAQ, 37(3), 324-337.
DOI Scopus1
2020 Varvounis, N., Frost, J., Stott, J., Ward, E., Lefmann, S., Boyle, T., & Boshoff, K. (2020). Weekly versus fortnightly allied health early intervention for children with diagnosed/suspected developmental delay. The Allied Health Scholar, 1(1), 57-69.
DOI
2017 Lefmann, S., Russo, R., & Hillier, S. (2017). The effectiveness of robotic-assisted gait training for paediatric gait disorders: systematic review. Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation, 14(1), 1-10.
DOI Scopus93 WoS84 Europe PMC72
2016 Adams, R., Jones, A., Lefmann, S., & Sheppard, L. (2016). Towards understanding the availability of physiotherapy services in rural Australia. RURAL AND REMOTE HEALTH, 16(2), 14 pages.
DOI WoS15 Europe PMC5
2016 Adams, R., Jones, A., Lefmann, S., & Sheppard, L. (2016). Service level decision-making in rural physiotherapy: development of conceptual models. Physiotherapy research international, 21(2), 116-126.
DOI Europe PMC2
2016 Adams, R., Jones, A., Lefmann, S., & Sheppard, L. (2016). Towards understanding the availability of physiotherapy services in rural Australia. Rural and remote health, 16(2, article no. 3686), 1-14.
2015 Adams, R., Jones, A., Lefmann, S., & Sheppard, L. (2015). Rationing is a reality in rural physiotherapy: a qualitative exploration of service level decision-making. BMC health services research, 15(121), 1-12.
DOI WoS38 Europe PMC27
2015 Adams, R., Jones, A., Lefmann, S., & Sheppard, L. (2015). Decision making about rural physiotherapy service provision varies with sector, size and rurality. Internet journal of allied health sciences and practice, 13(2), 1-15.
2014 Adams, R., Sheppard, L., Jones, A., & Lefmann, S. (2014). What factors influence physiotherapy service provision in rural communities? A pilot study. Australian journal of rural health, 22(3), 133-138.
DOI WoS7 Europe PMC6
2014 Adams, R., Jones, A., Lefmann, S., & Sheppard, L. (2014). Utilising a collective case study system theory mixed methods approach: a rural health example. BMC medical research methodology, 14(94), 1-9.
DOI WoS8 Europe PMC5
2013 Lefmann, S. A., & Sheppard, L. A. (2013). Perceptions of emergency department staff of the role of physiotherapists in the system: a qualitative investigation. Physiotherapy, 100(1), 86-91.
DOI

Courses I teach

  • REHB 2041 Physiotherapy Studies 200 (2025)
  • REHB 2047 Biopsychosocial Practice (2025)
  • REHB 4057 Physiotherapy with Children and Families (2025)
  • REHB 5133 Musculoskeletal Skills in Physiotherapy (2025)
  • REHB 6017 Physiotherapy Practice with Children and Families (2025)
  • HLTH 3057 Advanced Evidence Based Practice (2024)
  • REHB 1026 Physiotherapy Studies 100 (2024)
  • REHB 2041 Physiotherapy Studies 200 (2024)
  • REHB 4057 Physiotherapy with Children and Families (2024)
  • REHB 5133 Musculoskeletal Skills in Physiotherapy (2024)
  • REHB 6017 Physiotherapy Practice with Children and Families (2024)

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2023 Principal Supervisor - Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Emma Louise McComb

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