Ruth Barker

Ruth is a researcher, educator, and physiotherapy clinician with a particular interest in neurological rehabilitation; innovative models of clinical service delivery for rural, remote and Indigenous communities; and building research capacity across Allied Health disciplines. Ruth supports, mentors and advises PhD students and clinician researchers in this field.

Ruth has attracted over $20 million in funding over the last 15 years to design, pilot, implement and evaluate innovative community disability and rehabilitation services in Northern Queensland. Many of these services incorporate interprofessional, student-assisted service delivery models. Furthermore, Ruth has played a lead role in the development of the Rural Generalist Education Program, provided by JCU in partnership with the Allied Health Professionals Office of Queensland. She has also been instrumental in establishing and sustaining the Northern Australian Research Network in partnership with Indigenous Allied Health Australia."

In her current role at JCU, Ruth is the Principal Investigator for FNQ Connect: Connecting People, Connecting Care. This place-based collective impact initiative is driving reform of disability, rehabilitation and lifestyle services across Far North Queensland.

Ruth is also a Senior Research Advisor with Indigenous Allied Health Australia (IAHA), on a part-time basis. IAHA is a national organisation that sets out to improve the health and well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians by strengthening the Indigenous allied health workforce and promoting culturally safe and responsive services.

Education:

PhD in Physiotherapy, Master of Public Health, Master of Arts in Aboriginal Studies, Post Graduate Diploma of Education, Graduate Certificate of Tertiary Teaching, Bachelor of Applied Science in Physiotherapy.