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  • Macquarie University NSW 2109 Australia
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Research that will improve musculoskeletal health

The Department of Chiropractic is committed to undertaking research that will improve the musculoskeletal health of the community.

Our purpose is to advance knowledge in musculoskeletal health by undertaking high quality, impactful research and research training to improve clinical practice, inform healthcare policy, and improve health outcomes of the community.

Research at the Department of Chiropractic

Research

Macquarie University has distinguished itself as one of Australia’s leading research-intensive universities. Macquarie has outstanding achievements in research income, citations ranking, supporting Centres of Research Excellence, and the timely completion of excellent higher degree research by students.

The Department of Chiropractic aims to actively foster academic staff and postgraduate research in areas of community health, complementary medicine, and evidence-based chiropractic practice and teaching. The Department maintains a diverse range of research interests in such areas as clinical, basic and applied chiropractic sciences, and community health.

Research strengths of the Department of Chiropractic include the following areas:

  • Implementation research, particularly around the use of imaging for lower back pain
  • Intervention research for chronic musculoskeletal-related conditions, with a focus on spinal pain
  • Exploring musculoskeletal conditions across the lifespan, including adolescence, adulthood and ageing
  • Research into the safety of chiropractic treatment
  • Education research, with a focus on teaching anatomy.

The Department’s future research focus includes:

  • Research infrastructure
  • Research training of current staff
  • Recruiting excellent higher degree research (HDR) students
  • Fostering academic collaboration
  • Fostering industry collaboration.

Mr Christopher Burrell

Mr Aron Downie

Dr Roger Engel

Dr Matthew Fernandez

Professor Simon French

Ms Rosemary Giuriato

Ms Anneliese Hulme

Dr Hazel Jenkins

Dr Katie de Luca

Dr Stephanie Marhoff-Beard

Mr Curtis Rigney

Dr Michael Swain

Dr Stephney Whillier

The Department's Research Seminar series covers interesting and relevant research topics. These seminars are held monthly from 1 to 2pm. The dates are added as and when speakers are confirmed.

Visit the Research Seminar series page for more information, including seminar titles and abstracts.

Director of Research

Director of Research, Professor Simon French

Research Coordinator

Professor Simon French is the Research Coordinator in the Department of Chiropractic. It is the Research Coordinator's responsibility to oversee the research activities of the Department, to promote research, and to foster the application of research in the teaching of the Department, particularly from the view of evidence based practice. The Research Coordinator also liaises with the Head of Department to assess HDR applications.

Master of Research Coordinator

Professor Simon French is also the Master of Research (MRes) Coordinator in the Department. His role is to coordinate the development of the curriculum design, organise meetings, liaise with the undergraduate, postgraduate and graduate diploma coordinators and provide advice to the Head of Department.

Ethics Committees

The two Ethics committees concerned with research are The Human Ethics Committee and the Animal Ethics Committee.

All research projects involving either human or animals must be presented to the relevant Ethics Committee in the Ethics Department.

Find out how to obtain ethics approval.

BAck Complaints in the Elderly (BACE) study

Funded by the Australian Chiropractors Association, the BACE: Chiropractic - Australia (BACE: C-A) study is part of a global program of research looking at back complaints in the elderly.

Read more about the BACE: C-A study

Australian Chiropractic Workforce Study

Objective: The Australian chiropractic workforce study was a multi-phase, survey-based, research study that included three main cohorts (registered chiropractors, their patients, and the general public) that influenced the provision of chiropractic services and its workforce distribution across Australia.

The study was carried out by the following team:

  • Associate Professor Rodney Bonello
  • Dr Benjamin Brown
  • Dr Sharyn Eaton
  • Dr Ramon Fernandez-Caamano
  • Dr Petra Graham
  • Ms Hillary Green

Here are the Australian Workforce Study questionnaires they produced to use in the study:

NSW Chiropractic Workforce Study

Chiropractic graduates were invited to complete the following NSW Workforce Study questionnaire:

Contact the FMHHS Research Support Team for help with research-related questions. Further information can be found on Macquarie's research web pages, including information on grants and funding.

If you have travel requirements for your research, Macquarie does offer travel support.

In addition, when it comes time to present your research, our marketing and communications team can help you understand our brand and media engagement guidelines.

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