David Schmidt

Dr David Schmidt is a Senior Lecturer at the Sydney Medical School and Rural Clinical School (Dubbo/Orange) within the University of Sydney. With over 20 years of clinical experience as a physiotherapist in rural NSW and Tasmania, he works part-time as a Senior Program Manager in Rural Research for HETI.

• Bachelor of Applied Science in Physiotherapy (University of Sydney, 1996)
• Master of Physiotherapy (University of South Australia, 2003)
• Graduate Certificate of Clinical Education (Charles Sturt University, 2012)
• PhD in Research Capacity Building (University of Sydney, 2023)

David’s research focuses on research capacity building in rural health workplaces, rural clinician-led research, and creative arts in research. His work explores structural supports for rural health research, digital health equity for children, and emergency department care in rural areas.

His 2025-2023 publications highlight trends in rural health research, including suicide prevention education, diabetes prevention, palliative care partnerships, STEMI management, and technology-driven healthcare. These works span health services research, clinical education, and public health disciplines.

Awards:

• Peter Bancroft Prize for Research

David’s career bridges rural physiotherapy, academic leadership in health research capacity building, and collaboration between HETI and University of Sydney. He contributes to policy analysis, clinical training frameworks, and rural health equity initiatives.