About
Rachael Rietdijk is a Lecturer in the Discipline of Speech Pathology at the University of Sydney's Faculty of Medicine and Health. With a background as a practicing speech pathologist working with people with brain injury and their families, she contributes significantly to both clinical education and research in neurorehabilitation.
Dr. Rietdijk holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Speech Pathology) with Honors and a PhD. She is a Certified Practising Speech Pathologist (CPSP) with extensive experience in the field.
Her research focuses on maximizing the impact of speech pathology work to enable people with communication disabilities to participate fully in society. Key areas include using technology to extend speech pathology services, implementing research in clinical practice, training communication partners to improve daily interactions, and raising community awareness about communication disabilities. Her work demonstrates a strong commitment to translating research into practical applications that benefit individuals with brain injuries and their families.
Analyzing her recent publications reveals a clear trajectory toward digital health solutions for brain injury rehabilitation, with increasing focus on telehealth delivery, social media integration, and co-design approaches. Her work spans systematic reviews, intervention development, implementation science, and outcome measurement, showing methodological diversity while maintaining a consistent focus on communication rehabilitation after brain injury.
- Peter Bancroft Prize for Research Work 2019, awarded by the University of Sydney Faculty of Medicine and Health to the Doctor of Philosophy graduate whose thesis was passed by all three examiners without requiring any emendations or amendments
Dr. Rietdijk has secured significant research funding, including a $586,161 grant from icare NSW Foundation for developing online communication training programs for people with traumatic brain injury. She collaborates extensively with Professor Leanne Togher and other researchers across multiple institutions. Her work with the ABI Communication Lab and the interact-ABI-lity project demonstrates her commitment to developing practical interventions that address real-world communication challenges faced by individuals with brain injuries.
She leads the TBIconneCT project which develops telehealth-based communication training, and her work with the ABI Communication Lab focuses on creating evidence-based digital interventions for brain injury rehabilitation. Her current research emphasizes community integration through safe social media use and improving communication partner skills to enhance daily interactions for people with communication disabilities.