Hayley Smithers-Sheedy

Dr. Hayley Smithers-Sheedy is a Principal Research Fellow at the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Institute and an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Specialty of Child and Adolescent Health at the Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney. With a PhD, MPH, and AppSc in Speech Pathology, her work focuses on strengthening research capacity in cerebral palsy and neurodevelopmental disabilities, particularly through Indigenous-led initiatives and partnerships with people with lived experience.

• Education: PhD, MPH, AppSc(SpPath)

Her research spans Epidemiology, Congenital Infections, and Consumer Involvement in Research, with over 60 publications and $6M+ in grants. Key projects include the Australasian Congenital Cytomegalovirus Register and evaluating mindfulness interventions for adults with CP.

Recent articles reveal a focus on CP epidemiology across diverse populations (Australia, Ghana, Bangladesh), prevention strategies for congenital infections, and health equity in low-resource settings. She leads initiatives to improve GP education on CMV prevention and examines sociodemographic factors in CP outcomes.

• Grants:
  • 2024: MRFF CRI - Equitable Pathways and Integrated Care in Cerebral Palsy
  • 2023: NHMRC Ideas Grant
  • 2022: NHMRC Early Career Fellowship

She mentors research students like Karen Lansdown, who investigates oral health outcomes in CP, and actively collaborates with international consortia including the International Cerebral Palsy Genomics Consortium.