Joanne Walters

Joanne Walters serves as a Lecturer and Clinical Education Coordinator for the Speech Pathology (honours) program at the University of Newcastle, Australia, within the School of Health Sciences. Her academic appointment focuses on bridging theoretical knowledge with clinical practice, particularly in pediatric speech sound disorders.

Her primary research interests center on innovative clinical education models, with particular emphasis on simulation-based learning, virtual reality applications, and telepractice in speech pathology education. Walters actively explores how technology-enhanced approaches can improve student learning experiences while maintaining clinical competency standards. Her work addresses diversity in clinical education settings and investigates the effectiveness of alternative practice-based learning experiences.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on simulation technologies (VR, telepractice) in clinical training, stuttering management across diverse populations, and interprofessional education frameworks. Her research demonstrates a consistent trajectory toward developing evidence-based clinical education models that address contemporary challenges in healthcare training.

• University Award for Work Integrated Learning (International)
• University Award for Work Integrated Learning (Schools)
• University Award for Work Integrated Learning (Aged Care)

As Clinical Education Coordinator, Walters has secured over $515,000 in research funding across 14 grants, primarily focused on simulation technologies and clinical education frameworks. She currently co-supervises two PhD students investigating stuttering interventions and cross-cultural approaches to speech pathology. Her leadership extends to coordinating international clinical placements and developing frameworks for embedding simulation in speech pathology curricula, including a national Department of Health-funded project.

Walters collaborates extensively with the Simulation Research Team at the University of Newcastle, working on projects that evaluate virtual reality applications for clinical skill development and investigating the economic viability of simulation-based learning programs in speech pathology education.