Julie Macdonald

Julie Macdonald is an Associate Lecturer in Physiotherapy in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Queensland, within the Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences. She holds a Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours), a Masters (Research), a Bachelor of Arts, and a Bachelor of Physiotherapy from the University of Queensland. With almost 30 years of experience as a clinical physiotherapist specialising in paediatric physiotherapy in hospitals and private practice, she serves as a Clinical Educator in the Developmental Paediatric Clinic. Her focus includes early child development and the management of children with movement disorders. Macdonald was a founding member of the Board of Directors of the Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine from 2004 to 2012, supporting multidisciplinary efforts to advance knowledge in cerebral palsy and developmental medicine.

Macdonald's research centres on paediatric physiotherapy, particularly for children with cystic fibrosis, cerebral palsy, and developmental coordination disorder. She has produced 21 works from 1999 to 2010, comprising one book, nine journal articles, and 11 conference papers. Notable among these is the co-authored book Arbeitsfeld Padiatrie: Physiotherapie mit Kindern und Jugendlichen (Georg Thieme Verlag, 1999). Key journal articles include 'Muscle length and joint range of motion in children with cystic fibrosis compared to children developing typically' (Physiotherapy Canada, 2010), 'Quality of life in young people with cystic fibrosis: effects of hospitalization, age and gender, and differences in parent/child perceptions' (Child: Care, Health and Development, 2009), 'The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health: an effective model for describing young people with cystic fibrosis' (Child: Care, Health and Development, 2009), 'A retrospective audit of hospital records evaluating change in respiratory function during hospitalization for pulmonary exacerbation in a paediatric population with cystic fibrosis' (Physiotherapy, 2006), 'Respiratory exacerbations in children with cystic fibrosis: Physiotherapy treatment outcomes' (Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 2005), and 'Performance on the NSMDA during the first and second year of life to predict functional ability at the age of 4 in children with cerebral palsy' (Hong Kong Physiotherapy Journal, 2005). She contributed to conferences such as the APA Paediatric Conference and DCD-VII Conference. Macdonald served as Associate Advisor for a 2009 PhD on exercise programs for children with cystic fibrosis and is available for supervision and as a media expert on paediatric physiotherapy.

Professional Email: j.macdonald1@uq.edu.au