Rate My Professor Pauline Chiarelli

Associate Professor Pauline Chiarelli-Parry serves in the School of Health Sciences (Physiotherapy) within the College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing at the University of Newcastle, where she currently holds the position of Casual Simulated Patient. Her academic qualifications include a PhD in Behavioural Science from the University of Newcastle (2001), Master of Medical Science in Health Promotion (1997), Graduate Diploma in Health Social Science (Health Promotion, 1993), and Diploma in Physiotherapy from the University of Sydney. She advanced from Senior Lecturer to Associate Professor in the Bachelor of Physiotherapy program, developing teaching and assessment materials, coordinating first- and second-year clinical placements, and serving as Programme Coordinator from 2009 to 2013. Over 25 years, she taught continence promotion and pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation to graduate physiotherapists, with invitations to conduct workshops internationally in Canada, the USA, UK, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and Australia. She supervised three successful Research Masters students and two PhD students.

Pauline Chiarelli's research specializations encompass continence promotion, epidemiology and prevention of female urinary incontinence in clinical groups, faecal incontinence, male continence promotion related to prostate cancer management, pelvic floor muscle dysfunction in females and males, and physiotherapy applications such as diagnostic ultrasound use. Notable publications include the chapter 'Female Pelvic Floor Dysfunction and Evidence-Based Physical Therapy' (2024), 'Female pelvic floor dysfunctions and evidence-based physical therapy: Lifestyle interventions' (2015), 'Pelvic floor health: a concept analysis' (2015), and 'Promoting urinary continence in women after delivery: randomised controlled trial' (2002), among over 80 works cited more than 2,500 times. She has obtained grants totaling $953,686, leading initiatives on continence promotion following stroke and fractured neck of femur repair, pelvic floor muscle function in prostate cancer radiotherapy patients, and allied health placements in aged care. Awards include Specialist titling from the Australian College of Physiotherapy and the University of Newcastle Alumni Exceptional Community Service Award (2011). She chaired the Professional Practice Standards Committee of the Continence and Women's Health Special Group, Australian Physiotherapy Association, served as Invited Member of the Australian New Zealand Continence Journal, and coordinated media appraisals for the Australian Journal of Physiotherapy.