Miss Amy Combers ~ Associate Lecturer, Physiotherapy

Amy received her masters in physiotherapy from the University of Sydney in 2009.  She tested the waters and worked in various places including a private practice, a level 1 trauma hospital and aged care facilities.  She found she had a passion for the Intensive Care Unit because critically ill and deteriorating patients provide a challenge, and the patients have a variety of conditions. 

Prior to starting at James Cook University, Amy started lecturing in Malawi in 2014.  Amy spent 4 years in Malawi and contributed to the development of the physiotherapy program which only started 4 years before Amy arrived. 

Amy is a physiotherapist and early career researcher who is starting her graduate certificate of research methods in February 2024.  Her topic compares the effects of two common treatment techniques used in the Intensive Care Unit.  Each of these techniques has its own benefits and risks, however, it is thought they have comparable treatment effects.  Amy’s literature review hopes to compare both techniques to determine the safest and most beneficial treatment for patients in the Intensive Care Unit. 

In addition, Amy is involved in the UPLIFT (upper limb and Language Impairment and Functional Training) study, a multi-site study across Australia, which is investigating the amount of training for maximal upper limb and language recovery post-stroke.  Amy is a blinded assessor and completes the pre and post-test data collection.     

Amy is also involved in the PESiPS (practical examination stress in undergraduate physiotherapy students) study. Amy has contributed to the development of the consent form and testing procedures.  Amy analyses the saliva samples in a lab as a blinded assessor. 

Teaching

• PS2002: Physiotherapy 1 (Level 2; TSV)
• PS3001: Physiotherapy 3 (Level 3; TSV)
• PS4004: Advanced Topics in Physiotherapy (Level 4; TSV)
• RH1004: Foundations of Allied Health Professional Practice (Level 1; TSV)

Interests

Research

• Acute care physiotherapy
• Teaching and learning

Teaching

• Cardiorespiratory physiotherapy
• Acute care physiotherapy
• Safe patient handling
• Palliative care physiotherapy

Experience

• 2014 to 2018 - Lecturer, University of Malawi
• 2011 to 2014 - Physiotherapist, Saint George Hospital (Sydney)
• 2009 to 2011 - Physiotherapist, Private Practice

Research Disciplines

• Health services and systems (4203)

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

• Madziatera D, Msofi K, Phiri T, Mkandawire S and Comber A (2020) Availability, accessibility and proper use of personal protective equipment in wards at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) Blantyre, Malawi: an observational study. Malawi Medical Journal, 32 (3). pp. 124-131