Jo Murray is senior lecturer in the area of adult acquired communication and swallowing disorders in Speech Pathology at Flinders University. Previously she was lecturer and short-course coordinator in the Clinical Rehabilitation post-graduate program. Her passsion is in using interactive and interprofessional educational experiences to nurture students' personal and professional growth such that, as graduates, they are holistic, person-centred and work-ready.

Jo has over 25 years of clinical experience as a speech pathologist in rehabilitation for stroke, spinal cord injury, burns, general medical conditions and dementia. Her interest in optimising outcomes for individuals with acquired communication disorders led her to co-author a therapy resource Motor Speech Matters and embark on her research career. She previously held positions of Senior Speech Pathologist at Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre in Adelaide, SA and Director of Speech Pathology at John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle, NSW.

In 2016, Jo completed her PhD which focussed on the fluid intake and hydration of stroke patients with and without dysphagia, including whether free water protocols could improve the health outcomes of stroke patients who are aspirating thin fluids. She continues to research in the area of dysphagia and oral health with the aim of improving health outcomes and quality of life through clinicial trials and implementation science. She has also expanded her research activities to improving communication for people with dementia and their family caregivers and stroke survivors with cognitive impairment.

Jo is interested in pursuing interventions that improve the hydration and quality of life of individuals with dysphagia. Improving oral care for patients in hospital as a strategy for reducing aspiration pneumonia rates is another passion of hers.

She plans to expand her research endeavours to improving outcomes for people living with dementia by improving the communication skills of relatives and carers.

She is particularly interested in improving health outcomes through interprofessional practice, education and research and by using implementation science. 

• Apr 2018 Meghan Campbell - Masters of Clinical Rehabilitation

• Dysphagia (5)
• Dementia (1)
• Oral healthcare (1)

• Dysphagia (6)
• Cognitive communication (1)