Ms Kate Currie

Kate Currie is an Associate Lecturer in Physiotherapy at the University of Newcastle Department of Rural Health (UONDRH), based at the Biomedical Science Centre (BSC) in Port Macquarie. She plays a key role in physiotherapy student education, rural clinical placement coordination, and community-engaged health initiatives across the Mid North Coast.

Kate holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy) from the University of Sydney, graduating in 2002. Her clinical career spans more than two decades and includes extensive experience in both metropolitan and rural settings across Australia and the United Kingdom. Early in her career, Kate worked in several major Sydney hospitals, where she developed a strong foundation in acute care and rehabilitation. She later broadened her scope internationally, working in diverse rural hospital settings in the UK, which deepened her understanding of multidisciplinary care in resource-limited environments.

Since relocating to Port Macquarie in 2008, Kate has held a variety of clinical roles, most recently as a Primary Care Practitioner within the Emergency Department of a regional hospital. This role not only strengthened her expertise in acute and primary care but also heightened her awareness of the unique healthcare challenges faced by rural communities.

In 2016, Kate joined the University of Newcastle Department of Rural Health. Her current academic role allows her to blend her passion for teaching, clinical excellence, and community health. She is actively involved in supervising and mentoring physiotherapy students on rural placements, designing innovative learning experiences, and engaging in community-based health promotion projects.

Kate has a strong professional interest in strengthening the rural physiotherapy workforce and is deeply committed to encouraging physiotherapy graduates to remain in regional and rural communities after graduation. She finds great satisfaction in leading the Port Macquarie Rural Immersion Program for physiotherapy students—an initiative designed to foster connection with rural communities, expose students to diverse clinical settings, and highlight the rich personal and professional opportunities available outside metropolitan areas. This program has been instrumental in shaping positive rural placement experiences and has had a meaningful impact on rural workforce retention.

Kate’s research interests focus on strategies to increase the rural health workforce, improve rural student placement experiences, and enhance interprofessional education in regional settings. She is passionate about addressing rural health inequities through education, collaboration, and evidence-based community engagement.