Associate Professor Alison Francis-Cracknell is a registered physiotherapist and interim Head of the Physiotherapy Department. Her She contributes leadership in physiotherapy clinical education across Australia and New Zealand as Chair of the Clinical Education Managers of Australia and New Zealand (CEMANZ) committee. Alison is an education-focussed academic whose work targets health professions education. She is a member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association and the Australian and New Zealand Association for Allied Health Professional Educators (ANZAHPE).

Alison undertook doctoral studies investigating cultural safety in learning and teaching in health professions education, and has translated research findings arising through initiating the Listen Sessions for academics across Monash University. This has led to a cross-faculty network of academics engaged in critical reflexivity in learning and teaching of Indigenous health (2020 - 2024). She is the founder of the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science's Collaborative Indo-Pacific Healthcare Program, a signature education initiative in collaborative healthcare and global health for students across the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.

Alison is Director of Work Integrated Learning in the Department of Physiotherapy at Monash University, a pivotal portfolio spanning both the Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) and the Doctor of Physiotherapy programs. She has over 25 years of clinical, education and engagement experience. Dr. Francis-Cracknell has been the recipient of several academic awards including international recognition of her contributions to health professions education via Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy.  Alison is an active contributor to health professions education research via peer reviewed publications, invited manuscript reviews, regular conference presentations and through invitations to peer review international conference abstracts and contribute expertise to conference panels. Alison has also acted as an invited clinical education mentor to physiotherapy initiatives in South Africa and Cambodia.

Dr. Francis-Cracknell’s research priorities are focused within the field of health professions education. Her primary areas of interest have focussed on clinical education and health equity. Particular areas of interest include innovation in physiotherapy clinical education, the role of the non-Indigenous educator in culturally safe learning and teaching and interprofessional collaboration in health professions education. Her research expertise includes qualitative research methodologies, inductive thematic analysis, critical reflexivity, participatory action research, systematic reviewing.

FMNHS Indigenous Health Equity Education Committee Memeber 

FMNHS Work Integrated Learning Committee member

Australian Physiotherapy Association's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Committee member (2018-2021)

Clinical Education Managers of Australia and New Zealand (CEMANZ) Committee Chair (Physiotherapy) 2022-2024 

Clinical Education Managers of Australia and New Zealand (CEMANZ) Committee Deputy Chair (Physiotherapy) 2020-2022

Scope Global AVID briefing and de-briefing facilitator

Monash University Global Immersion Guarrantee (GIG) staff leader: Indonesia 2024

Health Professions Education

Clinical Education/Work Integrated Learning

Health Equity

Collaborative Care

Interprofessional Education

Qualitative research methods

Department of Physiotherapy: Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples' health curriculum portfolio (coordination, oversight and tutor support): Included in: PTY1011, PTY2031, PTY4283, PTY5106, PTY5202, PTY5305

Clinical Education Program Management: Included in: BPT: PTY2031/2042, PTY3162, PTY3262, PTY4171, PTY4172, PTY4281, PTY4282; DPT: PTY5106, PTY5108, PTY5109, PTY5202, PTY5203, PTY5301, PTY5303.

BPT Yr 3: PTY 3051: 'Challenging Encounters in Clinical Education' seminar

Clinical educator partner professional development:

- Twice-yearly Clinical Educator professional development workshops x 3

- Annual Clinical Educator Forum

Listen Sessions: Online across-faculty academic community of practice/professional development in critical self-reflection and development of crical allyship in learning and teaching