Qualifications: BAppSci(Pod), MHlthSci(HlthProm&Ed), PhD, SFHEA

Professor Cylie Williams is a clinical researcher, educator and Deputy Head of the School of Primary and Allied Health Care. Cylie has extensive clinical experience in all health care settings, with a particular focus on paediatric lower limb conditions.  These roles have also resulted in extensive leadership opportunities in public health, industry and government environments. These are the skills she brings to her education and research roles within the school.

Prof Williams is the course coordinator for the Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree at Monash and coordinates a faculty-wide subject focused on learner engagement in concepts relating to communication in the healthcare and disability sectors. In prior health care roles, she has coordinated research education for over 500 allied health, nursing and medical health professionals and managed annual podiatry student placements (~60 per year). 

Prof Williams is the international leader in idiopathic toe walking. This common condition impacts many young children. While many children grow out of it, many are also challenged to receive consistent and effective care. Her research has resulted in clearer diagnostic clarification and development of a tool to guide specialist referral. Cylie's Toe Walking Tool has been translated into four languages, used as an inclusion criterion for trials and it’s wording forms specialist paediatric examination recommendations, such as those displayed on the Mayo Clinic's general public toe walking webpage. Her broader research interests relate to lower limb conditions in children that result in functional impact and pain. 

She is also a leader in Australian allied health model of care and workforce research. This research has resulted in model of care change impacting people admitted to Peninsula Health acute services. Cylie led the Podiatrists In Australia: investigating Graduate Employment study. This is the largest longitudinal data collection in podiatry, and focuses on workplace location choices, employment, job satisfaction, burnout and education preferences. This body of research has also incorporated development of triage tools and outcome tools that are embedded in podiatry care across Australia and in the UK.

Idiopathic toe walking

Impact and treatment of conditions affecting the lower limb

Paediatric gait and balance

Health care services research

Health care workforce research

Prof Williams is a member of the International Allied Health Working Group of the Ehlers Danlos Society. She is the only podiatrist on the Paediatric Global Musculoskeletal Task force, and the editorial board of the international free education platform - Paediatric Musculoskeletal Matters (PMM). PMM provides free education for health professionals and students, reaching over 200 countries.

Prof Williams is an associate editor for the Journal of Foot and Ankle Research and holds an adjunct research position at the University of South Australia. 

Cylie was the Victorian practitioner member (2015-2024) and Chair of the Podiatry Board of Australia (2018-2024). She was also one of three Australian podiatrists to hold a panel memberships on the Australian Government Professional Services Review Panel.

Prof Williams has previously held the co-chair position of the Peninsula Health Human Research Ethics Committee and member of two Monash Health's Human Research Ethics committees.