Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Dr Brusco is the Director of the Rehabilitation, Ageing and Independent Living (RAIL) Research Centre, Monash University. She has 20 years of experience as a senior physiotherapist in neurological rehabilitation, and as a senior health service leader. Dr Brusco commenced her academic career 15 years ago with a focus on rehabilitation and health service research, and then through her award-winning PhD thesis, this focus opened up to include health economics. Over the past decade Dr Brusco has pioneered new ways to evaluate cost-effective models of rehabilitation, most notably through three of her rehabilitation programs of research. The first was additional weekend rehabilitation services during inpatient rehabilitation, which reduced health service costs and improved patient outcomes (2004 to 2015). The second was My Therapy, a patient self-management program that embeds self-practice of therapy activities during inpatient rehabilitation, which increased uptake of self-management by 67% across four health services and resulted in an addition 26 minutes per day of rehabilitation participation (2016 to current). The third is the Risk Assessment for moving Individuals SafEly (RAISE) program that aims to reduce staff injuries, as well as reduce patient and resident falls and inactivity, in hospitals and residential aged care services (2016 to current). Alongside her Monash University appointment, Dr Brusco is also a Health Economic and Evaluation consultant across the government, health, disability, and education sectors (2017 to current).
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Research area keywords
- Health Economics
- Rehabilitation
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
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Risk Assessment for moving Individuals SafEly (RAISE) - optimising staff and patient safety
Brusco, N. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Taylor, N. F. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Rawson, H. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Kugler, H. L. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Collie, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Ekegren, C. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Hill, K. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Haines, T. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Kasza, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Crabtree, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Morrison, B. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Chu, E. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Mitchell, M. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Levinger, P. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Radia-George, C. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Graven, C. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Abdelmotaleb, R. (Associate Investigator (AI)) & Bould, E. (Associate Investigator (AI))
1/10/25 → 30/09/29
Project: Research
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Early Evaluation of the National Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability Health (RFx20482)
Bould, E. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Cadby, J. M. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Forster, A. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Callaway, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Brusco, N. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Hill, K. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Hayward, B. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Morgan, P. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Taylor-Hall, A. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Williams, C. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Layton, N. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Barclay, L. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Bourke-Taylor, H. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Bhopti, A. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Simpson, A. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Templeton, M. (Partner Investigator (PI)) & Stewart, M. (Partner Investigator (PI))
15/11/24 → 31/01/26
Project: Research
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Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) to improve perioperative care for Older PeoplE (COPE)
Anderson, J. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Srikanth, V. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Harris, I. A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Myles, P. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Bucknall, T. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Brusco, N. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Forbes, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Ludbrook, G. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Lodge, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Ayton, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Moran, C. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Dhesi, J. K. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Partridge, J. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Brown, W. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Liew, S. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Chroinin, D. N. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Adie, S. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Karayiannis, C. (Associate Investigator (AI)) & Gonski, P. (Associate Investigator (AI))
1/09/24 → 31/08/29
Project: Research
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New Street Services Evaluation
Rose, V. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Shlonsky, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Williamson, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Newitt, R. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Clymer, C. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Brusco, N. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Taylor, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Tang, T. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Roberts, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Lee, F. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Merryfull, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Hodgkin, L. (Chief Investigator (CI))
Ministry of Health (trading as NSW Health) (New South Wales)
25/03/24 → 28/02/26
Project: Research
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Use and effectiveness of assistive technology for older Australians within the National GEAT
Layton, N. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Hill, K. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Callaway, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Brusco, N. (Chief Investigator (CI))
Department of Health and Aged Care (Australia)
1/07/23 → 31/03/26
Project: Research
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A self-management program increases the dosage of inpatient rehabilitation by 26 minutes per day: a process evaluation
Whittaker, S. L. (Leading Author), Brusco, N. K., Hill, K. D., Ekegren, C. L. & Taylor, N. F., 2025, In: Disability and Rehabilitation. 47, 2, p. 425-434 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access3 Citations (Scopus) -
Building consensus on prescribing self-directed occupational therapy activities: A Delphi study
Joy, A., Devlin, A., Lannin, N. A., Callaway, L., Whittaker, S. L. & Brusco, N. K., Jun 2025, In: Australian Occupational Therapy Journal. 72, 3, 17 p., e70029.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
Cost-effectiveness of the My Therapy self-directed therapy program for rehabilitation patients: A stepped wedge cluster randomised trial
Brusco, N. K., Whittaker, S. L., Ekegren, C. L., Morris, M. E., Taylor, N. F., Lee, A. L., Somerville, L., Lannin, N. A., Abdelmotaleb, R., Callaway, L., Hill, K. D. & The My Therapy Consortium, Jul 2025, In: Clinical Rehabilitation. 39, 7, p. 890–901 12 p., 02692155251347756.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access1 Citation (Scopus) -
Patients’ perceptions of participating in self-directed activities outside supervised occupational and physiotherapy within inpatient and home-based rehabilitation settings: a qualitative study
Dorward, E. (Leading Author), Devlin, A. (Leading Author), Brusco, N. K., Dulfer, F., Whittaker, S. L., Reeder, S. & Ekegren, C. L., 2025, In: Disability and Rehabilitation. 47, 3, p. 592–600 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access5 Citations (Scopus) -
Pilot of an animal-assisted activity program to support intergenerational and intercultural community connections to reduce loneliness and social isolation
Bould, E., Brusco, N. K. & Callaway, L., May 2025, In: Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice. 59, 11 p., 101970.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access1 Citation (Scopus)
Prizes
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Employment CoLab joint winner of the award for Excellence in Injury and Disability Management (Return to Work / Community) at the 2021 Excellence in Personal Injury Education Foundation (PIEF) Award ceremony
Bould, E. (Recipient), Callaway, E. (Recipient), Brusco, N. (Recipient), Thomas, S. (Recipient), Witts, L. (Recipient), Johnstone, S. (Recipient) & Stockton, M. (Recipient), 28 Sept 2021
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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FMNHS Dean's Award for Excellence in Industry Education Programs (team)
Callaway, E. (Recipient), Bould, E. (Recipient), Brusco, N. (Recipient), Williams, C. (Recipient), Layton, N. (Recipient), Sloan, S. (Recipient), Morgan, P. (Recipient), Fossey, E. (Recipient), Ekegren, C. (Recipient), Shlonsky, A. (Recipient), Tregloan, K. (Recipient), Bangerter, M. (Recipient) & Martin, D. (Recipient), 6 Oct 2021
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Vice-Chancellor's Education and Research Excellence Awards 2021
Callaway, E. (Recipient), Bould, E. (Recipient), Brusco, N. (Recipient), Williams, C. (Recipient), Layton, N. (Recipient), Sloan, S. (Recipient), Morgan, P. (Recipient), Fossey, E. (Recipient), Ekegren, C. (Recipient), Shlonsky, A. (Recipient), Tregloan, K. (Recipient), Bangerter, M. (Recipient) & Martin, D. (Recipient), 22 Nov 2021
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
- 3 Contribution to conference
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Australian Association of Gerontology (AAG) Conference 2023
Hill, K. (Speaker), Layton, N. (Speaker), Lalor, A. (Speaker), Slatyer, S. (Speaker), Lee, A. (Speaker), Watson, M. (Speaker), Khushu, A. (Speaker), Burton, E. (Speaker), Oliveira, D. (Speaker), Brusco, N. (Organiser), Ferrari Jacinto, A. (Speaker) & Tiller, L. (Speaker)
17 Nov 2023Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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Australian Assistive Technology Conference 24 Nov 2022
Layton, N. (Speaker) & Brusco, N. (Speaker)
25 Nov 2022Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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Australian Association of Physiotherapy Conference 2023
Hill, K. (Speaker), Layton, N. (Speaker), Slatyer, S. (Speaker), Lee, A. (Speaker), Bryant, C. (Speaker), Watson, M. (Speaker), Khushu, A. (Speaker), Burton, E. (Organiser), Oliveira, D. (Speaker), Brusco, N. (Speaker), Ferrari Jacinto, A. (Speaker) & Tiller, L. (Speaker)
7 Oct 2022Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference