NHMRC Early Career Fellow
Overview
Dr Kath Benfer is a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow with the Queensland Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Research Centre, The University of Queensland. Her Post-Doctoral work focuses on community-based early detection and intervention for infants at high risk of cerebral palsy in low-resource countries (India and Bangladesh). She was awarded the prestigious Endeavour Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarship through the Australian Commonwealth Government to conduct the study. Kath’s PhD explored oropharyngeal dysphagia, gross motor function, growth and nutrition in preschool children with cerebral palsy, in both Australia and Bangladesh. Her work arising from her doctoral studies has been published in 10 peer-reviewed publications and presented widely at international conferences. Dr Benfer has over 12 years of experience as a speech pathologist within paediatric disability, with community-based child and family support services. Kath also has an interest in cross-cultural issues in child health, having worked in Bangladesh for over 2 years both as an AusAid volunteer teaching on the country’s first Bachelor of Speech Therapy degree, as well as conducting research in this context. She has completed her Master of Public Health at La Trobe University in Melbourne within the research and international health streams.
Research Interests
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First Nations access to allied healthcare
Peer delivered service delivery models for infants with cerebral palsy -
International child health
Parent-delivered interventions for infants at high risk of cerebral palsy in low income countries -
Oropharyngeal dysphagia in children with cerebral palsy
Prevalence and patterns of oropharyngeal dysphagia, including screening and assessment
Research Impacts
My doctoral research was the first to explore prevalence of oropharyngeal dysphagia (OPD) in a population-based cohort of preschool children with cerebral palsy (CP) using direct clinical measures; resulting in publication in Pediatrics (Benfer 2013). My thesis established new synthesis and testing of OPD measure psychometrics (Benfer 2012a, 2014c), improving the validity of my prevalence results. OPD was found in majority of children with CP (Benfer 2013) and not limited to those with poor gross motor function (Benfer 2015a, 2014a, 2013). Functional limitations were described in relation to gross motor function, enabling earlier screening and intervention. This study was replicated in a comparative study of children with CP in Bangladesh. It was unique in that it employed consistent methods and raters for CP diagnosis and functional ratings; enabling greater insight into the markedly different clinical picture of CP in a low-resource setting (Benfer 2014, Benfer 2016). This work earned a nomination for the international Gayle Arnold Award for Excellence and publication in Pediatrics (Benfer 2014). My contributions to research in the field of disability in Bangladesh are not limited to my own outputs, but also include supervision of masters and honours students, and research mentoring of clinicians. As a new researcher, my work has had a significant impact, including 13 publications, 143 citations, and 37 conference presentations (31 international).
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
- Masters (Coursework) of Public Health, La Trobe University
Publications
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Luke, Carly, Mick-Ramsamy, Leeann, Bos, Arend F., Benfer, Katherine A., Bosanquet, Margot, Gordon, Anya, Williams, Hailey, Taifalos, Chloe, Smith, Maria, Leishman, Shaneen, Oakes, Ellena, Kentish, Megan, McNamara, Lynda, Ware, Robert S. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2024). Relationship between early infant motor repertoire and neurodevelopment on the hammersmith infant neurological examination in a developmentally vulnerable first nations cohort. Early Human Development 106004, 106004. doi: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2024.106004
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Journal Article: Sleep problems in a population-based cohort of primary school age children with Cerebral Palsy
Whittingham, Koa, Benfer, Kath, Sakzewski, Leanne, Wotherspoon, Jane, Burgess, Andrea, Comans, Tracy, Keramat, Syed Afoz, Ware, Robert S. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2024). Sleep problems in a population-based cohort of primary school age children with Cerebral Palsy. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 147 104690, 104690. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2024.104690
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Journal Article: Efficacy of Early Intervention for Infants With Cerebral Palsy in an LMIC: An RCT
Benfer, Katherine A., Whittingham, Koa, Ware, Robert S., Ghosh, Asis Kumar, Chowdhury, Sayak, Moula, Golam, Samanta, Sandip, Khan, Naila Zaman, Bell, Kristie L., Oftedal, Stina, Bandaranayake, Sasaka, Salt, Alison T., Bhattacharya, Anjan, Maiti, Pradip, Tripathi, Santanu K., Morgan, Cathy, Novak, Iona and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2024). Efficacy of Early Intervention for Infants With Cerebral Palsy in an LMIC: An RCT. Pediatrics, 153 (4) e2023063854. doi: 10.1542/peds.2023-063854
Grants
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(2024–2027) NHMRC MRFF PPHR - Consumer Led Research
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First Peoples co-designed cohort to support improved perinatal and early childhood outcomes
(2023–2028) NHMRC Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies Grants
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(2023) UQ Knowledge Exchange & Translation Fund
Supervision
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Early detection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants at high chance of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes at 12 months corrected age
Doctor Philosophy
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Evaluation of Indigenous Culturally adapted BabyMoves App to improve early surveillance and prediction of adverse neurodevelopmental outcome of high-risk NICU graduates in the Northern Territory
Doctor Philosophy
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(2023) Doctor Philosophy
Available Projects
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Community-based parent-delivered early detection and intervention program for infants at high risk of cerebral palsy
Publications
Book Chapter
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Feeding and nutritional management strategies
Bell, Kristie L., Benfer, Katherine A. and Weir, Kelly A. (2020). Feeding and nutritional management strategies. Nutrition and neurodisability. (pp. 1-208) edited by Peter B. Sullivan, Guro L. Andersen and Morag J. Andrew. London, United Kingdom: Mac Keith Press.
Journal Article
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Luke, Carly, Mick-Ramsamy, Leeann, Bos, Arend F., Benfer, Katherine A., Bosanquet, Margot, Gordon, Anya, Williams, Hailey, Taifalos, Chloe, Smith, Maria, Leishman, Shaneen, Oakes, Ellena, Kentish, Megan, McNamara, Lynda, Ware, Robert S. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2024). Relationship between early infant motor repertoire and neurodevelopment on the hammersmith infant neurological examination in a developmentally vulnerable first nations cohort. Early Human Development 106004, 106004. doi: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2024.106004
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Sleep problems in a population-based cohort of primary school age children with Cerebral Palsy
Whittingham, Koa, Benfer, Kath, Sakzewski, Leanne, Wotherspoon, Jane, Burgess, Andrea, Comans, Tracy, Keramat, Syed Afoz, Ware, Robert S. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2024). Sleep problems in a population-based cohort of primary school age children with Cerebral Palsy. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 147 104690, 104690. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2024.104690
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Efficacy of Early Intervention for Infants With Cerebral Palsy in an LMIC: An RCT
Benfer, Katherine A., Whittingham, Koa, Ware, Robert S., Ghosh, Asis Kumar, Chowdhury, Sayak, Moula, Golam, Samanta, Sandip, Khan, Naila Zaman, Bell, Kristie L., Oftedal, Stina, Bandaranayake, Sasaka, Salt, Alison T., Bhattacharya, Anjan, Maiti, Pradip, Tripathi, Santanu K., Morgan, Cathy, Novak, Iona and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2024). Efficacy of Early Intervention for Infants With Cerebral Palsy in an LMIC: An RCT. Pediatrics, 153 (4) e2023063854. doi: 10.1542/peds.2023-063854
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Oftedal, Stina, McCormack, Siobhan, Stevenson, Richard, Benfer, Katherine, Boyd, Roslyn N. and Bell, Kristie (2024). The evolution of nutrition management in children with severe neurological impairment with a focus on cerebral palsy. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. doi: 10.1111/jhn.13277
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Benfer, Katherine, Boyd, Roslyn N, Roe, Yvette, Fagan, Ruth, Luke, Carly, Mick-Ramsamy, Leeann, Whittingham, Koa, Novak, Iona, Bosanquet, Margot, McNamara, Lynda, Khandaker, Gulam, Fogarty, Lucy, Cadet-James, Yvonne, Ruben, Alan, Comans, Tracy, Smith, Anthony and Ware, Robert S (2023). Study protocol: peer delivered early intervention (Learning through Everyday Activities with Parents for Infants at risk of Cerebral Palsy: LEAP-CP) for First Nation Australian infants at high risk of cerebral palsy – an RCT study. BMJ Open, 13 (3) e059531, 1-16. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-059531
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Boyd, Roslyn N., Novak, Iona, Morgan, Catherine, Bora, Samudragupta, Sakzewski, Leanne, Ware, Robert S., Comans, Tracy, Fahey, Michael Collingwood, Whittingham, Koa, Trost, Stewart, Pannek, Kerstin, Pagnozzi, Alex, Mcintyre, Sarah, Badawi, Nadia, Smithers Sheedy, Hayley, Palmer, Kirsten Rebecca, Burgess, Andrea, Keramat, Afroz, Bell, Kristie, Hines, Ashleigh, Benfer, Katherine, Gascoigne-Pees, Laura, Leishman, Shaneen and Oftedal, Stina (2023). School readiness of children at high risk of cerebral palsy randomised to early neuroprotection and neurorehabilitation: protocol for a follow-up study of participants from four randomised clinical trials. BMJ Open, 13 (2) e068675, 1-17. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-068675
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Reddacliff, Courtney, Hemsley, Bronwyn, Smith, Rebecca, Dalton, Sayne, Jones, Sarah, Fitzpatrick, Amy, Given, Fiona, Kelly, Jack, Lawson, Xanthe, Darcy, Simon, Debono, Deborah, Benfer, Kath and Balandin, Susan (2022). Examining the content and outcomes of training in dysphagia and mealtime management: a systematic review informing co-design of new training. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 31 (3), 1535-1552. doi: 10.1044/2022_ajslp-21-00231
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Laporta-Hoyos, Olga, Pannek, Kerstin, Pagnozzi, Alex M., Whittingham, Koa, Wotherspoon, Jane, Benfer, Kath, Fiori, Simona, Ware, Robert S. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2022). Cognitive, academic, executive and psychological functioning in children with spastic motor type cerebral palsy: influence of extent, location, and laterality of brain lesions. European Journal of Paediatric Neurology, 38, 33-46. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2022.02.004
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Luke, Carly R., Benfer, Katherine, Mick-Ramsamy, Leeann, Ware, Robert S., Reid, Natasha, Bos, Arend F., Bosanquet, Margot and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2022). Early detection of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants at high risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes at 12 months corrected age: LEAP-CP prospective cohort study protocol. BMJ Open, 12 (1) e053646, e053646. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-053646
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Sellers, Diane, Pennington, Lindsay, Bryant, Elizabeth, Benfer, Katherine, Weir, Kelly, Aboagye, Sonia and Morris, Christopher (2022). Mini-EDACS: development of the eating and drinking ability classification system for young children with cerebral palsy. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 64 (7), 897-906. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.15172
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Branjerdporn, Nataya, Benfer, Katherine, Crawford, Emma, Ziviani, Jenny, Boyd, Roslyn N. and Sakzewski, Leanne (2021). Efficacy of early interventions with active parent implementation in low-and-middle income countries for young children with cerebral palsy to improve child development and parent mental health outcomes: a systematic review. Disability and Rehabilitation, 44 (23), 1-15. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2021.1989063
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Branjerdporn, Nataya, Crawford, Emma, Ziviani, Jenny, Boyd, Roslyn N., Benfer, Katherine and Sakzewski, Leanne (2021). Mothers’ perspectives on the influences shaping their early experiences with infants at risk of cerebral palsy in India. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 113 103957, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2021.103957
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Bell, Kristie L., Benfer, Katherine A., Ware, Robert S., Patrao, Tania A., Garvey, Josephine J., Haddow, Rachel, Boyd, Roslyn N., Davies, Peter S.W., Arvedson, Joan C. and Weir, Kelly A. (2020). The pediatric subjective global nutrition assessment classifies more children with cerebral palsy as malnourished compared with anthropometry. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 (11), 1893-1901. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2020.04.012
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Bell, Kristie L, Benfer, Katherine A., Ware, Robert S., Patrao, Tania A., Garvey, Josephine J., Arvedson, Joan C., Boyd, Roslyn N., Davies, Peter S.W. and Weir, Kelly A. (2019). Development and validation of a screening tool for feeding/swallowing difficulties and undernutrition in children with cerebral palsy. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 61 (10) dmcn.14220, 1175-1181. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.14220
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Benfer, Katherine A., Novak, Iona, Morgan, Catherine, Whittingham, Koa, Khan, Naila Zaman, Ware, Robert S., Bell, Kristie L., Bandaranayake, Sasaka, Salt, Alison, Ghosh, Asis Kumar, Bhattacharya, Anjan, Samanta, Sandip, Moula, Golam, Bose, Dilip, Tripathi, Santanu and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2018). Community-based parent-delivered early detection and intervention programme for infants at high risk of cerebral palsy in a low-resource country (Learning through Everyday Activities with Parents (LEAP-CP): protocol for a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open, 8 (6) e017204, e021186. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-021186
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Oropharyngeal Dysphagia and Cerebral Palsy
Benfer, Katherine A., Weir, Kelly A., Bell, Kristie L., Ware, Robert S., Davies, Peter S. W. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2017). Oropharyngeal Dysphagia and Cerebral Palsy. Pediatrics, 140 (6) e20170731, 1-11. doi: 10.1542/peds.2017-0731
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Benfer, Katherine A., Weir, Kelly A., Ware, Robert S., Davies, Peter S. W., Arvedson, Joan, Boyd, Roslyn N and Bell, Kristie L (2017). Parent-reported indicators for detecting feeding and swallowing difficulties and undernutrition in preschool-aged children with cerebral palsy. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 59 (11), 1181-1187. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.13498
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Hazardous child labor in Nepal: The case of brick kilns
Lamar, Stephen, O'Leary, Patrick, Chui, Cheryl, Benfer, Katherine, Zug, Sebastian and Jordan, Lucy P. (2017). Hazardous child labor in Nepal: The case of brick kilns. Child Abuse and Neglect, 72, 312-325. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2017.08.011
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Boyd, Roslyn N., Davies, Peter S. W., Ziviani, Jenny, Trost, Stewart, Barber, Lee, Ware, Robert, Rose, Stephen, Whittingham, Koa, Sakzewski, Leanne, Bell, Kristie, Carty, Christopher, Obst, Steven, Benfer, Katherine, Reedman, Sarah, Edwards, Priya, Kentish, Megan, Copeland, Lisa, Weir, Kelly, Davenport, Camilla, Brooks, Denise, Coulthard, Alan, Pelekanos, Rebecca, Guzzetta, Andrea, Fiori, Simona, Wynter, Meredith, Finn, Christine, Burgess, Andrea, Morris, Kym, Walsh, John ... Scuffham, Paul A. (2017). PREDICT-CP: study protocol of implementation of comprehensive surveillance to predict outcomes for school-aged children with cerebral palsy. BMJ Open, 7 (7) e014950, e014950. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-014950
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Benfer, Katherine A., Weir, Kelly A., Bell, Kristie L., Ware, Robert S., Davies, Peter S. W. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2017). The eating and drinking ability classification system in a population-based sample of preschool children with cerebral palsy. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 59 (6), 647-654. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.13403
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Oftedal, Stina, Davies, Peter S. W., Boyd, Roslyn N., Stevenson, Richard D., Ware, Robert S., Keawutan, Piyapa, Benfer, Katherine A. and Bell, Kristie L. (2017). Body composition, diet, and physical activity: a longitudinal cohort study in preschoolers with cerebral palsy. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 105 (2), 369-378. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.116.137810
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Longitudinal growth, diet, and physical activity in young children with cerebral palsy
Oftedal, Stina, Davies, Peter S. W., Boyd, Roslyn N., Stevenson, Richard D., Ware, Robert S., Keawutan, Piyapa, Benfer, Katherine A. and Bell, Kristie L. (2016). Longitudinal growth, diet, and physical activity in young children with cerebral palsy. Pediatrics, 138 (4) e20161321, e20161321-e20161321. doi: 10.1542/peds.2016-1321
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Benfer, Katherine A., Weir, Kelly A., Bell, Kristie L., Nahar, Baitun, Ware, Robert S., Davies, Peter S. W. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2016). Oropharyngeal dysphagia in children with cerebral palsy: comparisons between a high- and low-resource country. Disability and Rehabilitation, 39 (23), 1-9. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2016.1229363
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Longitudinal study of oropharyngeal dysphagia in preschool children with cerebral palsy
Benfer, Katherine A., Weir, Kelly A., Bell, Kristie L., Ware, Robert S., Davies, Peter S. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2016). Longitudinal study of oropharyngeal dysphagia in preschool children with cerebral palsy. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 97 (4), 552-560. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2015.11.016
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Benfer, Katherine A., Weir, Kelly A., Bell, Kristie L., Ware, Robert S., Davies, Peter S. W. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2015). Food and fluid texture consumption in a population-based cohort of preschool children with cerebral palsy: Relationship to dietary intake. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 57 (11), 1056-1063. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.12796
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Benfer, Katherine A., Weir, Kelly A., Bell, Kristie L., Ware, Robert S., Davies, Peter S. W. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2015). Validity and reproducibility of measures of oropharyngeal dysphagia in preschool children with cerebral palsy. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 57 (4), 358-365. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.12616
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Clinical signs suggestive of pharyngeal dysphagia in preschool children with cerebral palsy
Benfer K.A., Weir K.A., Bell K.L., Ware R.S., Davies P.S.W. and Boyd R.N. (2015). Clinical signs suggestive of pharyngeal dysphagia in preschool children with cerebral palsy. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 38, 192-201. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2014.12.021
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Motor severity in children with cerebral palsy studied in a high-resource and low-resource country
Benfer, Katherine A., Jordan, Rachel, Bandaranayake, Sasaka, Finn, Christine, Ware, Robert S. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2014). Motor severity in children with cerebral palsy studied in a high-resource and low-resource country. Pediatrics, 134 (6), e1594-e1602. doi: 10.1542/peds.2014-1926
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Oropharyngeal dysphagia in preschool children with cerebral palsy: Oral phase impairments
Benfer, K.A., Weir, K.A., Bell, K.L., Ware, R.S., Davies, P.S.W. and Boyd, R.N. (2014). Oropharyngeal dysphagia in preschool children with cerebral palsy: Oral phase impairments. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 35 (12), 3469-3481. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2014.08.029
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Benfer, K. A., Weir, K. A. and Boyd, R. N. (2013). Clinimetrics of measures of oropharyngeal dysphagia for preschool children with cerebral palsy and neurodevelopmental disabilities: A systematic review. Dysphagia, 28 (2). doi: 10.1007/s00455-013-9449-x
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Oropharyngeal dysphagia and gross motor skills in children with cerebral palsy
Benfer, Katherine A., Weir, Kelly A., Bell, Kristie L., Ware, Robert S., Davies, Peter S. W. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2013). Oropharyngeal dysphagia and gross motor skills in children with cerebral palsy. Pediatrics, 131 (5), E1553-E1562. doi: 10.1542/peds.2012-3093
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Benfer, K. A., Weir, K. A. and Bell, K. L. (2012). Longitudinal cohort protocol study of oropharyngeal dysphagia: relationships to gross motor attainment, growth and nutritional status in preschool children with cerebral palsy (vol 2, e001460, 2012). Bmj Open, 2 (5) e001460corr1, 1-1. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2012-001460corr1
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Benfer, Katherine A., Weir, Kelly A. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2012). Clinimetrics of measures of oropharyngeal dysphagia for preschool children with cerebral palsy and neurodevelopmental disabilities: A systematic review. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 54 (9), 784-795. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8749.2012.04302.x
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Benfer, Katherine A., Weir, Kelly A., Bell, Kristie L., Ware, Robert S., Davies, Peter S. W. and Boyd, Roslyn N. (2012). Longitudinal cohort protocol study of oropharyngeal dysphagia: Relationships to gross motor attainment, growth and nutritional status in preschool children with cerebral palsy. BMJ Open, 2 (4) e001460, 001460.1-001460.16. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2012-001460
Conference Publication
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Luke, C., Bos, A., Ware, R., Gordon, A., Taifalos, C., Williams, H., Benfer, K., Bosanquet, M. and Boyd, R. (2023). Relationship between infant motor repertoire at 3–5 months and early neurodevelopment on the hammersmith infant neurological examination in a cohort of ‘at risk’ aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants. 35th Annual Meeting of the European Academy of Childhood Disability (EACD), Ljubljana, Slovenia, 24-27 May 2023. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.15594
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Disordered sleep in a population-based cohort of primary school age children with cerebral palsy
Whittingham, K., Benfer, K., Leishman, S., Sakzewski, L. and Boyd, R. (2022). Disordered sleep in a population-based cohort of primary school age children with cerebral palsy. Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine and the International Alliance of Academies of Childhood Disability, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 1-5 March 2022. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
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Whittingham, K., Benfer, K., Leishman, S., Sakzewski, L. and Boyd, R. (2022). Predictors of parental psychological adjustment in a cohort of parents of children (aged 8–12 years) with cerebral palsy. Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine and the International Alliance of Academies of Childhood Disability, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 1-5 March 2022. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
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Burgess, A., Benfer, K., Chatfield, M., Ware, R., Sakzewski, L. and Boyd, R. (2022). Social communication and everyday cognitive function in children with cerebral palsy: a longitudinal study. Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine and the International Alliance of Academies of Childhood Disability, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 1-5 March 2022. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
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Branjerdporn, N., Sakzewski, L., Benfer, K., Crawford, E., Ziviani, J. and Boyd, R. (2020). Efficacy of parent-implemented early interventions in low-and-middle income counties for children with cerebral palsy to improve parent mental health: systematic review. Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Perth, Australia, 11-14 March 2020. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
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Branjerdporn, N., Crawford, E., Ziviani, J., Boyd, R., Sakzewski, L. and Benfer, K. (2020). Mothers' perspectives on the influences shaping their early experiences with infants at risk of cerebral palsy in West Bengal, India. Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Perth, Australia, 11-14 March 2020. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
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Benfer, K. A., Weir, K. A., Bell, K. L., Ware, R. S., Davies, P. S. W. and Boyd, R. N. (2017). Eating and drinking ability classification system in a population-based sample of preschool children with cerebral palsy. 29th Annual Meeting of the European Academy of Childhood Disability, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 17-20 May 2017. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.13456
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Risk factors for identifying feeding difficulties and undernutrition in children with cerebral palsy
Benfer, K. A., Weir, K. A., Davies, P. S. W., Boyd, R. N., Arvedson, J. C. and Bell, K. L. (2017). Risk factors for identifying feeding difficulties and undernutrition in children with cerebral palsy. 29th Annual Meeting of the European Academy of Childhood Disability, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 17-20 May 2017. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.13455
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Jordan, R., Benfer, K., Bandaranayake, S., Finn, C., Ware, R. and Boyd, R. N. (2016). Gross motor function in preschool children with cerebral palsy: comparison between a high- and low-resource country. Is a GMFCS 3 a 3?. 5th Biennial Conference of the Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy & Developmental Medicine, Adelaide, SA, Australia, 30 March – 2 April 2016. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell . doi: 10.1111/dmcn.13069
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Benfer, K., Jordan, R., Bandaranayake, S., Finn, C., Ware, R. and Boyd, R. N. (2016). Stability of the gross motor function classification system: comparison between high and low-resource countries. 8th Biennial Conference of the Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Adelaide, SA, Australia, 30 March – 2 April 2016. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell . doi: 10.1111/dmcn.13069
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Benfer, K., Jordan, R., Bandaranayake, S., Finn, C., Ware, R. S. and Boyd, R. N. (2015). Stability of the gross motor function classificationsystem: comparison between high and low-resource countries. 69th Annual Meeting of the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AACPDM), Dallas, TX, United States, 21–24 October 2015. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell . doi: 10.1111/dmcn.38_12887
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Benfer, K. A., Weir, K. A., Bell, K. L., Ware, R. S., Davies, P. S. W. and Boyd, N. R. (2014). Dietary intake and undernutrition in preschool children with cerebral palsy: comparison between high- and low-resource countries. 68th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, San Diego, United States, 10-13 September 2014. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.12539
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Benfer, K., Weir, K. A., Bell, K. L., Ware, R. , Davies, P. S. and Boyd, R. N. (2014). Dietary intake and undernutrition in preschoolchildren with cerebral palsy: comparisonbetween high- and low-resource countries. 68th Meeting of the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, San Diego, CA, United States, 10-13 September 2014. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.12539
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Benfer, K. A., Weir, K. A., Bell, K. L., Ware, R. S., Davies, P. S. W. and Boyd, R. N. (2014). Food textures habitually consumed by preschool-aged children with cerebral palsy: relationship to oropharyngeal dysphagia and gross motor functional skills. 7th Biennial Scientific Conference of the Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Hunter Valley, Australia, 11-14 March 2014. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.12368
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Benfer, K. A., Weir, K. A., Bell, K. L., Ware, R. S., Davies, P. S. W. and Boyd, R. N. (2014). Functional oropharyngeal impairments and their relationship to gross motor skills in young children with cerebral palsy. 7th Biennial Scientific Conference of the Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Hunter Valley, Australia, 11-14 March 2014. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.12368
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Benfer, K. A., Weir, K. A., Bell, K. L., Davies, P. S. W., Ware, R. S. and Boyd, R. N. (2014). Micronutrient intake in preschool-aged children with cerebral palsy: relationship to oropharyngeal dysphagia and functional gross motor skills. 7th Biennial Scientific Conference of the Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Hunter Valley, NSW, Australia, 11-14 March 2014. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.12368
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Benfer, K., Weir, K. A., Bell, K. L., Ware, R. S., Davies, P. S. and Boyd, R. N. (2014). Oropharyngeal dysphagia in preschool childrenwith cerebral palsy: comparison between high-and low-resource countries. 68th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, San Diego, CA, United States, 10-13 September 2014. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell . doi: 10.1111/dmcn.12540
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Bell, K. L., Weir, K. A., Benfer, K. A., Ware, R. S., Stevenson, R. D., Davies, P. S. W. and Boyd, R. N. (2014). Parent-reported feeding ability is related to dietary intake and nutritional status in preschool aged children with cerebral palsy. 7th Biennial Scientific Conference of the Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Hunter Valley, Australia, 11-14 March 2014. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.12368
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Benfer, K. A., Jordan, R., Bandaranayake, S., Finn, C., Ware, R. and Boyd, R. N. (2014). Patterns of gross motor severity and motor type in preschool age children with cerebral palsy: comparison between high and low resource countries. 68th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, San Diego CA, United States, 10-13 September 2014. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
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Weir, K. A., Benfer, K. A., Fiori, S., Bell, K. L., Davies, P. S. W. and Boyd, R. N. (2014). Relationship between brain lesion severity and oropharyngeal dysphagia in young children with cerebral palsy. 68th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, San Diego, United States, 10–13 September 2014. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.12539
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Benfer, K., Weir, K., Bell, K., Davies, P., Ware, R. and Boyd, R. (2012). A systematic review of the clinimetric properties of oral motor dysfunction measures for preschool children with cerebral palsy. 6th Biennial Conference of the Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Brisbane Australia, 30 May - 2 June 2012. Oxford, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
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Benfer, K., Weir, K., Bell, K., Davies, P., Ware, R. and Boyd, R. (2012). Oral motor dysfunction on food and fluid textures, and its relationship with gross motor skills in children with cerebral palsy. 6th Biennial Conference of the Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Brisbane Australia, 30 May - 2 June 2012. Oxford, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
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Benfer, K., Weir, K., Bell, K., Davies, P., Ware, R. S. and Boyd, R. (2012). Reported and observed clinical signs of oropharyngeal dysphagia in young children with cerebral palsy. 6th Biennial Conference of the Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Brisbane Australia, 30 May - 2 June 2012. Oxford, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
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Benfer, K,, Weir, K., Bell, K., Davies, P., Ware, R. S. and Boyd, R. (2012). Subtypes of oral motor dysfunction in feeding and its relationship with gross motor skills in young children with cerebral palsy. 6th Biennial Conference of the Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Brisbane Australia, 30 May - 2 June 2012. Oxford, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
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Weir, K. A, Benfer, K., Bell, K., Davies, P., Robinson, P., Ware, R. and Boyd, R. N. (2011). Oral feeding ability on food and fluid textures, and their relationship with gross motor skills in young children with cerebral palsy. 65th Annual Meeting of the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AACPDM), Las Vegas, Nevada United States, 12-15 October 2011. Oxford, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
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Benfer, K., Weir, K. A., Bell, K. L., Davies, P.S.W., Robinson, P., Ware, R. and Boyd, R. N. (2011). Reported and observed clinical signs of oropharyngeal aspiration in young children with cerebral palsy. 23rd Annual Meeting of the European Academy of Childhood Disability, Rome, Italy, 8-11 June 2011. Oxford, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
Other Outputs
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Benfer, Katherine Adele (2015). Oropharyngeal dysphagia in preschool children with cerebral palsy: relationship to gross motor function, dietary intake, and nutritional status. PhD Thesis, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2015.710
Grants (Administered at UQ)
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(2024–2027) NHMRC MRFF PPHR - Consumer Led Research
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First Peoples co-designed cohort to support improved perinatal and early childhood outcomes
(2023–2028) NHMRC Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies Grants
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(2023) UQ Knowledge Exchange & Translation Fund
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(2022–2025) Cerebral Palsy Alliance
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(2021–2023) Tropical Australian Academic Health Centre Limited
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(2021–2022) UQ Amplify Women's Academic Research Equity
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Born-To-Get-There: Implementation of early detection and early intervention in remote Australia
(2020–2025) NHMRC European Union Collaborative Research Grants
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(2020–2025) Cerebral Palsy Alliance
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(2020–2024) Cerebral Palsy Alliance
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LEAP-CP Learning through Everyday Activities with Parents
(2020–2021) Perpetual Trustee Company Limited
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(2019–2023) The Children's Hospital Foundation
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(2019–2020) Cerebral Palsy Alliance
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(2019–2020) UQ Amplify Women's Academic Research Equity
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Peer delivered early intervention for infants at high risk of cerebral palsy in Indigenous Australia
(2018–2026) NHMRC Early Career Fellowships
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(2017–2019) Cerebral Palsy Alliance
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(2017–2019) Nutricia Research Foundation
PhD and MPhil Supervision
Current Supervision
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Early detection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants at high chance of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes at 12 months corrected age
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
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Evaluation of Indigenous Culturally adapted BabyMoves App to improve early surveillance and prediction of adverse neurodevelopmental outcome of high-risk NICU graduates in the Northern Territory
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
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Cultural Adaptation of the LEAP-CP Program for Indigenous Infants at High Risk of Adverse Neurodevelopmental Outcomes
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Completed Supervision
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(2023) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Possible Research Projects
Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.
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Community-based parent-delivered early detection and intervention program for infants at high risk of cerebral palsy
