Emma Wise APAM is a Perth-based physiotherapist whose main focus, for the majority of her career, has been pelvic health. 

In 2010 she began a Master of Clinical Physiotherapy (Continence and Women’s Health) at Curtin University, where she developed an interest in how research and evidence translate into practice. 

In addition to her research, Emma has worked as a lecturer, course coordinator and clinical supervisor, which allowed her to integrate more research into her teaching. 

‘In 2024 I began my PhD, which brought together my clinical experience and research interests as well as the work I’d been doing alongside Aboriginal women for some time. 

'The overarching focus of the research is on improving care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women with pelvic health conditions. 

‘In 2025 I co-established a pelvic physio outreach service at Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service, the biggest Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation in Western Australia. 

Emma Wise APAM

'Our multidisciplinary team works to improve access to culturally safe pelvic healthcare because many of the women have never had any physio at all—some didn’t even know that physios work in this area—so to actually get pelvic health physio into there was a huge achievement.’ 

The PRF Seeding Grant will assist Emma in her efforts to centre Aboriginal women’s voices in healthcare. 

‘I’m taking a participatory action research approach, using a technique known as research yarning—which is a culturally secure research method in this space— to understand how pelvic health is perceived, experienced and talked about and how services can better meet women’s needs in this area because we know that there’s a gap there. 

‘A lot of women I’ve been yarning with, they’re not even sure what pelvic health means, whether it’s just your hips or your bones in that area, so we’re exploring pelvic health conditions like urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse and pelvic pain as well as the language we use around those things, their meanings and the cultural understandings, as I think a lot of us don’t have much insight into it at all.’ 

The grant will also enable Emma to purchase some culturally appropriate resources to create a more welcoming environment, such as yarning mats with Aboriginal artworks on them, as well as to pay participants for their time and employ a research assistant. 

‘Having Jasmin on the team, an Aboriginal researcher and new grad physio, is incredibly helpful as she’s really connected to community and has lived experience with pelvic health issues.’ 

The findings of the study will help to inform pelvic health physiotherapists, and physiotherapists in general, on how to communicate about some of these sensitive topics with women. 

‘The study can guide the co-design of pelvic health physio services and help to expand them within hospitals and other settings as well, particularly outreach models and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations. 

'We want to address the normalisation of symptoms, reduce shame and encourage earlier presentations for support by improving access, attendance and continuity of care.’ 

Receiving a PRF Seeding Grant has been a great experience for Emma. 

‘It was just amazing because it means that culturally safe space can be created, that we can build capacity and someone who is interested in the area can go on to do great things for Aboriginal women in pelvic health.’