Associate ProfessorKimberley Docking

Associate Professor Kimberley Docking is Head of the Discipline of Speech Pathology in the Sydney School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, at The University of Sydney. She is also Director of the NeuroKids Research Laboratory, an internationally recognised program dedicated to improving communication, swallowing, and quality‑of‑life outcomes for children surviving major childhood cancer and other acquired brain injuries. Kimberley received recognition in 2026 as a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (PFHEA) demonstrating her commitment and contribution to student learning and sustained positive influence as a strategic leader in teaching. Her Conjoint Research Fellowship with the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, reflects her long‑standing integration of academic research, clinical practice, and health system impact.

Kimberley is a global leader in paediatric neuro‑oncology speech pathology. Her research has reshaped understanding of cognitive‑communication and swallowing outcomes following childhood brain cancer and leukaemia and has driven substantial change in clinical practice and policy, recognised most recently through the 2026 Thompson Research Excellence and Inclusion Award. She led and chaired the development of the world‑first NHMRC‑approved Clinical Practice Guidelines for the management of communication and swallowing disorders in children with cancer. These guidelines have been adopted nationally and internationally, informing models of care, workforce investment, and multidisciplinary practice across paediatric oncology services.