Associate Professor Kirsty Freeman is the Deputy Director and Academic Lead of the Rural Clinical School of Western Australia. With over 20 years of expertise in healthcare education, assessment, and research, she is a globally recognised leader in health professions education and simulation research.

Dr Freeman recently completed her PhD at the University of Western Australia, conducting groundbreaking research on the impostor phenomenon among healthcare simulation educators. Her innovative mixed-methods approach has re-conceptualised impostor phenomenon from a deficit to an adaptive growth response, introducing the transformative concepts of 'impostor literacy' and 'transition literacy' to the field. This scholarship has achieved profound real-world impact, with frameworks now integrated into international mentorship programs and university research initiatives globally.

Raised in rural and remote Western Australia, Kirsty is passionate about ensuring sustainable rural healthcare workforces through evidence-based educational approaches. Her interprofessional research expertise spans medicine, nursing, allied health, and paramedicine, with particular strength in qualitative methodologies, mixed-methods design, and phenomenological inquiry. Her commitment to rural healthcare sustainability drives innovative research into collaborative networks, hub-and-spoke support models, and interprofessional education strategies.

Dr Freeman's research leadership extends to her role as Associate Editor for the Journal of Healthcare Simulation (JoHS), where she shapes the dissemination of cutting-edge simulation research. As a Board Member of the Society for Simulation in Europe (SESAM) and Fellow of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare, she influences the future of simulation-based education globally. Her dynamic keynote presentations at national and international conferences translate complex research findings into actionable insights for educators and policymakers.

Dr Freeman is currently leading and collaborating on several innovative research initiatives that advance healthcare education and rural workforce development:

HARP - Healthcare Access for Rural Practitioners (Chief Co-Investigator): A comprehensive mixed-methods study investigating how rural doctors in Western Australia access health and wellbeing services for themselves and their families. This research addresses critical gaps in understanding rural healthcare provider wellbeing while building research capacity within the Rural Clinical School network.

Investigating the Use of Visually Enhanced Mental Simulation (VEMS) (Chief Investigator): A multi-site study evaluating the effectiveness of low-fidelity simulation techniques in developing clinical competencies among rural medical students. This research explores innovative, cost-effective alternatives to traditional simulation resources for obstetric and paediatric training scenarios.

Using Korean Dramas to Facilitate Mental Health Discussions Among Medical Students (Co-Investigator): An innovative pedagogical study examining how creative media can promote mental health help-seeking behaviours among medical students, demonstrating Freeman's commitment to exploring novel approaches to sensitive healthcare education topics.

Distance Simulation Implementation (Co-Supervisor of HRD student with MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston, USA): Research into the delivery and effectiveness of simulation-based education across geographically dispersed rural healthcare training sites, addressing equity of access to quality clinical skills training through international collaborative partnerships.

Behavioural Skills in Pharmacy Education (Co-Supervisor of HRD student with UWA and University of Basel, Switzerland): Investigation of simulation methodologies for developing interprofessional competencies and communication skills within pharmacy education contexts, expanding simulation research beyond traditional medical training boundaries through trans-continental collaboration.

These projects collectively demonstrate Freeman's commitment to addressing real-world challenges in healthcare education through methodologically rigorous research that translates directly into improved educational practices and workforce outcomes, while fostering international research partnerships.