Rachel Ward

Dr Rachel Ward is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist, Exercise Scientist, and Associate Professor in the School of Health Sciences and Nursing. Her research sits at the intersection of movement science, exercise physiology, biomechanics and dance medicine, with a particular emphasis on dance as a therapeutic modality across the lifespan. With a strong commitment to translation into real‑world impact, her “dance for health” research program examines how structured dance participation can improve balance, gait, strength, mobility, psychosocial wellbeing, and quality of life.

Rachel's tertiary qualifications include a Bachelor of Medical Science, Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies, Diploma of Dance Teaching and Management, Masters in Clinical Exercise Physiology and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Her PhD, awarded from UNSW Sydney in 2012, was titled “Biomechanical Perspectives on Classical Ballet Technique and Implications for Teaching Practice”. 

Rachel has a substantial record of tertiary education leadership. Prior to joining Macquarie University in June 2025, she held senior academic leadership roles at UNSW Sydney, including Director of Teaching in the School of Health Sciences and Program Authority for the Bachelor of Exercise Physiology, where she led curriculum design, program accreditation and large‑scale educational change, and  chaired and served on numerous faculty and university committees. 

Alongside her academic career, Rachel brings extensive dance education expertise, with over two decades of experience as a ballet teacher, dance educator, and movement practitioner. She is a Registered Teacher and Practical Teaching Supervisor with the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD), and a licensed teacher of the RAD’s Silver Swans ballet program for adults aged 55+ years.  She is the Founder and Director of 'Reward Dance', a Sydney-based dance studio specialising in dance classes for older adults and individuals living with chronic health conditions.

Rachel currently serves as Associate Editor of the Journal of Dance Medicine and Science (JDMS), and is an active committee member of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS), for which she led a successful international bid to host the 2026 IADMS Conference in Australia. She currently chairs the Local Host Committee for IADMS Melbourne 2026, and chairs the Dance Research Collaborative (Australia).