Associate Professor
College of Nursing and Health Sciences
As an occupational therapist with 25 years clinical experience, Deidre has an indepth understanding of the public health system and the value and importance of clinical research that informs practical patient care. Her clinical and research focus is in palliative care and she has a particular interest in ways to optimise function at the end of life.
Deidre's research interests focus factors that optimise function for people with advanced disease and ways to measure meaningful clinical gains in this area. Deidre is an inaugural member of the Flinders University Research Centre in Palliative Care, Death and Dying and the founding chair of Australian Allied Health in Palliative Care (AAHPC). She is also a clinical research member of the Palliative Care Clinical Studies Collaborative (PaCCSC) (UTS). Deidre has research collaborations in the USA and Europe and is a member of the European Association for Palliative Care Rehabilitative Palliative Care Taskforce and research collaborative which aims to establish rehabilitative palliative care guidelines to inform care internationally.
PhD, The University of Melbourne (NHMRC Scholarship)
Master of Clinical Science (Occupational Therapy), Curtin University
Post Graduate Certificate in Palliative Care,Edith Cowan University
Graduate Diploma in Pastoral Counselling, Kingsley College
Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy), Lincoln Institute of Health Sciences
NHMRC Palliative Care PhD Training Scholarship
Nominated for the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in the PhD Thesis, University of Melbourne
Academic Lead for Palliative and Supportive Care, Clinical Rehabilitation and Applied Gerontology
Topic Coordinator: Palliative Care in Aged care Settings, Neonatal and Paediatric Palliative Care
Teacher: Clinical rehabilitation research methods