Pamela Meredith is the Discipline Lead of Occupational Therapy at the University of the Sunshine Coast and is a Fellow of the Occupational therapy Australia Research Academy. Pam was awarded her PhD in 2006 and has a demonstrated track record in the publication and dissemination of her research activity with more than 120 publications. Her h-index is 26 (Scopus) and 23 (ResearcherID) and a Field-Weighted Citation Impact of 1.40 (2023). In her research mentoring role Pamela has supervised 45 honours students, 16 PhD students, and 1 MPhil student to completion. She currently advises 13 HDR students.
Professor Meredith’s early clinical experiences in child and youth mental health stimulated her motivation to understand how characteristics and experiences originating in childhood are linked with physical and mental health outcomes throughout life. To this end, she has focused on how attachment and sensory patterns, developed and evident early in life, are related to longer-term health behaviours, health conditions, and treatment outcomes. Related to this overall aim, Professor Meredith’s research targets: (1) Parenting and child trauma; (2) Persistent/chronic pain; (3) Mental illness and substance use; and (4) Palliative care, grief, and loss. The goal of this body of work is to provide evidence and insights to inform clinical reasoning and the therapeutic process, including prevention, early intervention, and evidence-based practice.
Professional Memberships
- Occupational Therapy Australia Limited (OTAL) #300253
- Health Workforce Australia (HWA) #ROO12
- International Occupational Therapy Attachment and Trauma Network
Awards/Fellowships
- 2021 – Fellow of the Occupational Therapy Australia Research Academy (FOTARA).
- 2019 – CQUniversity commendation for Excellence in Research Higher Degree Supervision.
- 2017 – The University of Queensland Faculty of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Staff Award for Higher Degree Research Supervision.
- 2012 – The University of Queensland Award for Programs that Enhance Learning (APEL).
- 2011 – School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Individual Award for Teaching Excellence.
- 2009 – School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Individual Award for Early Career Teaching Excellence.
- 2006 - Dean’s Commendation for Outstanding Research Higher Degree Thesis – The University of Queensland.
- 2003-2006 – The University of Queensland Joint Research Scholarship.
- 1995 – Dean’s Award for Outstanding Achievement – University of Southern Queensland.
Professional Social Media
Research Concentrations
- ConnectPlayLearn – partnership with Mamré. With Dr Jacqui Barfoot and Lachlan Kerley. Funded by grant from Mamré.
- Supporting safe and ethical mental health services in allied health private practice settings: The good, the bad, and the ugly. Application under development.
- Reaching Pawtential: Implementation trial of a sustainable and ethical canine-assisted therapy program for people with dementia in residential aged care. Dr Jess Hill, Prof Pamela Meredith, Prof Tania Signal, Dr Maria O’Reilly. Funded.
- The road less travelled. Opening the door to the leisure travel experience for people living with dementia. With Dr Maria O’Reilly, Dr Anja Pabel, and Dr Lee-Fay Low. Funded.
- Diagnosis of young children with FASD. With Prof Sharon Dawe, A/Prof Paul Harnett, Dr Andrew Wood. Funded.
- Co-design and validation of a person-centred comprehensive Sense of Safety Audit. With Dr Johanna Lynch. Grant submitted.
- Health professional perspectives on the benefits, barriers, and facilitators of beach-based therapy for individuals with mobility limitations. With Sasha Job and team (CQU). Funded.
- A trauma informed physical activity program for people in the community with an intellectual disability. with Dr Jess Hill, Dr Sjaan Gomersall A/Professor Sean Tweedy, Dr Katie Brooker, and Dr Kelly Clanchy. NHMRC grant under development.
Research Grants
|
Grant/Project name |
Investigators |
Funding body & A$ value |
Year(s) |
Focus (of research grant) |
|
Health professional perspectives on the benefits, barriers, and facilitators of beach-based therapy for individuals with mobility limitations. |
Job, S., Obst, S., Heales, L., O'Reilly, M., & Meredith, P.J. |
Physiotherapy Research Foundation (PRF) Seeding Grant awarded: $10,000.
|
2021-22 |
Qualitative study investigating health professionals perspectives regarding beach access. |
|
Connect Play Learn: Online learning modules for parents and therapists. |
Barfoot, J., Meredith, P., & Kerley, L. |
Mamre Association Inc.: $77 000 |
2020-2022 |
Develop and test two online training packages |
|
The road less travelled. Opening the door to the leisure travel experience for people living with dementia. |
O’Reilly, M., Pabel, A., Low L.F., & Meredith, P. |
Dementia Australia Research Foundation Grant: $50,000 |
2020-2022 |
Supporting dementia-friendly travel options. |
Potential Research Projects for HDR & Honours Students
- Evaluating the Connect Play Learn training for therapists and parents
- Supporting safe and ethical mental health services in allied health private practice settings
- Topics of interest by negotiation
Research areas
- Parenting and child trauma
- Persistent/chronic pain
- Burnout
- Mental illness and substance use
- Palliative care, grief, and loss
Teaching areas
Pamela Meredith's specialist areas of knowledge include: occupational therapy; attachment theory; sensory approaches; persistent pain; infant, child, youth and adult mental health; parenting; burnout; spirituality and palliative care.
In the news
Parents the key to tackling kids’ picky eating: research findings
29 AprFive years of UniSC-led research into the pesky problem of picky eating by children suggests that therapists should focus more on empowering parents to ease family angst at the dinner table