Pamela Meredith is Professor in the discipline of Occupational Therapy at the University of the Sunshine Coast. She is registered with AHPRA as both an occupational therapist and a psychologist and is a Fellow of the Occupational therapy Australia Research Academy. Pam was awarded her PhD in 2006 and, at 2021, has 25 years’ experience as a tertiary educator and researcher in Australia. She has a demonstrated track record in the publication and dissemination of her research activity with more than 100 publications and is regularly invited to review papers for international journals. Her h-index is 21 (Scopus) and 20 (ResearcherID). She has presented extensively at conferences, including invited presentations. In her research mentoring role Pamela has supervised 39 honours students, 10 PhD students, and 1 MPhil student to completion. She currently advises sixteen RHD students.
Professor Meredith’s early clinical experiences in child and youth mental health simulated 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 focussed on how attachment and sensory patterns, developed and evident early in life, are related to longer-term health behaviours, health conditions, and treatment outcomes. Attachment and sensoryinformed approaches are widely recognised as underpinning more individual, person-centred, and trauma-informed care, which optimise quality-of-life, health, and engagement outcomes throughout the life span. 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
Research Publications
- Kelly, J., Meredith, P. J., Taylor, M., Morphett, A., & Wilson, H. (2021). Substances and your senses: The sensory patterns of young people within an alcohol and drug treatment service. Substance Abuse. DOI: 10.1080/08897077.2021.1901177
- O’Mullen, C., Meredith, P. J., & O’Reilly, M. (2021). Bringing sexuality out of the closet: What can we learn from occupational therapists who successfully address the area of sexuality in everyday practice? Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 68(3), 272-281. DOI: 10.1111/1440-1630.12723
- Branjerdporn, G., Meredith, P. J., Wilson, T., & Strong, J. (2021). Maternal-fetal attachment: Associations with maternal sensory processing, adult attachment, distress, and perinatal loss. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 30(2), 528-541.
- Kerley, L., Meredith, P. J., Sinclair, C., & Harnett, P. (In press, accepted 12/4/2021). Families of children in pain: Are attachment and sensory processing patterns related to parent functioning. Journal of Child and Family Studies. DOI: 10.1007/s10826-021-01966-8
- Meredith, P. J., Kerley, L., & Moyle, R. (2020). Substance use: Links with attachment, sensory sensitivity, distress, and health-related quality-of-life in young adults. Substance Use and Misuse, 55(11), 1817-1824. DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2020.1766502
- Caldwell, J., Ziviani, J., Meredith, P. J., & Whittingham, K. (2021). Shame and guilt in the postnatal period: A systematic review. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 39(1):67-85. DOI: 10.1080/02646838.2020.1754372
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.