Simone Coetzee

Simone Coetzee is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Health and Social Care at the University of Essex. She holds a PhD from Brunel University London, an MSc in Global Health and Development Disability Studies from University College London, and a BSc in Occupational Therapy from University of the Witwatersrand. Her research explores occupational therapy in non-traditional settings and community-based interventions.

Dr. Coetzee investigates the therapeutic benefits of food growing and community gardening across different contexts. Her work emphasizes service user collaboration in both occupational therapy training and service development, with particular focus on promoting occupational and environmental equity.

She maintains research partnerships examining horticultural social enterprises and their impact on people with diverse abilities.