Claire O'Connor

Claire O'Connor is a Senior Research Fellow at the School of Psychology, UNSW, with conjoint appointments at NeuRA and HammondCare. She is a registered occupational therapist (AHPRA) and holds a PhD in Dementia from the University of Sydney.

Research Interests:

• Translation and implementation of non-pharmacological interventions for dementia
• Reablement and rehabilitation in community and residential aged care
• Maximising functional independence and quality of life
• Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) for frontotemporal dementia
• Development of assessment tools and clinical guidelines

Recent Publications focus on home-based rehabilitation models, reablement implementation, and arts-based interventions for dementia. She has received significant grants including DCRC and NHMRC funding for implementation research.

Scientific Awards:

• NHMRC Dementia Centre for Research Collaboration Capacity Building in Care Research Fellowship (2019–2021)

Claire supervises Vincent Poisson (DrPH candidate) and contributes to international dementia guidelines, including the WHO Package of Rehabilitation Interventions. She leads the Reablement in Dementia project and developed the freely available Reablement Handbook and Assessment Guide.