Jacqueline Wesson

Dr. Jacqueline Wesson is a Senior Lecturer in the Discipline of Occupational Therapy at the University of Sydney's School of Health Sciences. She holds a BAppSc(OT), MA, and PhD. Her research focuses on functional cognition, dementia care, and non-pharmacological interventions in aged care settings. Current projects include developing assessment tools like the computerized STAM and investigating behavior support in residential care. She leads grants such as the Dementia Australia Research Foundation's functional cognition screening project and collaborates internationally (e.g., with U.S. researchers on functional cognition texts).

Education background includes a PhD in dementia assessment and policy work in older adults' mental health. Teaching spans postgraduate OT students and interdisciplinary teams. Awards include the 2022 Dean’s Teaching Citation and best PhD paper recognition. She is active in networks like the Sydney Dementia Network and Australian Dementia Network.

Grants and collaborations include MRFF-funded projects on medication management and interdisciplinary reablement programs. Her work emphasizes translating evidence into practice, such as the EMBRACE medication trial and Maybo education efficacy testing in aged care. Supervises PhD/Masters students on topics like Parkinson’s mobility and functional cognition screening in MENA regions.

• Awards: Dean’s Teaching Citation, Visiting Fellowship at UNSW, Dementia Research Awards
• Key Projects: Functional Cognition Screening, I-CHARP Reablement Program, EMBRACE Medication Trial
• Lab/Teams: Collaborates with CHeBA (Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing), Sydney Dementia Network