معرفی
Dr. Kylie Wales is an Honorary Senior Lecturer in the School of Health Sciences at the University of Newcastle, Australia. Her academic career spans teaching, research, and clinical practice in occupational therapy since joining the university in 2017, with a particular focus on health economics, ageing, and psychometrics.
Dr. Wales earned her Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Sydney and her Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy) with first class honours from the University of Western Sydney. Her educational background includes Dean's merit list credit for her undergraduate achievements.
Dr. Wales' research explores how occupational therapists can assess clients' needs to provide effective and cost-effective treatments that improve quality of life. Her work primarily focuses on ageing populations, health economics, and measurement tools in occupational therapy practice. She examines functional assessments, discharge planning, and interventions that support older adults in hospital and community settings. Much of her research addresses how occupational therapists can better evaluate client outcomes and deliver evidence-based, cost-effective care.
Analysis of Dr. Wales' recent publications reveals three main research streams: 1) self-regulation and sensory processing in children, 2) ageing and care for older adults (particularly in Ghana and Australia), and 3) economic evaluation of occupational therapy services. Her work demonstrates increasing international collaboration and emphasis on systematic reviews to establish evidence-based practice.
Dr. Wales has received notable recognition for her research contributions:
- Early Career Researcher Award from the Australian Occupational Therapy Association (2021)
Dr. Wales has successfully supervised multiple research students at various levels and secured nine research grants totaling over $100,000. Her projects include "Best Practice Guidelines on Supports for Students with Sensory Processing Challenges," "Care transitions among women living with dementia," and "Delivering multidisciplinary healthcare services within disability and educational facilities in Fiji." Her research focuses on translating evidence into practice, particularly regarding standardized assessments in occupational therapy.
Dr. Wales has also maintained clinical connections, having served as Regional Practice Lead for Vision Australia in the Central Coast and Hunter Regions, where she led allied health teams through service delivery changes under My Aged Care and the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
