Maria O'Reilly

Dr. Maria O'Reilly is a Senior Lecturer and Head of Course in Occupational Therapy at CQUniversity's School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, based at the Bundaberg campus. She holds a BOccThy, MOccThy, and PhD, with over 36 years of experience in clinical practice, education, and research focused on aged care and dementia. Her research emphasizes dementia-friendly environments, travel accessibility for people with dementia, and clinical teaching. She has contributed to the establishment of Australia's first 'Dementia Friendly' airport at Brisbane Airport.

Education:

• Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, The University of Queensland
• Master of Occupational Therapy (Research), The University of Queensland
• PhD in Nursing, Queensland University of Technology

Research Interests:

Dr. O'Reilly's work centers on dementia care, meaningful occupation, sexuality in aging populations, and improving travel accessibility for those with dementia. She has led projects funded by Dementia Australia Research Foundation, NHMRC, and industry grants totaling over $68,500.

Key Achievements:

• Endorsed Brisbane Airport as Australia's first Dementia-Friendly Airport
• Recipient of CBCR Fellowship (2019-2021) and multiple teaching/research awards

Grants & Grants Supervision:

• Principal supervisor for PhD candidates exploring resilience in allied health students and role transitions for younger-onset dementia patients
• Active in curriculum development, including interprofessional education and culturally responsive programs

Labs/Teams:

Collaborates with international groups like the I-D-Air Travel Collaborative and Dementia Friendly Airports Working Group to advance dementia-inclusive policies and infrastructure.