Pamela Meredith

Pamela Meredith serves as Professor and Discipline Lead of Occupational Therapy within the School of Health at the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC), Queensland, Australia. She maintains an honorary appointment as Associate Professor at The University of Queensland (UQ). With over 120 publications and an h-index of 28 (Scopus), Meredith demonstrates significant scholarly impact in occupational therapy research. Her leadership extends to directing the ConnectPlayLearn research partnership and contributing to multiple funded research initiatives focused on trauma-informed care and sensory approaches.

• BOccThy (1982–1986), University of Queensland
• BSc (Psychology) (1992–1995), University of Southern Queensland (Deans Commendation)
• BA (Hons) Psychology (1997–1998), University of Queensland
• PhD (2002–2006), University of Queensland (Deans Commendation)

Meredith's research program investigates how childhood experiences shape lifelong physical and mental health outcomes, with particular emphasis on attachment theory and sensory processing patterns. Her work spans four interconnected domains: parenting and child trauma, persistent/chronic pain, mental illness with substance use, and palliative care with grief/loss. This research informs clinical reasoning and therapeutic processes across prevention, early intervention, and evidence-based practice. Her innovative Sense of Safety theoretical framework provides a trauma-informed approach to whole person care that bridges multiple disciplines.

Analysis of Meredith's recent publications reveals a strengthening focus on implementation science and co-design methodologies to translate sensory and attachment-informed approaches into clinical practice. Her work increasingly addresses cultural safety, particularly through yarning methodologies with First Nations communities, while maintaining core investigations into sensory processing across lifespan contexts from infancy through dementia care. The interdisciplinary nature of her research is evident in collaborations spanning occupational therapy, psychology, nursing, and allied health fields.

• 2024 - UniSC School of Health Research Excellence Award
• 2021 - Fellow of Occupational Therapy Australia Research Academy (FOTARA)
• 2019 - CQUniversity Commendation for Research Higher Degree Supervision
• Multiple University of Queensland teaching and supervision awards (2009-2017)
• 2006 - UQ Dean's Commendation for Outstanding PhD Thesis

Meredith has supervised 55 honours students, 19 PhD candidates, and 1 MPhil student to completion while currently advising 12 HDR students. Her research program attracts significant competitive funding including a Dementia Australia Research Foundation Grant ($50,000), Mamré Association Inc. funding ($77,000), and Physiotherapy Research Foundation Seeding Grant ($10,000). Current projects include 'Reaching Pawtential' (canine-assisted therapy for dementia), 'The road less travelled' (dementia-friendly travel), and 'Diagnosis of young children with FASD', demonstrating both clinical relevance and methodological diversity across implementation trials, co-design studies, and systematic reviews.

Meredith leads the ConnectPlayLearn research concentration in partnership with Mamré, developing evidence-based training for therapists and parents. Her work with the International Occupational Therapy Attachment and Trauma Network fosters global collaboration on trauma-informed practice. Through the Occupational Therapy Australia Research Academy fellowship, she contributes to national research capacity building while maintaining active clinical connections that ensure her research remains grounded in real-world practice challenges across mental health, pain management, and developmental contexts.