A forward-looking, forward-thinking professional area with solid growth prospects
The growing area of rehabilitation counselling is highly interdisciplinary, challenging and rewarding.
This discipline has three areas of research focus and strength:
- Vocational rehabilitation
- Occupational rehabilitation
- Rehabilitation counselling professional ethics, skills and knowledge.
Vocational rehabilitation
Our vocational rehabilitation focused research aims to positively impact the lives of people with congenital and acquired disabilities by informing policy and practice that enable people to access, return to, and maintain meaningful employment. A major focus of this research is the evaluation of innovative models of vocational rehabilitation, including early intervention following catastrophic injury.
Lead researcher
- Dr Vanette McLennan
Collaborators
- Professor Nicholas Buys
- Dr Pat Dorsett
- Dr Christine Randall
PhD candidate
- Julia Bloom
Research Master candidate
- Casey Ryan
- Kristy Hogg
- Stephanie Lynch under:
Industry
- Spinal Life Australia
- New Zealand Spinal Trust
- Princess Alexandra Hospital
- Acquired Brain Injury Transitional Rehabilitation Service under:
Occupational rehabilitation
The occupational rehabilitation research theme includes injury prevention and management in large organisations and specific occupational areas, with a focus on systems such as Disability Management within large organisations, as well as insurance systems such as workers’ compensation and motor accident insurance. This area has included international research projects, with Canada, Switzerland and China, about disability management in large organisations and about mental health in high risk front-line occupations.
Lead researchers
- Professor Nicholas Buys
- Dr Christine Randall
Collaborators
- Professor Henry Harder
- Professor Thomas Geisen
- Associate Professor Lynda Matthews
- Professor Shannon Wagner
Research Master candidates
- Marissa Tuite
- Olwen Anderson
Industry
- Swiss Network for International Studies (SNIS)
- University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW)
- WorkSafeBC & University of Northern British Columbia (Canada)
- iCare NSW
Rehabilitation counselling professional ethics, skills and knowledge
Research in this theme is focused on the profession of rehabilitation counselling, including the knowledge and skills required for effective practice as a rehabilitation counsellor in Australia. This research aims to support the evidence base of the profession, the promotion of rehabilitation counselling competencies, and to ensure quality service provision for clients of rehabilitation counselling services.
Lead researchers
- Professor Nicholas Buys
- Dr Vanette McLennan
- Dr Christine Randall
Industry
- The Rehabilitation Counselling Association of Australasia (RCAA)
- Australasian Board of Rehabilitation Counselling Programs (ABRCP)
- The University of Sydney
- Flinders University
Research Master candidates
- Kerry Ryan
- Joanne Taylor
- Candice Aouad
- Charmaine Hayes