Overview
Background
Dr. Theresa Scott, Associate Professor and former NHMRC Dementia Research Development Fellow, specialises in researching functional outcomes for older people and people living, or caring for a person, with dementia in various settings. Her NHMRC fellowship focused on dementia-related driving issues, leading to the co-development of CarFreeMe, a driving cessation program delivering support to people with dementia, adapted for telehealth delivery through additional NHMRC funding.
Dr. Scott's recent NHMRC MRFF-funded project collaborates with stakeholders to create resources for driving safety assessment with persons with dementia in primary care settings, including an innovative video-based fitness to drive test. She is Chief Investigator (CIA Prof Barbara Masser) on an Australian Research Council Linkage Grant that is generating new knowledge in recruiting, retaining, and deferring older blood donors.
Her research spans qualitative and quantitative methods and emphasises participatory research, co-design, and the integration of lived experiences. Her mixed methods research aims to improve the mental health, emotional well-being, quality of life and quality of care of older Australians and people living with progressive brain diseases such as dementia and their family care partners, through innovative research and knowledge translation activities. Her work addresses ageism, dementia stigma, mental health outcomes of psychosocial interventions, for example the mental health benefits of nature connection, significantly impacting dementia care, and loneliness and isolation.
Research interests:
- Ageing
- Aged care
- Co-design
- Dementia and quality of life
- Driving cessation and driving safety assessment
- Mental health outcomes of psychosocial interventions
Research Projects:
- Video-based Medical Fitness to Drive assessment (MRFF) http://researchers.uq.edu.au/research-project/55955
- Driving cessation intervention for persons with dementia (NHMRC) http://researchers.uq.edu.au/research-project/32115
- Engaging the over 50s to ensure the sustainability of our blood supply (ARC) http://researchers.uq.edu.au/research-project/61705
Availability
- Associate Professor Theresa Scott is:
- Not available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Psychological Science, The University of Queensland
- Postgraduate Diploma in Research Methods, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Dementia
Quality of life; Mobility; Driving; Fitness to drive assessment; Social support; Stigma; Supporting communication within families; Engagement
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Ageing
Ageism; Stigma and Self-stereotypes; Mental health; Positive ageing; Psychosocial interventions to support ageing well
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Evidence based therapies supporting mental health
Social and therapeutic horticulture; nature therapy; nature connection.
Works
Search Professor Theresa Scott’s works on UQ eSpace
2007
Conference Publication
Therapeutic gardens in residential care facilities
Scott, T. and Pachana, N. (2007). Therapeutic gardens in residential care facilities. 2nd APS Psychology and Ageing Interest Group Conference, Geelong, Vic., Australia, 13 November 2007. Basingstoke, U.K.: Taylor and Francis.
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Theresa Scott is:
- Not available for supervision
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Mindful and compassionate nature connection to increase the well-being of family members caring for people living with dementia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor James Kirby
-
Doctor Philosophy
Mathematically modelling the process of managing fitness to drive for people living with dementia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mark Horswill, Dr David Sewell
-
Doctor Philosophy
Mathematically modelling the process of managing fitness to drive for people living with dementia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mark Horswill, Dr David Sewell
-
Doctor Philosophy
Co-residence with Children, Are Older People Happy?
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Closed veins: understanding the experiences and psychosocial impact of permanent deferral in older donors
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Barbara Masser
-
Doctor Philosophy
An evaluation of primary care management of driving and driving cessation for people living with dementia, with a development and assessment of an innovative model of care
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Andrew Hill
-
Doctor Philosophy
Occupational Therapy in the Residential Aged Care Setting: The Occupational Therapists Role and Service Delivery in Australia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Sally Bennett
-
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring the role of institutional logics and work design in the facilitation of anomie in residential aged care.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Kirsten Way
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring the role of institutional logics and work design in the facilitation of anomie in residential aged care.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Kirsten Way
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Twillight or dimlight? Attitudes towards residential aged care and implementation of an learning integrated intervention designed to shift attitudes.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Nadeeka Dissanayaka, Professor Nancy Pachana
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
A Social Constructionist Appreciation of the mental health inpatient nursing care for people with intellectual disability.
Associate Advisor
Media
Enquiries
Contact Associate Professor Theresa Scott directly for media enquiries about:
- ageing positively
- Dementia and driving cessation
- nature connection
- social and therapeutic gardening to combat loneliness and isolation
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