Overview
Background
Dr Emma Crawford is an occupational therapist and researcher whose work centres on promoting wellbeing for infants, children, families and communities. Emma's primary focus is on cross-cultural projects that link with community organisations to create social change and reduce the impacts of disadvantage by supporting health enhancing environments and activities in early life. At the centre of Emma's work is the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 - ensuring healthy lives and promoting wellbeing across all ages. Currently, Emma is leading several projects:
1) The BABI Project (research): refugee and asylum seeker families' expereinces during the perinatal period (systematic review, qualitative focus group and interview research)
2) The Uni-Friends program (student delivered service and student placement) - a social-emotional helth promotion program that draws on cultural responsiveness (The Making Connecitons Framework) and community development principles in an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled School
3) LUCIE-NDC (research) - mothers' experiences of accessing Neuroprotective-Developmental Care in the first 12 months of their infants' lives
Emma has a strong interest in understanding human experiences, community-driven initiatives, and strengths-based, innovative, evidence based, complex approaches to wellbeing that consider individuals and systems She also carries out research regarding allied health student placements in culturally diverse settings including low-middle income countries and Indigenous contexts. She works as a Lecturer at the University of Queensland, Australia after having worked in a range of occupational therapy roles including with children with autism, with asylum seekers, with Indigenous Australians with chronic disease, and completing her PhD in Political Science and International Studies in 2015.
Availability
- Dr Emma Crawford is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science, The University of Queensland
- Masters (Coursework) of Occupational Therapy Studies, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Organisations
Emma carries out research (qualitative and quantitative) with the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health and the Aboriginal and Islander Independent Community School (The Murri School).
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Infant and Caregiver Care
Emma is engaged research regarding responsive infant care, caregiver/maternal and infant occupations and infant and caregiver health and mental wellbeing. She has a particular interest in Neuroprotective Developmental Care (NDC), (focusing on unsettled infant behaviour, infant health, mothers' mental health, breastfeeding and bottle feeding, infant everyday sensory experiences, and infant and mother sleep). Her research also focuses on infant and caregiver occupations and co-occupations including sleep, feeding, regulation, interaction and play, social activities, family routines, and community engagement.
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Human Rights and Occupational Therapy
Emma conducts research in both occupational therapy (OT) human rights practice and OT education regarding human rights.
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Asylum Seekers and Refugees
Emma's research with asylum seekers considers the effects of citizenship and policy structures on asylum seekers every-day life experiences. She also conducts research regarding occupational therapy services provided to children seeking asylum in Australia. This research is qualitative. Her previous research with refugees focused on home safety for newly arrived refugees in Australia. Emma is currently carrying out early-stage research regarding the experiences and service needs for refugee and asylum seeker families during pregnancy and the early years (the perinatal period) with the view to engaging in service co-design and evaluative research.
Research impacts
Community organisation partnerships: translation of research and university teaching into practice through student-run projects in partnership with community organizations (the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Independent School, and Institute for Urban Indigenous Health).
Not-for-profit organisation partnerships: translational research partnership with the Possums Clinic in order to evaluate service delivery, use research for quality assurance purposes, publish implementation science research, and develop evidence based resources for practice.
Government organisation partnerships: partnering with the The Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital (Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service) to evaluate cultural responsiveness in the Speech and Language Pathology (SLP) Department. Implementation and evaluation of training regarding cultural responsiveness is currently being delivered for SLP staff and interpreters to improve service delivery for culturally and linguistically diverese clients.
Mentoring for and delivery of an occupational therapy program for children in detention (OT KiDS) - stemming from research findings, teaching, and networks developed through research projects (2012-2016)
Leading an evaluation project contributing to the Australian Human Rights Commission's National Inquiry into Children in Detention (2014).
Research with asylum seekers may be useful for informing future evidence based policy.
Works
Search Professor Emma Crawford’s works on UQ eSpace
2021
Journal Article
Mothers’ perspectives on the influences shaping their early experiences with infants at risk of cerebral palsy in India
Branjerdporn, Nataya, Crawford, Emma, Ziviani, Jenny, Boyd, Roslyn N., Benfer, Katherine and Sakzewski, Leanne (2021). Mothers’ perspectives on the influences shaping their early experiences with infants at risk of cerebral palsy in India. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 113 103957, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2021.103957
2021
Conference Publication
CAN HISTORICAL ASSUMPTIONS BE USED TO ASSESS FITNESS TO FLY FOR MND AND ILD PATIENTS? AN EVALUATION OF PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS TO RISK STRATIFY PATIENTS PLANNING AIR TRAVEL
Cliff, I. J., Mustfa, N., Stone, H., Hurst, C., Crawford, E. and Allen, M. B. (2021). CAN HISTORICAL ASSUMPTIONS BE USED TO ASSESS FITNESS TO FLY FOR MND AND ILD PATIENTS? AN EVALUATION OF PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS TO RISK STRATIFY PATIENTS PLANNING AIR TRAVEL. Winter Meeting of the British-Thoracic-Society (BTS), Electr Network, Feb 17-19, 2021. LONDON: BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP. doi: 10.1136/thorax-2020-BTSabstracts.387
2021
Conference Publication
CAN EXISTING ROUTINE CLINICAL DATA BE USED TO PREDICT HYPOXAEMIA FOR MND PATIENTS UNDERTAKING COMMERCIAL FLIGHT?
Cliff, I. J., Mustfa, N., Stone, H., Hurst, C. and Crawford, E. (2021). CAN EXISTING ROUTINE CLINICAL DATA BE USED TO PREDICT HYPOXAEMIA FOR MND PATIENTS UNDERTAKING COMMERCIAL FLIGHT?. Winter Meeting of the British-Thoracic-Society (BTS), Electr Network, Feb 17-19, 2021. LONDON: BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP. doi: 10.1136/thorax-2020-BTSabstracts.386
2020
Journal Article
Local partners’ perspectives on health student service-learning placements in low- and middle-income countries: a pilot qualitative study with partners from Vietnam and Timor-Leste
Crawford, Emma, Hill, Anne E., Caine, Anne-Maree, Hunter, Lucy, Mandrusiak, Allison, Dunwoodie, Ruth, Fagan, Amy, Quinlan, Teresa, Branjerdporn, Nataya and Anemaat, Lisa (2020). Local partners’ perspectives on health student service-learning placements in low- and middle-income countries: a pilot qualitative study with partners from Vietnam and Timor-Leste. International Journal of Practice-based Learning in Health and Social Care, 8 (2), 29-40. doi: 10.18552/ijpblhsc.v8i2.584
2020
Journal Article
Developing interprofessional collaboration between clinicians, interpreters, and translators in healthcare settings: outcomes from face-to-face training
Zhang, Claire Xiaochi, Crawford, Emma, Marshall, Jeanne, Bernard, Anne and Walker-Smith, Katie (2020). Developing interprofessional collaboration between clinicians, interpreters, and translators in healthcare settings: outcomes from face-to-face training. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 35 (4), 1-11. doi: 10.1080/13561820.2020.1786360
2020
Conference Publication
Mothers' perspectives on the influences shaping their early experiences with infants at risk of cerebral palsy in West Bengal, India
Branjerdporn, N., Crawford, E., Ziviani, J., Boyd, R., Sakzewski, L. and Benfer, K. (2020). Mothers' perspectives on the influences shaping their early experiences with infants at risk of cerebral palsy in West Bengal, India. Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Perth, Australia, 11-14 March 2020. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
2020
Conference Publication
Efficacy of parent-implemented early interventions in low-and-middle income counties for children with cerebral palsy to improve parent mental health: systematic review
Branjerdporn, N., Sakzewski, L., Benfer, K., Crawford, E., Ziviani, J. and Boyd, R. (2020). Efficacy of parent-implemented early interventions in low-and-middle income counties for children with cerebral palsy to improve parent mental health: systematic review. Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Perth, Australia, 11-14 March 2020. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
2020
Conference Publication
Neuroprotective Developmental Care (NDC or 'the Possums programs'): is this novel evidence-based approach to breastfeeding, infant cry-fuss, and sleep effective?
Crawford, Emma and Douglas, Pamela (2020). Neuroprotective Developmental Care (NDC or 'the Possums programs'): is this novel evidence-based approach to breastfeeding, infant cry-fuss, and sleep effective?. Australasian Association for Academic Primary Care (AAAPC) Annual Research Conference, Online, 14-15 August 2020. Clayton, VIC, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. doi: 10.1071/PYv26n4abs
2019
Conference Publication
Growing authentic work integrated learning experiences with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: wins, worries and wonderings
Nelson, A., Odgers-Jewell, K., Crawfrod, E., Hill, A. and Quinlan, T. (2019). Growing authentic work integrated learning experiences with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: wins, worries and wonderings. Australian and New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators - ANZAHPE 2019 Conference, Canberra, ACT, Australia, 1 - 4 July 2019.
2019
Journal Article
Does attending Work It Out -a chronic disease self-management program-affect the use of other health services by urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with or at risk of chronic disease?: a comparison between program participants and non-participants
Hu, Jie, Basit, Tabinda, Nelson, Alison, Crawford, Emma and Turner, Lyle (2019). Does attending Work It Out -a chronic disease self-management program-affect the use of other health services by urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with or at risk of chronic disease?: a comparison between program participants and non-participants. Australian Journal of Primary Health, 25 (5), 464-470. doi: 10.1071/PY18089
2019
Journal Article
Chronic disease self‐management programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: Factors influencing participation in an urban setting
Parmenter, Joni, Basit, Tabinda, Nelson, Alison, Crawford, Emma and Kitter, Bryony (2019). Chronic disease self‐management programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: Factors influencing participation in an urban setting. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 31 (1) hpja.256, 104-111. doi: 10.1002/hpja.256
2018
Conference Publication
Enhanced primary health care services use among Work It Out participants
Crawford, E., Hu, J., Basit, T., Nelson, A. and Turner, L (2018). Enhanced primary health care services use among Work It Out participants. Primary Health Care Research Conference 2018, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 1 - 3 August 2018.
2018
Conference Publication
Keynote speaker - Working in contexts of trauma: Indigenous health and Asylum Seeker services
Crawford, E. (2018). Keynote speaker - Working in contexts of trauma: Indigenous health and Asylum Seeker services. Occupational Therapy Australia Northern Territory Forum., Darwin, NT Australia, 28 June 2018.
2018
Conference Publication
Service learning in developing countries: student outcomes including personal successes, seeing the world in new ways, and developing as health professionals
Crawford, E., Caine, A-M., Hunter, L., Hill, E.E., Mandrusiak, A., Anemaat, L., Dunwoodie, R., Fagan, A and Quinlan, T (2018). Service learning in developing countries: student outcomes including personal successes, seeing the world in new ways, and developing as health professionals. Society for Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education 38th Annual Conference, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada, 19 - 22 June 2018.
2018
Conference Publication
A comparison between Work It Out chronic disease program participants’ and non-participants’ services use
Crawford, E. (2018). A comparison between Work It Out chronic disease program participants’ and non-participants’ services use. Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation Conference, Montreal, Canada, 18 June 2018.
2018
Conference Publication
Speech-language pathologists’ and allied health assistants’ perspectives on cultural responsiveness in a paediatric hospital setting: people, processes, and practice environment
Zhang, C. and Crawford, E. (2018). Speech-language pathologists’ and allied health assistants’ perspectives on cultural responsiveness in a paediatric hospital setting: people, processes, and practice environment. Speech Pathology Australia National Conference 2018, Adelaide, SA, Australia, 27 - 30 May 2018.
2018
Journal Article
Speech-language pathologists' perspectives on cultural responsiveness in a paediatric hospital setting: people, process, and practice environment
Zhang, Claire Xiaochi and Crawford, Emma (2018). Speech-language pathologists' perspectives on cultural responsiveness in a paediatric hospital setting: people, process, and practice environment. Journal of Clinical Practice in Speech-Language Pathology, 20 (3), 155-163.
2018
Journal Article
Seeking virtual social support through blogging: a content analysis of published blog posts written by people with chronic pain
Tsai, Samuel, Crawford, Emma and Strong, Jenny (2018). Seeking virtual social support through blogging: a content analysis of published blog posts written by people with chronic pain. Digital Health, 4, 1-10. doi: 10.1177/2055207618772669
2017
Journal Article
Service learning in developing countries: Student outcomes including personal successes, seeing the world in new ways, and developing as health professionals
Crawford, Emma, Caine, Anne-Maree, Hunter, Lucy, Hill, Anne E., Mandrusiak, Allison, Anemaat, Lisa, Dunwoodie, Ruth, Fagan, Amy and Quinlan, Teresa (2017). Service learning in developing countries: Student outcomes including personal successes, seeing the world in new ways, and developing as health professionals. Journal of Interprofessional Education and Practice, 9, 74-81. doi: 10.1016/j.xjep.2017.08.006
2017
Journal Article
Continuing the dialogue: a rights-approach in occupational therapy
Crawford, Emma (2017). Continuing the dialogue: a rights-approach in occupational therapy. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 64 (6), 505-509. doi: 10.1111/1440-1630.12416
Funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Emma Crawford is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Perinatal services for refugee and asylum seeker families
This project would entail co-design of research methods to understand service needs and/or outcomes. Potential students should have an interest in research co-design, intercultural research and health service practice, and be oriented towards occupational engagement, mental health, and/or wellbeing. The project focus would be determined by the student in partnership with a community organisation. Emma can faciliate connections with a number community organisations who may be interested in partnering - the student would discuss possible resarch and establish a shared research goal with a partner organisation.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Home modifications and assistive technologies: Are our mobs getting what they need?
Associate Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Exploring a responsive framework in paediatric feeding management
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jeanne Marshall
Completed supervision
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Socio-cultural and contextual variables in medical encounters between a doctor, an elderly patient, and the patient's companion in Vietnam
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Roland Sussex, Emeritus Professor Jenny Strong
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Caregiver-infant emotional availability outcomes and intervention delivery fidelity in a community-based caregiver-implemented program for infants at high risk of cerebral palsy in a low resource context
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kath Benfer, Associate Professor Leanne Sakzewski
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Emma Crawford directly for media enquiries about their areas of expertise.
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