Overview
Availability
- Dr Maria Vassos is:
- Not available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science, University of Melbourne
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), University of Melbourne
- Professional Doctorate of Clinical Psychology, RMIT University
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Parent stress and seeking voluntary out-of-home care (relinquishment) for children and young people with disability
My work has focused on understanding the causal factors behind parental decisions to seek voluntary out-of-home care (e.g., lack of access to support, children with high support needs and challenging behaviour), profiling parenting experiences based on these factors, and developing screening and identification tools to enhance early intervention support for parents and families experiencing stress and crisis.
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Behaviour support
My work has focused on behaviour support plan quality, specifically the evaluation of plan quality at an organisation, state, and national level. My work has also focused on determining the reliability, validity and usability of existing tools that measure plan quality (e.g., the Behaviour Intervention Plan Quality Evaluation, Version 2), and the development of a new plan quality evaluation tool that is accessible to a wider group of stakeholders (e.g., parents and disability support workers in addition to behaviour support practitioners). Also, my work has focused on evaluating the effectiveness of positive behaviour support plan training to enhance staff knowledge and capability to develop quality plans.
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Work-related issues for disability professionals
My work has focused on understanding the predictors of job burnout and work engagement in the disability support worker population (e.g., role ambiguity, job feedback, large workload) and identifying inherent sources of role ambiguity in the disability support work role. My work has also focused on organisational culture (clinical governance in particular) in the disability service sector and the impact that poor culture has on the day-to-day work of allied health professionals (e.g., psychologists, speech pathologists) supporting people with disability.
Works
Search Professor Maria Vassos’s works on UQ eSpace
2015
Other Outputs
Profiling the experiences of parents of children and adolescents with disabilities on psychosocial factors related to out-of-home care. Report of key findings for Yooralla
Vassos, M., Nankervis, K., Gavidia-Payne, S. and Chan, J. (2015). Profiling the experiences of parents of children and adolescents with disabilities on psychosocial factors related to out-of-home care. Report of key findings for Yooralla. Melbourne, Vic, Australia: Yooralla.
2015
Other Outputs
Exploring the concepts of clinical governance and evidence-based practice within the disability service sector. Report of key findings for Yooralla
Vassos, M., Nankervis, K. and Chan, J. (2015). Exploring the concepts of clinical governance and evidence-based practice within the disability service sector. Report of key findings for Yooralla. Melbourne, VIC, Australia: Yooralla.
2013
Conference Publication
Inter-rater reliability process and the Behaviour Support Plan Quality Evaluation scoring guide version II (BSPQEII)
Davis, Fiona J., Vassos, Maria and Wardale, Simon (2013). Inter-rater reliability process and the Behaviour Support Plan Quality Evaluation scoring guide version II (BSPQEII). 3rd IASSIDD Asia-Pacifc Conference, Tokyo, Japan, 22 - 24 August 1013. Hoboken, NJ United States: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc.. doi: 10.1111/jppi.12029
2013
Conference Publication
Investigating relinquishment of care of a family member with a disability from the perspective of the family
Nankervis, Karen, Vassos, Maria, Rosewarne, Andrea and Bayne, Barbara (2013). Investigating relinquishment of care of a family member with a disability from the perspective of the family. 3rd IASSIDD Asia-Pacifc Conference, Tokyo, Japan, 22 - 24 August 1013. Hoboken, NJ United States: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc.. doi: 10.1111/jppi.12029
2012
Journal Article
Investigating the importance of various individual, interpersonal, organisational and demographic variables when predicting job burnout in disability support workers
Vassos, Maria V. and Nankervis, Karen L. (2012). Investigating the importance of various individual, interpersonal, organisational and demographic variables when predicting job burnout in disability support workers. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 33 (6), 1780-1791. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2012.04.016
2012
Journal Article
A systematic review of quality of life measures for people with intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviours
Townsend-White, C., Pham, A. N.T. and Vassos, M. V. (2012). A systematic review of quality of life measures for people with intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviours. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 56 (3), 270-284. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2788.2011.01427.x
2012
Conference Publication
Investigating relinquishment of care from the perspective of the family - Preliminary findings
Vassos, M., Nankervis, K. and Rosewarne, A. (2012). Investigating relinquishment of care from the perspective of the family - Preliminary findings. 2012 IASSIDWorld Congress, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, 9-14 July 2012. Oxford, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2788.2012.01583_4.x
2012
Conference Publication
Work engagement in disability support workers: Preliminary findings from a large scale evaluation from Australia
Vassos, M., Nankervis, K., Skerry, T. and Lante, K. (2012). Work engagement in disability support workers: Preliminary findings from a large scale evaluation from Australia. 2012 IASSIDWorld Congress, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, 9-14 July 2012. Oxford, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2788.2012.01583_4.x
2011
Journal Article
An initial evaluation of a long-term, sustainable, integrated community-based physical activity program for adults with intellectual disability
Lante, Kerrie A., Walkley, Jeff W., Gamble, Merrilyn and Vassos, Maria V. (2011). An initial evaluation of a long-term, sustainable, integrated community-based physical activity program for adults with intellectual disability. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 36 (3), 197-206. doi: 10.3109/13668250.2011.593163
2011
Journal Article
Respite and parental relinquishment of care: A comprehensive review of the available literature
Nankervis, Karen L., Rosewarne, Andrea C. and Vassos, Maria V. (2011). Respite and parental relinquishment of care: A comprehensive review of the available literature. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 8 (3), 150-162. doi: 10.1111/j.1741-1130.2011.00305.x
2011
Journal Article
Why do families relinquish care? An investigation of the factors that lead to relinquishment into out-of-home respite care
Nankervis, K., Rosewarne, A. and Vassos, M. (2011). Why do families relinquish care? An investigation of the factors that lead to relinquishment into out-of-home respite care. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 55 (4), 422-433. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2788.2011.01389.x
2011
Conference Publication
Quality of life measurement for people with intellectual disabilities: A systematic review of available instruments
Townsend, C., Pham, A. and Vassos, M. V. (2011). Quality of life measurement for people with intellectual disabilities: A systematic review of available instruments. 46th Australasian Society for Intellectual Disability Conference, Glenelg, SA, Australia, 9-11 November 2011.
2011
Conference Publication
Job stressors, sources of satisfaction and levels of burnout experienced by an Australian sample of disability support workers
Nankervis, K. L. and Vassos, M. V. (2011). Job stressors, sources of satisfaction and levels of burnout experienced by an Australian sample of disability support workers. Joint Congress of the European Association for Mental Health in Intellectual Disability and IASSID Challenging Behaviour and Mental Health SIRG, Manchester, United Kingdom, 1-3 September 2011.
2011
Conference Publication
Predictors of job burnout amongst a sample of Australian disability support workers
Vassos, M. V. and Nankervis, K. L. (2011). Predictors of job burnout amongst a sample of Australian disability support workers. 46th Australasian Society for Intellectual Disability Conference, Glenelg, SA, Australia, 9-11 November 2011. Adelaide, South Australia: ASID.
2011
Conference Publication
Application of quality of life instruments in routine service evaluation for individuals with severe to profound intellectual disability
Pham, A.,, Meyer, K., Wooderson, J., Townsend, C. and Vassos, M. V. (2011). Application of quality of life instruments in routine service evaluation for individuals with severe to profound intellectual disability. 46th Australasian Society for Intellectual Disability Conference, Glenelg, SA, Australia, November 9-11 2011.
2011
Conference Publication
Exploring the views of a sample of Australian disability support workers with regards to sources of work stress and satisfaction, and issues and trends affecting their practice
Nankervis, K. L. and Vassos, M. V. (2011). Exploring the views of a sample of Australian disability support workers with regards to sources of work stress and satisfaction, and issues and trends affecting their practice. 46th Australasian Society for Intellectual Disability Conference, Glenelg, SA, Australia, 9-11 November 2011.
2010
Conference Publication
Does age and level of support needs influence the relinquishment of family members with a disability
Vassos, M., Nankervis, K and Rosewarne, A. (2010). Does age and level of support needs influence the relinquishment of family members with a disability. Third International Conference of IASSID-Europe, Rome, Italy, 20-22 October 2010. Oxford, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-3148.2010.00586.x
2010
Conference Publication
An investigation into the causal factors of and the potential risk for relinquishment
Nankervis, Karen, Rosewarne, Andrea and Vassos, Maria (2010). An investigation into the causal factors of and the potential risk for relinquishment. 45th Australasian Society for the Study of Intellectual Disability Conference, Brisbane Australia, 29 September-1 October 2010.
2010
Conference Publication
The role that age and support needs play in a family's decision to relinquish care
Nankervis, K., Rosewarne, A. and Vassos, M. (2010). The role that age and support needs play in a family's decision to relinquish care. ASSID 2010: 45th Australasian Society for the Study of Intellectual Disability Conference, Brisbane, Australia, 29 September - 1 October 2010.
2010
Conference Publication
Why do families relinquish care of their family member with a disability?
Nankervis, K., Rosewarne, A. and Vassos, M. (2010). Why do families relinquish care of their family member with a disability?. Third International Conference of IASSID-Europe, Rome, Italy, 20-22 October 2009. WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC.
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Maria Vassos is:
- Not available for supervision
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Educational Quality of Life for Students with Disabilities
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Karen Nankervis, Professor Rhonda Faragher
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Doctor Philosophy
Active engagement of people with disability in genomic research: honouring their knowledge and perspectives in creating recommendations and evaluation framework for designing value enhanced participatory research.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Rhonda Faragher, Professor Karen Nankervis
Media
Enquiries
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