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
2018
Conference Publication
Occupational, health, and safety cost savings as a result of implementing positive behaviour support
Vassos, M., Wardale, S. and Cornish, G. (2018). Occupational, health, and safety cost savings as a result of implementing positive behaviour support. Fifth International IASSIDD Europe Congress , Athens, Greece, 17–20 July 2018 . Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley.
2018
Journal Article
Severity of cognitive disability and mental health court determinations about fitness to stand trial
Young, J T, Davis, F J, Wardale, S, Vassos, M, van Dooren, K, Nankervis, K and Lennox, N G (2018). Severity of cognitive disability and mental health court determinations about fitness to stand trial. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 62 (2), 126-139. doi: 10.1111/jir.12468
2018
Other Outputs
A psychometric evaluation of the Early Response Tool. Final report
Vassos, Maria (2018). A psychometric evaluation of the Early Response Tool. Final report. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Centre of Excellence for Clinical Innovation and Behaviour Support, Queensland Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services..
2018
Conference Publication
The early response tool: development and initial psychometric evaluation
Vassos, M. and Nankervis, K. (2018). The early response tool: development and initial psychometric evaluation. 5th International IASSIDD Europe Congress, Athens, Greece, 17-20 July 2018. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1111/jar.12481
2017
Other Outputs
Developing a greater understanding of parental relinquishment of care in the disability sector
Vassos, Maria Vicki (2017). Developing a greater understanding of parental relinquishment of care in the disability sector. PhD Thesis, School of Psychology, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2017.946
2017
Journal Article
The implementation of multi-component positive behavioural interventions: Preliminary evidence of a negative relationship with challenging behaviour
McGowan, S., McNally, K. and Vassos, M. (2017). The implementation of multi-component positive behavioural interventions: Preliminary evidence of a negative relationship with challenging behaviour. International Journal of Positive Behaviour Support, 7 (2), 3-12.
2017
Other Outputs
Behaviour support plan quality within Endeavour Foundation
Vassos, M. (2017). Behaviour support plan quality within Endeavour Foundation. Cannon Hill, Qld, Australia: Endeavour Foundation.
2016
Conference Publication
Can the job demand-control-(support) model explain disability support worker burnout and work engagement?
Vassos, M., Nankervis, K., Skerry, T. and Lante, K. (2016). Can the job demand-control-(support) model explain disability support worker burnout and work engagement?. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.
2016
Conference Publication
Findings from the pilot implementation of the Early Response Tool
Steel, L., Brown, R., Nankervis, K. and Vassos, M. (2016). Findings from the pilot implementation of the Early Response Tool. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.
2016
Conference Publication
The development of the Early Response Tool: A brief history
Steel, L., Brown, R., Nankervis, K. and Vassos, M. (2016). The development of the Early Response Tool: A brief history. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.
2016
Journal Article
Assessing attitudes toward evidence-based practices of workers supporting people with disabilities: a validation of the evidence-based practice attitudes scale
Vassos, Maria V. and Carroll, Michael F. (2016). Assessing attitudes toward evidence-based practices of workers supporting people with disabilities: a validation of the evidence-based practice attitudes scale. AJIDD-American Journal On Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 121 (4), 364-378. doi: 10.1352/1944-7558-121.4.364
2016
Conference Publication
The development of an 'easy to use' version of an evaluation tool to determine the quality of positive behaviour support plans
Davis, F., Wardale, S., Vassos, M. and Nankervis, K. (2016). The development of an 'easy to use' version of an evaluation tool to determine the quality of positive behaviour support plans. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.
2016
Conference Publication
Does severity of intellectual and developmental disability predict Mental Health Court decisions about fitness to stand trial?
Young, J., Davis, F., Van Dooren, K., Wardale, S., Vassos, M., Nankervis, K. and Lennox, N. (2016). Does severity of intellectual and developmental disability predict Mental Health Court decisions about fitness to stand trial?. 2016 IASSIDD World Congress, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 15-19 August 2016. Hoboken, NJ United States: Wiley-Blackwell.
2016
Conference Publication
Clinical governance: a relevant clinical practice framework to prevent the use of restrictive practices
Nankervis, K., Vassos, M. and Chan, J. (2016). Clinical governance: a relevant clinical practice framework to prevent the use of restrictive practices. IASSIDD 15th World Congress, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 15-19 August 2016. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/jir.12305
2016
Conference Publication
Profiling the psychosocial experiences of parents of children with disabilities on factors related to out-of-home care
Vassos, M., Nankervis, K., Gavidia-Payne, S. and Chan, J. (2016). Profiling the psychosocial experiences of parents of children with disabilities on factors related to out-of-home care. IASSIDD 15th World Congress, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 15-19 August 2016. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
2016
Conference Publication
How do Australian disability support organisations describe the disability support worker position?
Vassos, M., Nankervis, K. and Chan, J. (2016). How do Australian disability support organisations describe the disability support worker position?. IASSIDD 15th World Congress, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 15-19 August 2016. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/jir.12305
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.
2014
Journal Article
Outcomes for staff participating in positive behaviour support training
Wardale, Simon, Davis, Fiona, Carroll, Michael and Vassos, Maria (2014). Outcomes for staff participating in positive behaviour support training. International Journal of Positive Behavioural Support, 4 (1), 10-23.
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
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
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
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Doctor Philosophy
The effects of Tier 1 Positive Behaviour Interventions and Supports (PBIS) practices on student behaviour and achievement in Queensland primary schools
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Karen Nankervis, Associate Professor Shiralee Poed
Completed supervision
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
Educational Quality of Life: A conceptualisation of the educational experience of high school students with disability
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Karen Nankervis, Professor Rhonda Faragher
Media
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