Dr Kate D’Cruz

Masters of Occupational Therapy, Bachelor Occupational Therapy, PhD (Occupational Therapy)

Dr Kate D’Cruz is a Senior Research Fellow at the Summer Foundation and joined the Research Unit in 2020. She leads research projects to evaluate the experiences and outcomes of young people with disability.

Kate has a particular interest in partnering with people with lived experience of disability to develop meaningful and relevant research. Current research projects include examining the impact of moving into purpose-built specialist disability accommodation (SDA); understanding the personal experiences of people with disability living in aged care facilities; peer support and sharing stories of lived experience. The outcomes of this work will help to inform how practice and policy can have a positive impact on the living choices, goals and quality of life for young people with disability.

Kate is an occupational therapist with over 12 years’  experience supporting community integration following acquired brain injury. She is also a qualitative researcher experienced in interviewing adults with cognitive and communication impairments, facilitating focus groups and data analysis. In addition to her role at the Summer Foundation, Kate is a lecturer in the Occupational Therapy program at La Trobe University, Melbourne. Her primary teaching and research focus is acquired brain injury rehabilitation, person-centred practice, and engagement in goal setting and narrative storytelling.

Key Publications

1. D’Cruz, K., Douglas, J., Serry, T. (2020). Sharing stories of lived experience: A qualitative analysis of the intersection of experiences between storytellers with acquired brain injury and storytelling facilitators. British Journal of Occupational Therapy. doi: 10.1177/0308022619898085
2. D’Cruz, K., Douglas, J., Serry, T. (2019). Personal narrative approaches in rehabilitation following traumatic brain injury: A synthesis of qualitative research. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, 29(7):985-1004.
3. D’Cruz, K., Douglas, J., Serry, T. (2019). Narrative storytelling as both an advocacy tool and a therapeutic process: Perspectives of adult storytellers with acquired brain injury. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/09602011.2019.1586733
4. Chew, N., Hayward, K., D’Cruz, K., Thompson, E., Li, X., Lannin, N. (2019). Validity and reliability of a smartphone inclinometer app for measuring passive upper limb range of motion in a stroke population. Disability & Rehabilitation. doi: 1080/096382888.2019.158972.
5. D’Cruz, K., Douglas, J., Serry, T. (in press). Sharing stories of lived experience: A qualitative analysis of the intersection of experiences between storytellers with acquired brain injury and storytelling facilitators. British Journal of Occupational Therapy.
6. D’Cruz, K., Douglas, J. (2018). Participant led training video: Literature review: Melbourne, Australia: La Trobe University
7. Douglas, J., D’Cruz, K. (2018). Participant led training video: Evaluation report: Melbourne, Australia: La Trobe University
8. Carra, K. A., Fortune, T., Ennals, P., D’Cruz, K., Kohn, H. (2017). Supporting scholarly identity and practice: Narratives of occupational therapy academics. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 80(8):502-509.
9. Potter, A., Sansonetti, D., D’Cruz, K., Lannin, N. (2017). What is Known About Transitional Living Services for Adults With an Acquired Brain Injury? A Scoping Review. Brain Impairment, 18(02):240-257.
10. D’Cruz, K., Unsworth, C., Roberts, K., Morarty, J., Turner-Stokes, L, Wellington-Boyd, A., Matchado, J., Lannin, N. (2016). Engaging patients with moderate to severe acquired brain injury in goal setting. International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 23(1):2-13.

11.Ennals, P, Fortune, T, Williams, A, D’Cruz, K. (2016). Shifting occupational identity: Doing, being, becoming and belonging in the academy. Higher Education Research and Development, 35(3):433-446.

12. D’Cruz, K., Howie, L., Lentin, P. (2016). Client centred practice: Perspectives of persons with a traumatic brain injury. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 23(1):30-38.
13. Mistretta, K. & D’Cruz, K. (2007). Phenomenological exploration of an Individual’s lived experience 21 years following head injury enabled understanding of self and opportunity for personal growth. (CAP). Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 54(2):160-161.
14. Noonan, A. & D’Cruz, K. (2007). Adults who experienced traumatic brain injury described needing to find and accept a new self identity before they could successfully integrate occupational adaptations. (CAP). Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 54(2):158-160.
15. McLean, K. & D’Cruz, K. (2007). Environments that facilitated learning about personal capacities helped adults with an acquired brain injury to successfully return to productive activities. (CAP). Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 54(2):160-161.