Ms Caroline ( Carol ) Hills

Biography

Caroline qualified as an occupational therapist in London, England in 1981. After many years as a practitioner and manager, Caroline completed an honours degree in Health Studies (Occupational Therapy) in the UK. Moving to Ireland in 2001, Caroline continued as a community therapist and a manager, completing a Masters (1st class) in rehabilitation studies from University College Dublin. Caroline moved to Australia in 2009 as a lecturer in Occupational Therapy at the University of Newcastle. Caroline completed her post graduate certificate in tertiary education and registered for her PhD in 2011. The title of her PhD is 'The 21st century learner in occupational therapy: Developing competence in practice education. Caroline has published on practice education and clinical reasoning.

Qualifications

• Master of Science (Rehabilitation), University College, Dublin - Ireland, 2004
• Graduate Certificate Practice of Tertiary Teaching, University of Newcastle, 2009
• Bachelor of Science (Honours)(Hlth Stud-Occ Ther), Anatomical Society of Australia and New Zealand, 1993
• Diploma of Occupational Therapy, College of Occupational Therapists - London, 1981

Research

Research keywords

• Competence
• Generation Y
• Practice education
• Practice reasoning
• Rehabilitation
• Stroke

Research expertise

Caroline is a PhD candidate with the University of Newcastle Australia. The title of her reserach is xxxx. Caroline has also supervised honours students on practice education for 6 health professions

Collaboration

Primary research collaborations are within the School of Health Sciences at the University of Newcastle, Australia. Caroline has three PhD supervisors from Occupational Therapy, Radiation Therapy and Occupational Health and Safety.

Interdisciplinary collaboration includes delivering an annual suite of courses for practice educators from 6 health disciplines. Interdisciplinary research in practice education has also been completed (Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Nutrition and Dietetics, Medical Radiation Sciences).

Caroline also has collaborated with A/Professor Natasha Lannin and Professor Anne Cusick( University of Wollongong) on stroke rehabilitation research.

Caroline is involved in inter-university research between University of Newcastle and University of South Australia.

Caroline is part of a Project Leadership Team, delivering on the creation of a student website. This is funded by an Office of Learning and Teaching Grant. Collaborations exist between the Project Leadership Team and four other universities (James Cook University, University of Western Sydney, Charles Sturt University and La Trobe University). The project mentor is Professor David Boud (University of Technology, Sydney).

Languages

• English

Fields of Research

Administrative

Administrative expertise

From 2009- 2011 Caroline co-ordinated the following courses:

With the new revised occupational therapy program Caroline co-ordinates the following courses

Caroline is chair of the Practice Education Development Group which is made up of the practice education administrator, students, practice educators and occupational therapy managers.

Teaching

Teaching keywords

• Assessment
• Assistive technology
• Community occupational therapy
• Competence
• Physical disability
• Practice education
• Rehabilitation
• Wheelchairs and seating

Teaching expertise

Caroline teaches second year occupational therapy students, focussing on physcial disability, acute and community care, rehabilitation, health promotion and assistive technology including wheelchairs and seating. Carol prepares leads on practice education in the program.