Dr Kylie Wales
Lecturer
School of Health Sciences
- Email:kylie.wales@newcastle.edu.au
- Phone:(02) 4921 7875
Personalised therapy pays off for everyone
Dr Kylie Wales is reimagining how we assess clients’ individual occupational therapy needs, helping to improve their safety and life outcomes.
Kylie’s research is as empathetic as it is financially strategic, exploring how better assessment can help occupational therapists meet clients’ goals more effectively. This not only provides better value for the client, but also for the healthcare system.
“My research helps contribute to better client outcomes and safety through accurate assessment and focussed service delivery,” Kylie explains.
“This allows us to benchmark best practice and understand if we are achieving client goals. In other words, I research whether what we do as occupational therapists actually works!
“Measuring the effects of practices can help determine what occupational therapy interventions are effective and cost-effective. Then we know where health funds should be invested—creating more bang for your buck, so to speak.”
Ultimately, Kylie’s work is about getting the right therapy plan to the right person. By making therapy more individualised, clients can expect increased safety and better results.
“Not everyone is the same, so we shouldn’t treat them the same. There are also multiple ways to approach every challenge, so it’s really about finding out what best suits the client. The right approach can make all the difference in the world for them.”
Kylie’s research insights are sought-after. A recent systematic review titled “Functional Assessments Used by Occupational Therapists with Older Adults at Risk of Activity and Participation Limitations” was in the top one per cent of PLOS ONE’s most downloaded articles.
Far from being confined to the shelves, Kylie’s research is helping to influence occupational therapy practice nationwide. Her insights are empowering decision makers to allocate funding to treatments that both work and are cost-effective. One of her projects is helping to inform the use of standardised assessments in billable healthcare environments.
Recently, Kylie was acknowledged as one of the University of Newcastle’s up-and-coming researchers when she was invited to participate in the University’s ThinkWell Early and Mid-Career Women’s Development Program. Facilitated through the Faculty of Health and Medicine's Gender Equity Committee, the program targets high potential academics to build future research leaders.
For Kylie, that next stage includes working with Higher Degree Research students and building research and industry collaborations that take her innovative work global. Ultimately the goal is to progress the occupational therapy field.
“Alongside my research, I also love teaching; it gives me a great sense of achievement to see students develop their occupational therapy identities, gaining knowledge, skills and expertise. Turning out the best future occupational therapists possible is a very important part of the job.”
Kylie is a member of Occupational Therapy Australia, a previous Australian Post-Graduate Award winner and recipient of the Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research (CEPAR) Scholarship.
Personalised therapy pays off for everyone
Dr Kylie Wales is reimagining how we assess clients’ individual occupational therapy needs, helping to improve their safety and life outcomes.Kylie’s research is as empathetic as it is financially strategic, exploring how better assessment can help occupational therapists meet clients’…
Career Summary
Biography
Kylie started working with the University of Newcastle in 2017 as a lecturer and course coordinator for practice education in occupational therapy, roles that bring together her firm love for teaching and zest for research and discovery. Kylie’s research explores health economics, ageing and psychometrics. Together with her team, she seeks to understand how occupational therapists can assess their clients’ situation and needs so they can provide the most effective—and cost-effective—treatments that improve people’s quality of life.
Kylie completed her undergraduate degree with the University of Western Sydney, graduating with first class honours and Dean’s merit list credit. After graduation, Kylie worked in Western Sydney as a community occupational therapist for young adults with lifelong conditions. The role predominately focused on equipment prescription, home modifications and life skills. A year later, Kylie’s growing interest in research propelled her into a project manager position for a research study funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council. The study’s investigations highlighted serious gaps in our understanding of occupational therapists’ role in discharge planning.
Determined to investigate these knowledge gaps, Kylie commenced a PhD in 2011 with the University of Sydney, supported by an Australian Post-Graduate Scholarship. Kylie’s research focused specifically on understanding clients’ needs and outcomes in the hospital setting and the cost-effectiveness of discharge planning practice. Kylie combined her research studies with a post-graduate teaching fellowship, gaining valuable experience in teaching both undergraduate and masters students about equipment prescription, home modifications, falls prevention, ageing, and evidence-based practice.
For her PhD, Kylie ran a study at John Hunter Hospital, evaluating the application of assessment tools on older adults who were admitted to acute hospital care. She then moved into clinical work with Vision Australia, becoming the Regional Practice Lead for the Central Coast and Hunter Regions. Kylie was core to leading the allied health team through the change in service delivery under My Aged Care and National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Sydney
- Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy), University of Western Sydney
Keywords
- Ageing
- Cost-effectiveness
- Measurement
- Occupational Therapy
Fields of Research
| Code | Description | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 111702 | Aged Health Care | 40 |
| 111717 | Primary Health Care | 30 |
| 111708 | Health and Community Services | 30 |
Professional Experience
UON Appointment
| Title | Organisation / Department |
|---|---|
| Lecturer | University of Newcastle School of Health Sciences Australia |
Teaching
| Code | Course | Role | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| OCCT2254 |
Beginning Occupational Therapy Professional Practice The Faculty of Health Science / The University of Newcastle / Australia |
Course Coordinator | 24/8/2017 - 24/9/2047 |
| OCCT4273 |
Advanced Occupational Therapy Practice The Faculty of Health Science / The University of Newcastle / Australia |
Course Coordinator | 24/8/2017 - 24/9/2047 |
| OCCT3161 |
Intermediate Occupational Therapy Professional Practice The Faculty of Health Science / The University of Newcastle / Australia |
Course Coordinator | 24/8/2017 - 24/9/2047 |
Publications
For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.
Chapter (1 outputs)
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Cordier R, Joosten A, Clemson L, Wales K, 'The development of occupations across the lifespan', Occupational Therapy in Australia Professional and Practice Issues, Allen & Unwin, Crows Nest 244-259 (2017) |
Journal article (12 outputs)
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 |
Provencher V, Clemson L, Wales K, Cameron ID, Gitlin LN, Grenier A, Lannin NA, 'Supporting at-risk older adults transitioning from hospital to home: who benefits from an evidence-based patient-centered discharge planning intervention? Post-hoc analysis from a randomized trial.', BMC Geriatr, 20 84 (2020)
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| 2020 |
Awuviry-Newton K, Wales K, Tavener M, Byles J, 'Do factors across the World Health Organisation's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health framework relate to caregiver availability for communitydwelling older adults in Ghana?', PLoS ONE, 15 (2020) © 2020 Public Library of Science. All rights reserved. Introduction In Ghana, the care needs of older adults in the later years has become a critical issue given population ageing... [more] © 2020 Public Library of Science. All rights reserved. Introduction In Ghana, the care needs of older adults in the later years has become a critical issue given population ageing and increased proportions of older adults with difficulties with functional abilities. However, factors related to caregiver availability is unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine how the World Health Organisation's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (WHO-ICF) framework relates to caregiver availability for community-dwelling older adults in Ghana. This evidence will strengthen our understanding of the perceived unmet care needs of older adults in Ghana in Africa. Materials and methods A hospital-based survey was conducted among 400 consecutively recruited older adult inpatients using a questionnaire at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in southern Ghana. Multivariate logistic regression tested associations between caregiver availability and other factors as related to the WHO-ICF conceptual framework. Results Eighty-six per cent of the participants reported having an available caregiver. In the final parsimonious model, the environmental factors were highly related to caregiver availability, seconded by personal factors, and then health conditions. Body function and structure, activity, and participation variables were not statistically significant. Overall, the variables that were associated with caregiver availability were age, being a widow, having a single chronic condition, being hardly understood by friends and family, receiving no neighbourhood support, and having 2 4 children. Interaction existed between being a widow and living as a couple in relation to caregiver availability. Conclusions Caregiver availability is associated with variables under the personal, health and environmental components of the WHO-ICF. Increased effort to strengthen the current and future welfare programs, including the health of older adults and their caregivers is relevant.
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| 2018 |
Pike S, Lannin NA, Wales K, Cusick A, 'A systematic review of the psychometric properties of the Action Research Arm Test in neurorehabilitation.', Australian occupational therapy journal, 65 449-471 (2018) [C1]
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| 2018 |
Unsworth CA, Timmer A, Wales K, 'Reliability of the Australian Therapy Outcome Measures for Occupational Therapy (AusTOMs-OT)', Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 65 376-386 (2018) [C1]
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| 2018 |
Wales K, Salkeld G, Clemson L, Lannin NA, Gitlin L, Rubenstein L, et al., 'A trial based economic evaluation of occupational therapy discharge planning for older adults: the HOME randomized trial', Clinical Rehabilitation, 32 919-929 (2018) [C1] © 2018, The Author(s) 2018. Objective: To compare the cost effectiveness of two occupational therapy¿led discharge planning interventions from the HOME trial. Design: An economic ... [more] © 2018, The Author(s) 2018. Objective: To compare the cost effectiveness of two occupational therapy¿led discharge planning interventions from the HOME trial. Design: An economic evaluation was conducted within the superiority randomized HOME trial to assess the difference in costs and health-related outcomes associated with the enhanced program and the in-hospital consultation. Total costs of health and community service utilization were used to calculate incremental cost-effectiveness ratios, activities of daily living and quality-adjusted life years. Setting: Medical and acute care wards of Australian hospitals (n=5). Subjects: A total of 400 people = 70 years of age. Interventions: Participants were randomized to either (1) an enhanced program (HOME), involving pre/post discharge visits and two follow-up phone calls, or (2) an in-hospital consultation using the home and community environment assessment and the Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living assessment. Main measures: Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living (global measure of activities of daily living) and SF-12V2, transformed into SF-6D (quality-adjusted life year) measured at baseline and three months post discharge. Results: The cost of the enhanced program was higher than that of the in-hospital consultation. However, a higher proportion of patients showed improvement in activities of daily living in the enhanced program with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $61,906.00 per person with clinically meaningful improvement. Conclusion: Health services would not save money by implementing the enhanced program as a routine intervention in medical and acute care wards. Future research should incorporate longer time horizons and consider which patient groups would benefit from home visits.
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| 2016 |
Clemson L, Lannin NA, Wales K, Salkeld G, Rubenstein L, Gitlin L, et al., 'Occupational Therapy Predischarge Home Visits in Acute Hospital Care: A Randomized Trial', JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, 64 2019-2026 (2016)
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| 2016 |
Wales K, Clemson L, Lannin N, Cameron I, 'Functional Assessments Used by Occupational Therapists with Older Adults at Risk of Activity and Participation Limitations: A Systematic Review', PLOS ONE, 11 (2016)
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| 2015 |
Pike S, Lannin NA, Cusick A, Wales K, Turner-Stokes L, Ashford S, 'A systematic review protocol to evaluate the psychometric properties of measures of function within adult neuro-rehabilitation', Systematic Reviews, 4 (2015) © 2015 Pike et al. Background: Spasticity in the upper limb is common after acquired brain impairment and may have a significant impact on the ability to perform meaningful daily ... [more] © 2015 Pike et al. Background: Spasticity in the upper limb is common after acquired brain impairment and may have a significant impact on the ability to perform meaningful daily activities. Traditionally, outcome measurement in spasticity rehabilitation has focused on impairment, however, improvements in impairments do not necessarily translate to improvements in an individual's ability to perform activities or engage in life roles. There is an increasing need for outcome measures that capture change in activity performance and life participation. Methods/Design: We will conduct a systematic review of the psychometric properties of instruments used to measure upper limb functional outcomes (activity performance and participation) in patients with spasticity. Assessments (n = 27) will be identified from a recently published systematic review of assessments that measure upper limb function in neurological rehabilitation for adults with focal spasticity, and a systematic review of each assessment will then be conducted. The databases MEDLINE, CINAHL and EMBASE will be searched from inception. Search strategies will include the name of the assessment and the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) published search strategy for identifying studies of measurement properties. The methodological rigour of the testing of the psychometric quality of instruments will be undertaken using the Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) checklist. International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) definitions of impairment, activity and participation will be used for content analysis of items to determine the extent to which assessments are valid measures of activity performance and life participation. We will present a narrative synthesis on the psychometric properties and utility of all instruments and make recommendations for assessment selection in practice. Discussion: This systematic review will present a narrative synthesis on the psychometric properties and utility of assessments used to evaluate function in adults with upper limb focal spasticity. Recommendations for assessment selection in practice will be made which will aid clinicians, managers and funding bodies to select an instrument fit for purpose. Importantly, appropriate assessment selection will provide a mechanism for capturing how applicable to everyday life the outcomes from individualised rehabilitation programs for the upper limb really are.
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| 2013 |
Laver K, Wales K, Clemson L, 'Effectiveness of pre-discharge occupational therapy home visits has yet to be evaluated; a definitive trial is feasible and warranted', Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 60 374-375 (2013)
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| Show 9 more journal articles | ||||||||
Conference (19 outputs)
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 |
Awuviry-Newton K, Tavener M, Wales K, Kowal P, Byles J, 'ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING DIFFICULTIES AND TOILETING AMONG OLDER GHANAIANS: AN APPLICATION OF WHO-ICF FRAMEWORK', Innovation in Aging, Austin Texas (2019)
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| 2019 |
Ashby S, Wales K, 'McGlashon, J., Ashby, S., Watkins, K., & Wales, K. (2019). The professional resilience strategies utilised by Australian occupational therapists to combat occupational stressors. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 66(S1), 45. doi:10.1111/1440-1630.12585', Sydney, Australia (2019)
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| 2019 |
Ashby S, Wales K, 'Watkins, K., Ashby, S., & Wales, K. (2019). An international study of the professional resilience strategies utilised by occupational therapists to combat occupational stressors. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 66(S1), 107.doi:10.1111/1440-1630.12586', Sydney, Australia (2019)
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| 2015 | Clemson LM, Lannin N, Wales K, Gitlin LN, Rubenstein L, Cameron ID, 'DISCHARGE PLANNING UTILIZING HOME VISITS COMPARED TO IN-HOSPITAL CONSULTATION, EFFECTS ON COST UTILIZATION, FUNCTION AND PARTICIPATION: THE AUSTRALIAN HOME TRIAL', GERONTOLOGIST (2015) | |||||||
| 2013 | Clemson LM, Lannin N, Wales K, Gitlin LN, Cameron ID, Rubenstein L, 'PREPARING OLDER ADULTS FOR SSFE DISCHARGE AND RESUMPTION OF MEANINGFUL DAILY ACTIVITIES: THE HOME INTERVENTION', GERONTOLOGIST (2013) | |||||||
| Show 16 more conferences | ||||||||
Grants and Funding
Summary
| Number of grants | 4 |
|---|---|
| Total funding | $46,837 |
Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.
20201 grants / $33,000
Delivering multidisciplinary healthcare services within disability and educational facilities in Fiji: Promoting sustainability through inter-professional clinical placements$33,000
Funding body: New Colombo Plan Student Mobility Project, Australian Government
| Funding body | New Colombo Plan Student Mobility Project, Australian Government |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Dr Kylie Wales, Dr Catherine Johnston, Joanne Walters, Judith Fogett |
| Scheme | New Columbo Plan Mobility Grant |
| Role | Lead |
| Funding Start | 2020 |
| Funding Finish | 2021 |
| GNo | |
| Type Of Funding | C1500 - Aust Competitive - Commonwealth Other |
| Category | 1500 |
| UON | N |
20191 grants / $4,974
Enhancing client outcomes through the application of standardised assessments in occupational therapy practice$4,974
Funding body: School of Health Sciences Strategic Pilot Funding
| Funding body | School of Health Sciences Strategic Pilot Funding |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Dr Kylie Wales and A/Professor Natasha Lannin |
| Scheme | School of Health Sciences Strategic Pilot Funding |
| Role | Lead |
| Funding Start | 2019 |
| Funding Finish | 2019 |
| GNo | |
| Type Of Funding | Internal |
| Category | INTE |
| UON | N |
20182 grants / $8,863
Measurement in occupational therapy: Assessment of function and evaluation of outcomes$4,924
Funding body: School of Health Sciences Strategic Pilot Funding
| Funding body | School of Health Sciences Strategic Pilot Funding |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Dr Kylie Wales, Dr Jacki Wesson & A/Professor Natasha Lannin |
| Scheme | School of Health Sciences Strategic Pilot Funding |
| Role | Lead |
| Funding Start | 2018 |
| Funding Finish | 2018 |
| GNo | |
| Type Of Funding | Internal |
| Category | INTE |
| UON | N |
Systematic Review of economic evluations of occupational therapy services for adults within acute and sub-acute care$3,939
Funding body: School of Health Sciences Strategic Pilot Funding
| Funding body | School of Health Sciences Strategic Pilot Funding |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Dr Kylie Wales, Miia Rahja, Dr Kate Laver, Danielle Lang, Lisa Somerville & A/Professor Natasha Lannin |
| Scheme | School of Health Sciences Strategic Pilot Funding |
| Role | Lead |
| Funding Start | 2018 |
| Funding Finish | 2018 |
| GNo | |
| Type Of Funding | Internal |
| Category | INTE |
| UON | N |
Research Supervision
Number of supervisions
Current Supervision
| Commenced | Level of Study | Research Title | Program | Supervisor Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | PhD | Cost-Effective Paediatric Mental Health Services: A Comparative Study of Self-Regulation Occupational Therapy Intervention Models among Australian School-Aged Children in Private Practice and Public Education Settings | PhD (Occupational Therapy), Faculty of Health and Medicine, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
| 2019 | Masters | Occupational Therapy in Traumatic Brain Injury: Services, Interventions and Outcomes | M Philosophy (Occupat Therapy), Faculty of Health and Medicine, The University of Newcastle | Principal Supervisor |
| 2019 | Masters | Investigation of the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills in stroke rehabilitation | Occupational Therapy, Latrobe University | Co-Supervisor |
| 2018 | PhD | Sustainability of adult children support and care for older people in Ghana | Health, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
| 2018 | PhD | Needing, Providing and Supporting Care: A Mixed-Methods Study of Older Adults' Functional Abilities and Care Needs, Caregivers' Lived Experiences, and Social Workers' Contributions in the Lives of Older Adults in Ghana | PhD (Gerontology & Geriatrics), Faculty of Health and Medicine, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
Past Supervision
| Year | Level of Study | Research Title | Program | Supervisor Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Honours | Understanding the role of occupational therapists in women’s health: A scoping review | Occupational Therapy, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle | Principal Supervisor |
Dr Kylie Wales
Position
Lecturer
School of Health Sciences
Faculty of Health and Medicine
Contact Details
| kylie.wales@newcastle.edu.au | |
| Phone | (02) 4921 7875 |
Office
| Room | HA-28 |
|---|---|
| Building | Hunter Building |
Connect with me
