Dr Michelle Kersten
Research Project Officer
University Newcastle Department of Rural Health
Career Summary
Biography
Michelle is an occupational therapist with specific expertise in health and life transitions for people with complex health problems and disabilities. She seeks to not only identify problems, but to seek innovative ways of providing client centred solutions. Michelle's extensive clinical experience spans hospital and community settings in service provision, management and clinical education. Michelle’s has taught in several undergraduate programs, including occupational therapy and nursing.
Michelle has diverse research interests, all centred on supporting people with complex health issues and disabilities to thrive in their homes and communities.
Michelle’s interests in helping people to participate in the community have included research projects to support nurses to care for people with intellectual disability and autism; supporting autistic learner drivers; and using inclusive research approaches. Michelle’s PhD research used focused ethnography and inclusive research methodologies to explore the community mobility experiences of autistic youth, and the experiences of mothers helping develop these skills.
Michelle is interested in further exploring support for parents of autistic youth; and the impacts of early bullying for community participation in adulthood, using inclusive research approaches. Michelle is currently working on research to help people with complex health care issues with pressure injury prevention and intervention, to support home and community participation.
Michelle’s mission is to empower people living with complex health problems and disabilities to survive, adapt and thrive in their homes and communities, and to champion clinician’s skills to support them.
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, Western Sydney University
- Bachelor of Applied Science Honours, University of Sydney
Keywords
- autism
- inclusive research
- occupational therapy
- participation
- pressure injury
- primary care
Fields of Research
| Code | Description | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 420305 | Health and community services | 100 |
Professional Experience
UON Appointment
| Title | Organisation / Department |
|---|---|
| Clinical Teaching Research Academic | University of Newcastle University Newcastle Department of Rural Health Australia |
| Research Project Officer | University of Newcastle University Newcastle Department of Rural Health Australia |
Publications
For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.
Conference (3 outputs)
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 |
Quilliam C, Wakely L, Spong J, Ellis N, French L, Fallon T, Stubbs C, McNeil R, Kersten M, Bagley K, Devitt A, McKinstry C, 'The National Disability Insurance Scheme Review: The potential impact of metrocentric disability policy on rural implementation' (2025)
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| 2025 |
Kersten M, Rose A, Coxon K, 'Supporting psychosocial well-being and occupation engagement in people with pressure injury' (2025)
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| 2025 |
Kersten M, Rose A, Coxon K, 'Perspectives of clinicians providing care to NDIS participants with pressure injuries' (2025)
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Journal article (14 outputs)
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 |
Kersten M, Coxon K, 'Experiences of Community-Living Adults With Pressure Injuries: A Qualitative Systematic Review With Thematic Synthesis', American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 79 (2025) [C1]
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| 2025 |
Cashin A, Kersten M, Howie V, Pracilio A, Morphet J, Griffin K, Trollor JN, Wilson NJ, 'The Experience of Facilitating Inclusive Research Advisory Groups with Parents and People with Intellectual Disability and/or Autism Spectrum Disorder', Advances in Nursing Science, 48, 21-40 (2025) [C1]
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| 2025 |
Quilliam C, Wakely L, French L, Ellis N, McNeil R, Fallon T, Kersten M, Bagley K, Spong J, Doney R, Stubbs C, Devitt A, McKinstry C, 'Placing Rural in the National Disability Insurance Scheme Review', Australian Journal of Social Issues (2025) [C1]
The National Disability Insurance Scheme is considered Australia's landmark disability support policy reform. The Scheme's implementation has revealed several... [more] The National Disability Insurance Scheme is considered Australia's landmark disability support policy reform. The Scheme's implementation has revealed several benefits but also critical shortcomings. The Scheme's benefits have not been equitably distributed with people living in regional, rural and remote areas receiving less. The Australian Government's Independent Review into the National Disability Insurance Scheme in 2023 provided recommendations for improvements to ensure equitable benefits for all Australians. We use a distributed rural proofing lens to explore how processes, recommendations and actions described in the Independent Review into the National Disability Insurance Scheme considered regional, rural and remote contexts. The Review offered ideas for improving services for regional, rural and remote people with disability; however, it failed to adequately consider these contexts. The Independent Review into the National Disability Insurance Scheme missed a key opportunity to rural proof Australian disability support policy. Future disability policymaking requires active engagement of regional, rural and remote people with disability and use of relevant service provision concepts to ensure regional, rural and remote people with disability equitably benefit from the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
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| 2023 |
Pracilio A, Wilson NJ, Kersten M, Trollor JN, Cashin A, 'A discourse analysis of the representation of nursing in the National Disability Insurance Scheme pricing guide and eligibility criteria', COLLEGIAN, 30 127-133 (2023) [C1]
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| 2023 |
Wilson NJ, Pracilio A, Morphet J, Kersten M, Buckley T, Trollor JN, Cashin A, 'A scoping review of registered nurses' delegating care and support to unlicenced care and support workers', JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, 32, 6000-6011 (2023) [C1]
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| 2023 |
Kersten M, Wilson NJ, Pracilio A, Howie V, Trollor J, Buckley T, Morphet J, Bryce J, Griffin K, Cashin A, 'A scoping review to inform an auditing framework evaluating healthcare environments for inclusion of people with intellectual disability and/or autism', JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES [C1]
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| 2022 |
Cashin A, Pracilio A, Buckley T, Kersten M, Trollor J, Morphet J, Howie V, Griffin K, Wilson NJ, 'A survey of Registered Nurses' educational experiences and self-perceived capability to care for people with intellectual disability and/or autism spectrum disorder', JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL & DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY, 47, 227-239 (2022) [C1]
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| 2022 |
Wilson NJ, Pracilio A, Kersten M, Morphet J, Buckely T, Trollor JN, Griffin K, Bryce J, Cashin A, 'Registered nurses' awareness and implementation of reasonable adjustments for people with intellectual disability and/or autism', JOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, 78, 2426-2435 (2022) [C1]
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| 2022 |
Cashin A, Pracilio A, Buckley T, Morphet J, Kersten M, Trollor JN, Griffin K, Bryce J, Wilson NJ, 'A cross-practice context exploration of nursing preparedness and comfort to care for people with intellectual disability and autism', JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, 31, 2971-2980 (2022) [C1]
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| 2021 |
Wilson NJ, Stevens A, Srasuebkul P, Kersten M, Lin Z, Trollor JN, Arnold SRC, 'Exploring the relationship between community mobility and quality of life, employment and completing further education for autistic adults', JOURNAL OF TRANSPORT & HEALTH, 22 (2021) [C1]
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| 2021 |
Kersten ML, Coxon K, Lee H, Wilson NJ, 'Developing community mobility and driving with youth on the autism spectrum: A psychosocial perspective.', Scand J Occup Ther, 28 91-96 (2021) [C1]
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| 2020 |
Kersten M, Coxon K, Lee H, Wilson NJ, '"In Their Own Time": Parents Gently Push Their Autistic Youth Towards Independent Community Mobility and Participation', JOURNAL OF AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS, 50, 2806-2818 (2020) [C1]
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| 2020 |
Kersten M, Coxon K, Lee H, Wilson NJ, 'Independent Community Mobility and Driving Experiences of Adults on the Autism Spectrum: A Scoping Review', AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, 74 [C1]
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| 2020 |
Kersten ML, Coxon K, Lee H, Wilson NJ, 'Traversing the community is uncertain, socially complex and exhausting: Autistic youth describe experiences of travelling to participate in their communities', JOURNAL OF TRANSPORT & HEALTH, 18 (2020) [C1]
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Grants and Funding
Summary
| Number of grants | 2 |
|---|---|
| Total funding | $17,795 |
Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.
20242 grants / $17,795
The experiences and perceptions perceptions of pressure injury (PI) devices and e-support technologies for individuals at risk of, or with PI in the community: Therapist perspectives$13,865
Funding body: HMRI Grant awarded via the Equity in Health and Wellbeing Group
| Funding body | HMRI Grant awarded via the Equity in Health and Wellbeing Group |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Dr Anna Rose, Dr Michelle Kersten and Dr Kristy Coxon |
| Scheme | HMRI Grant awarded via the Equity in Health and Wellbeing Group |
| Role | Investigator |
| Funding Start | 2024 |
| Funding Finish | 2024 |
| GNo | |
| Type Of Funding | C3300 – Aust Philanthropy |
| Category | 3300 |
| UON | N |
Exploring the experiences of clinicians working with rural NDIS participants living with pressure injury$3,930
Funding body: Department of Rural Health University of Newcastle Australia
| Funding body | Department of Rural Health University of Newcastle Australia |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Dr Anna Rose, Dr Kristy Coxon, Dr Michelle Kersten |
| Scheme | Internal research grant UONDRH |
| Role | Investigator |
| Funding Start | 2024 |
| Funding Finish | 2024 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Honours | A survey of clinicians using e-health and e-technologies to care for NDIS participants with pressure injury | Occupational Therapy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
| 2025 | Honours | Experiences of clinicians caring for NDIS participants with pressure injury | Occupational Therapy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
| 2022 | PhD | Insights Into Physical Activity Behaviours In Older Adults After Hospital Discharge. | PhD (Physiotherapy), College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle | Co-Supervisor |
Dr Michelle Kersten
Positions
Clinical Teaching & Research Academic
UONDRH
University Newcastle Department of Rural Health
College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing
Research Project Officer
UONDRH
University Newcastle Department of Rural Health
College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing
Contact Details
| michelle.kersten@newcastle.edu.au |
Connect with me
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