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Trina joined the occupational therapy team at Charles Sturt University in 2013 after a decade of clinical practice. She has worked in paediatric roles in both community settings and at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne and has provided services to children with diverse occupational performance problems arising from both acquired and congenital impairments. Her various roles encompassed areas such as orthopaedics, neuromuscular conditions, rheumatology, prosthetic training with children with limb deficiency and implementing time-limited, goal-directed intervention within the Victorian Paediatric Rehabilitation Service.

The opportunity to work for Yooralla's ComTEC service enabled Trina to pursue her passion for complex digital assistive technology and the potential it has to support the participation of people with a disability. She has developed expertise in the selection and support of complex computer access, environmental control and communication technology options. Trina's role at Yooralla also included developing and delivering workshops for Assistive Technology Learning - the education arm of the Independent Living Centre and ComTEC. She has presented at several national and international conferences and completed a Masters of Advanced Occupational Therapy.

Positions and Roles

• Lecturer in Occupational Therapy, Charles Sturt University
  

Teaching

Subjects Delivered

• OCC204 - Enabling strategies: Environmental adaptation and assistive technologies
• OCC300 – Enabling strategies: Working with individuals (Paediatrics module)
  

Research and Publications

Research interests include the selection and support of digital assistive technology, particularly high tech communication devices and complex computer access; clinical reasoning and knowledge translation.Trina is also interested in the use of social media for student engagement, professional learning and networking.

List of Publications

• Cook, B., Pennman, M., Hamilton, A., Coolhaas, L., Phuah, T. & Sullivan, A. (2013, July). Social Media in the Comtemporary CPD Climate. Poster presented at the OT Australia 25th National Conference, Adelaide, SA.
• Phuah, T. & Harraway, D. (2013, May). Social media and AAC: What are the options, how do they work? Paper presented at the AGOSCI National Conference, Sydney, NSW.
• Phuah, T. (2012, August). Bridging the GApp: A Rating Scale For Voice Output App Selection. Paper presented at the Australian Rehabilitation Assistive Technology Association (ARATA) National Conference, Sydney, NSW.
• Phuah, T. (2012, May). Avoiding the technolusion: What does it really take for success with technology? Paper presented at the Spectronics Inclusive Technologies Conference, Gold Coast, QLD.
• Phuah, T. & Harraway, D. (2011, May). Mounting systems: Taking your AAC to the streets and beyond. Paper presented at the AGOSCI National Conference, Adelaide, SA.
• Phuah, T. (2010, December). Complex Integrated Systems: A Model for Service Delivery and Support. Invited keynote presentation at the Information Technology Resource Centre forum, Lives without borders: Information and Communication Technology for People with Disabilities; Hong Kong.
• Phuah, T. (2010, August). Complex Integrated Systems: A Model for Service Delivery and Support. Paper presented at the ARATA National Conference, Hobart, TAS.
• Phuah, T. & Harraway, D. (2010, May). Why Mount? Mounting systems for positioning and access. Paper presented at Spectronics Inclusive Learning Technologies Conference, Surfer’s Paradise, QLD.
• Phuah, T. (2003, April). Cancellation of older drivers’ licences: The experience of occupational therapy driver assessors. Paper presented at the OT Australia 22nd National Conference, Melbourne, VIC.
  

Community Engagement

Memberships and Affiliations

• National Secretary of the Australian Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Association (ARATA)
• Co-moderator of #anzOTalk – A regular chat for occupational therapists and other allied health professionals on Twitter
• Australian Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Association (ARATA): arata.org.au
  #anzOTalk blog – anzotalk.wordpress.com