School of Psychology

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Profile

I completed undergraduate training in Psychology and Welfare studies at CSU-Mitchell in 1990 and worked in the welfare area in Developmental Disability Services and with support programmes for homeless youth and adults. I completed my fourth year in psychology again at CSU-Mitchell in 1996 and undertook an internship with Southern Area Brain Injury Service in Goulburn, NSW. While in this position, I undertook clinical research evaluating an integrated outdoor experiential education and group work programme for adults with acquired brain injury.

I completed a PhD (Clin Psych) at the University of Tasmania in association with the Neurotrauma Register of Tasmania. This research group has conducted a large scale prospective outcome study on adults suffering traumatic head injury. My thesis invesitgated subjective quality of life following traumatic brain injury and my research in this area is ongoing. In additon to my experience working in a neuro-rehabilitation context, I also have a background and a strong interest in working in general clinical practice.

Teaching

• Neuropsychology
• Psychopathology
• Psychological interventions

Research

• Rehabilitation and therapy programme evaluation
• Outcomes following traumatic brain injury
• Applied cognitive functioning
• Clinical practice issues

Publications

• Thomas, M. & Shanahan (to be submitted 2009) A review of the development of the Potential Unlimited Programme: A psychosocial rehabilitation programme for people with acquired brain injury. Brain Injury.
• Thomas, M., Skilbeck, C., Slatyer, M. (to be submitted 2009) Subjective quality of life in the first year following traumatic brain injury. Brain Injury.
• Thomas, M. Skilbeck, C., Slatyer, M. (Submitted 2009) Pre-injury estimates of subjective quality of life following traumatic brain injury. Brain Injury.
• Thomas, M. (2004) The Potential Unlimited Program: An outdoor experiential education and group work approach that facilitates adjustment to brain injury. Brain Injury. 18, 12, 1271-1286.

Recent Conference Papers

• Thomas, M. Skilbeck, C., Slatyer, M. (2008, Nov) Subjective quality of life following traumatic brain injury: Towards improving service provision. Paper presented at the Annual conference of the College of Clinical Neuropsychologists, Glenelg.
• Thomas, M., Croft, T., Vickers, J., Robinson, A, Tolman, J. (2008, Sep) Development of a clinical research database for geriatric inpatient wards in Southern Tasmania. A poster presented at the National Dementia Research Forum, Sydney.
• Thomas, M. Skilbeck, C., Slatyer, M. (2008, Apr) Subjective quality of life following traumatic brain injury. Paper presented at the Annual Australian Health Outcomes Conference, Canberra.
• Thomas, M., Skilbeck, C. & Slatyer, M. (2007, May) Correlates of subjective quality of life following traumatic brain injury. Poster presented at the 30 th Annual conference of the Australian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment (ASSBI), Rydges Southbank, Brisbane.
• Thomas, M., Skilbeck, C. & Slatyer, M. (2006, Nov) Correlates of subjective quality of life following traumatic brain injury. Poster presented at the Annual College of Clinical Neuropsychologists Annual Meeting, Manly, Sydney.
• Thomas, M., Skilbeck, C., Slatyer, M., Marsden, K., Bell, A., & Meyer, A. (2006, Nov) Subjective Quality of Life in the First Year Following Traumatic Brain Injury. Poster presented at the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Annual Meeting, Waikiki, Hawaii.
• Thomas, M., Skilbeck, C., Slatyer, M. (2006, Apr) Subjective quality of life in the first year following traumatic brain injury. Paper presented at the 29 th Annual conference of the Australian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment (ASSBI), Rydges Jamison, Sydney.
• Thomas, M. Skilbeck, C., Slatyer, M. (2005, Nov) Pre-injury estimates of subjective quality of life following TBI. Paper presented at the APS College of Clinical Neuropsychologists Annual Meeting, Melbourne.
• Thomas, M. & Shanahan, L. (2005, Aug) Potential Unlimited ??? Potential Untapped. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Victorian Brain Injury Recovery Association (VBIRA), Melbourne.
• Thomas, M., Skilbeck, C. & Slatyer, M. (2005, Jul) Subjective quality of life in the first year following TBI. Poster presented at the INS Annual Meeting, Dublin.
• Thomas, M. & Slatyer, M. (2005, May) The Neurotrauma Register of Tasmania. Paper presented to the meeting of brain injury researchers. Transport Accident Commission of Victoria, Melbourne.
• Thomas, M. (2005, May) Potential Unlimited: An Innovative Approach To Facilitating Adjustment To Brain Injury. Paper presented at the 6 th World Congress on Brain Injury, Melbourne.

Memberships

• Registered psychologist in NSW
• Australian Psychological Society (APS)
• APS College of Clinical Psychologists (CCLIN)
• International Neuropsychological Society (INS)
• Australian Society for the Study of Brain Injury (ASSBI)