Speakers

Dr Anne G. Fisher

Dr Anne G. Fisher

ScD, OT, FAOTA
Professor Emerita, Division of Occupational Therapy, Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Umeå University, Sweden
Affiliate Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Health and Human Sciences, Colorado State University

Dr. Fisher is an internationally recognised expert in occupational therapy theory, functional assessment, and instrument development. The focus of her research has been on the development of occupation-centered tools that support the implementation of occupation-based and/or occupation-focused occupational therapy services. Among them are the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS), the School Version of the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (School AMPS) and the Evaluation of Social Interaction. She has also developed the Occupational Therapy Intervention Process Model (OTIPM), a professional reasoning model that enables occupational therapists to implement occupation-based, occupation-focused, and client-centered services to their clients.

Dr. Fisher has published more than 100 articles in refereed professional journals and more than 40 books or book chapters. She is a member of the Academy of Research of the American Occupational Therapy Foundation. She was awarded the A. Jean Ayres Award in 1991 in recognition of her efforts refining and synthesising the theories of sensory integration and the Model of Human Occupation, for excellence in teaching, and for innovative research in measurement and functional assessment. She was the 1997 recipient of the Eleanor Clarke Slagle Lectureship for distinguished contributions to theory and functional assessment. In November 2000, Dr. Fisher was awarded an honorary doctorate (hedersdoktor) from Umeå University, Sweden, and is the first occupational therapist ever to have been so honored by that institution. In 2001, she was named University Distinguished Professor at Colorado State University, an honor bestowed on only 10 faculty who have made significant national and international contributions to their profession.

As a researcher, she has received funding from the National Institutes of Aging, Swedish Research Council, and American Occupational Therapy Foundation, among others. She has served on several editorial boards, including Journal of Applied Measurement, Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, the Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, and the American Journal of Occupational Therapy.


Dr Natasha Ann Layton

Dr Natasha Ann Layton

PhD, M Health Sc (OT), B App Sc (OT), Cert 4 Assessment & Workplace Training
National Professional Practice and Standards Manager: Occupational Therapy Australia
Consultant: National Disability Insurance Scheme
Sessional Lecturer: Deakin University

Natasha is an Australian occupational therapist practicing, researching and teaching in the areas of assistive technology, disability, and outcomes.

Working towards equal outcomes has been a common thread in a 25 year occupational therapy career across health, rehabilitation and aged care, community and mental health, refugee support, and disability. She has a Bachelors degree in Occupational Therapy from La Trobe University, a Master of Occupational Therapy from the University of South Australia, and a PhD from Deakin University. Her PhD study concerned the costs and outcomes of assistive technology solutions. Specialising in mixed methods and inclusive research, Natasha focuses on the nexus between research, policy and practice. Her publications and other dissemination activities are therefore tailored to a range of stakeholder audiences, and many have been co-authored with consumers.

Natasha is regularly invited to speak at national and international events. She has authored book chapters on occupation based social inclusion, and has written the Assistive Technology chapter for the next ‘Occupational Therapy for Physical Dysfunction’ text.

Natasha is also active in the occupational therapy profession and the allied health sector in Australia. She was a Board member of Occupational Therapy Australia for several terms, and has the role of National Practice and Standards Manager with Occupational Therapy Australia. Natasha is a clinical advisor to Polio Australia and Motivation Australia and is an invited member of the International Society of Wheelchair Professionals.

In the assistive technology arena, Natasha is currently on the Board of the Australian Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Association, and was co-convenor of this year’s Australian Assistive Technology Conference. She represents Australia on the International Standards Organisation Technical Committee for Assistive Products for Persons with Disability (ISO 9999).

Occupational Therapy Australia has awarded Natasha the 2013 Sylvia Docker Lectureship and the 2006 OT Australia National Award. Natasha has also won the 2011 Yungaburra Foundation Award for Leadership in Disability and the 2008 ARATA Industry Award.


Ms Kendra Tan

Ms Kendra Tan

Peer Support Specialist, EPIP/IMH

Kendra has a Bachelors of Science from Melbourne University and is currently undergoing a 2 year masters in counseling course in Singapore. She is one of the few peer support specialists who are certified. Kendra has been actively involved in supporting her peers with mental health issues in the Early Psychosis Intervention Program (EPIP) for the past 2 years. She instills hope with her peers through her lived experience. She also closely works with the allied health team in EPIP to run groups in the ward. She hopes to go through the ups and downs with her peers, see the slightest progress in them ☺ and let them know that recovery is possible. She believes in the quote: The rainbow will be out after the storm.


Mr Matthew Tan

Mr Matthew Tan

Diploma in Social Sciences (Social Work), Nanyang Polytechnic

Matthew Job Tan Ser Yung graduated from Nanyang Polytechnic in 2016, with a Diploma in Social Sciences (Social Work). He is a survivor of a near-fatal traumatic brain injury in 2010. Being a brain injury survivor and as a Social Sciences diploma graduate, Matthew recognises the need to educate and create public awareness of brain injury survivors. Matthew strives to be the voice of and advocate for brain injury survivors through sharing of his personal experiences by journaling or writing a book.


Ms Shirlene Toh

Ms Shirlene Toh

Principal Occupational Therapist, Tan Tock Seng Hospital Rehabilitation Centre

Ms Shirlene Toh, a Principal Occupational Therapist working in Tan Tock Seng Hospital Rehabilitation Centre, has over 15 years of experience working with Spinal Cord Injury patients. She has been involved in the clinical teaching and management of patients with spinal cord injury. Her other area of expertise is in sexual health for individual with disability.


Ms Wang Dan

Ms Wang Dan

Sub-specialty Nurse Clinician, Tan Tock Seng Hospital Rehabilitation Centre

Ms Wang Dan has 12 years of working experience in a multidisciplinary spinal rehabilitation team in Tan Tock Seng Hospital rehabilitation centre. Since 2009, she has been undertaking the role as rehabilitation sub-specialty nurse clinician, overseeing patients and caregivers training in bladder and bowel management since 2009.


Mr Hong Yun

Mr Hong Yun

Principal Occupational Therapist, Tan Tock Seng Hospital Rehabilitation Centre

Mr Hong Yun, is a Principal Occupational Therapist working in Tan Tock Seng Hospital Rehabilitation Centre since 2007. He has been working with Spinal Cord injury patients and has over 7 years experience. During these years, he has experience working with individual with different level of injury. He has a keen interest in exploring the use of adaptive devices for tetraplegia.