Dr Julia Harries

Research Associate

School of Psychology

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences


I work as a Research Associate in the Wellbeing Research Unit (WRU) within the School of Psychology. The WRU brings together the interests and expertise of its members to the investigation of issues concerning the wellbeing and quality of life of people across the lifespan. The unit comprises researchers with interests in disability, rehabilitation, ageing, healthy development across the lifespan, and organisational psychology. The primary objectives of the WRU include:

  • Understanding individual psychological and organisational processes that can contribute to, and sustain the wellbeing of individuals across the lifespan; and
  • The implementation and evaluation of interventions designed to improve quality of life and wellbeing for people across the lifespan.
  • Awards and Achievements

    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    2009 Award Frank Dalziel Prize (Best PhD Thesis in Psychology, 2009). School of Psychology, University of Adelaide Australia -
  • Journals

    Year Citation
    2023 Summers, D., Harries, J., Kirby, N., & Sarris, A. (2023). The validity and measurement equivalence of a brief safety climate questionnaire across casual and permanent workers. Safety Science, 159, 14 pages.
    DOI Scopus3
    2022 Summers, D., Sarris, A., Harries, J., & Kirby, N. (2022). The development of a brief and practical work safety climate measure. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, 87, 11 pages.
    DOI Scopus3
    2020 Harries, J., Kirby, N., & Ford, J. (2020). A follow-up evaluation of the health, wellbeing, and safety outcomes of implemented psychosocial safety interventions for disability support workers. Australian Psychologist, 55(5), 519-533.
    DOI Scopus3 WoS2
    2020 Vandergoot, S., Sarris, A., Kirby, N., & Harries, J. A. (2020). Individual and organisational factors that influence transfer generalisation and maintenance of managerial-leadership programs. Performance Improvement Quarterly, 33(2), 207-246.
    DOI Scopus4 WoS3
    2015 Harries, J., Ng, K., Wilson, L., Kirby, N., & Ford, J. (2015). Evaluation of the Work Safety and Psychosocial Wellbeing of Disability Support Workers. Australasian Journal of Organisational Psychology, 8, 1-13.
    DOI Scopus6
    2009 Harries, J., Guscia, R., Nettelbeck, T., & Kirby, N. (2009). Impact of additional disabilities on adaptive behavior and support profiles for people with intellectual disabilities. American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 114(4), 237-253.
    DOI Scopus11 WoS9 Europe PMC3
    2006 Guscia, R., Ekberg, S., Harries, J., & Kirby, N. (2006). Measurement of environmental constructs in disability assessment instruments. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 3(3), 173-180.
    DOI
    2006 Guscia, R., Harries, J., Kirby, N., & Nettelbeck, T. (2006). Rater bias and the measurement of support needs. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 31(3), 156-160.
    DOI Scopus6 WoS9 Europe PMC2
    2006 Guscia, R., Harries, J., Kirby, N., Nettelbeck, T., & Taplin, J. (2006). Construct and criterion validities of the Service Need Assessment Profile (SNAP): A measure of support for people with disabilities. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 31(3), 148-155.
    DOI Scopus18 WoS19 Europe PMC9
    2005 Harries, J., Guscia, R., Kirby, N., Nettelbeck, T., & Taplin, J. (2005). Support needs and adaptive behaviors. American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 110(5), 393-404.
    DOI Scopus30 Europe PMC8
    2005 Guscia, R., Harries, J., Kirby, N., Nettelbeck, T., & Taplin, J. (2005). Reliability of the Service Need Assessment Profile (SNAP): A measure of support for people with disabilities. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 30(1), 24-30.
    DOI Scopus7
    2005 Harries, J., Guscia, R., Kirby, N., Nettelbeck, T., & Taplin, J. (2005). Erratum: Support needs and adaptive behaviors (American Journal on Mental Retardation 110, 5 (393-404)). American Journal on Mental Retardation, 110(6), 438.
    DOI
  • Conference Papers

    Year Citation
    2022 Robinson, C., Kirby, N., & Harries, J. (2022). Factors impacting the safety voice intentions of young workers. In APS 14th Industrial and Organisational Psychology Conference. Gold Coast, Australia.
    2022 Yan, W., Harries, J., & Kirby, N. (2022). The utility of personality assessment in personnel selection for aged care workers. In APS 14th Industrial and Organisational Psychology Conference.
    2022 Summers, D., Harries, J., & Kirby, N. (2022). Work safety is no accident: development of a brief safety climate measure. In APS 14th Industrial and Organisational Psychology Conference.
    2022 Kirby, N., Robinson, C., & Harries, J. (2022). Factors Impacting Safety Voice Intentions of Young Workers. In Safety 2022 14th World Conference on Injury Prevention & Safety Promotion. Adelaide, South Australia.
    2021 Kirby, N., Harries, J., & Ford, J. (2021). KEY FACTORS FOR SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION, MAINTENANCE, AND SUSTAINABILITY OF WORK SAFETY INTERVENTIONS. In INJURY PREVENTION Vol. 27 (pp. A66). BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP.
    DOI
    2021 Kirby, N., Harries, J., & Ford, J. (2021). REMEDIATING DISABILITY SUPPORT WORKERS' PSYCHOSOCIAL SAFETY USING A WORK SAFETY CLIMATE MEASURE. In INJURY PREVENTION Vol. 27 (pp. A9). BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP.
    DOI
    2019 Summers, D., Sarris, A., Kirby, N. H., & Harries, J. (2019). Development of a brief cross-industry measure for monitoring safety climate. In APS 13th Industrial and Organisational Psychology Conference.
    2019 Harries, J. A., Ford, J., & Kirby, N. (2019). Identifying key factors associated with successful implementation, maintenance, and sustainability of work safety interventions.. In APS 13th Industrial and Organisational Psychology Conference. Adelaide, Australia.
    2019 Harries, J. A., Ford, J., & Kirby, N. (2019). Evaluating health, wellbeing and safety impacts of implemented psychosocial safety interventions for Disability Support Workers. In APS 13th Industrial and Organisational Psychology Conference. Adelaide, Australia.
    2019 Reid-Dicks, I., Harries, J. A., & Kirby, N. (2019). Psychological testing and the work performance of Disability Support Workers. In APS 13th Industrial and Organisational Psychology Conference. Adelaide,Australia.
    2018 Harries, J., Ford, J., & Kirby, N. H. (2018). Translating into practice the recommendations of a safety climate theory based evaluation of services provided by Disability Support Workers. In Applied Psychology Readings. Selected papers from the Singapore Conference on Applied Psychology (SCAP 2017) (pp. 263-279). Singapore: Springer.
    DOI
    2018 Harries, J. A., Ford, J., & Kirby, N. (2018). Development of a model for identifying the key factors associated with the successful implementation, maintenance and sustainability of interventions designed to improve work safety in organisations. In Singapore Conference on Applied Psychology: Programme and Abstract Book. Singapore.
    2018 Kirby, N., & Harries, J. A. (2018). Evaluation of the Autism SA Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Group. In Autism SA Research Forum.
    2018 Heffernan, C., Harries, J. A., & Kirby, N. (2018). Theoretical components of workplace safety climate and their implications for practice. In M. -T. Leung, & L. -M. Tan (Eds.), Proceedings of the Singapore Conference on Applied Psychology (SCAP 2017), as published in Applied Psychology Readings: Selected papers from Singapore Conference on Applied Psychology (pp. 217-237). Singapore: Springer.
    DOI
    2017 Kirby, N., Harries, J., & Purmer, M. (2017). An evaluation of the implementation in school contexts of a video-based group social skill program implemented by school staff for students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). In Asia Pacific Autism Conference (APAC). Sydney, Australia.
    2016 Kirby, N., Harries, J., & Purmer, M. (2016). Evaluating the implementation in schools of a video-based social communication group program for students with Autism Spectrum Disorders. In the Australasian Society for Autism Research (ASfAR). Perth, Australia.
    2015 Purmer, M., Kirby, N., Guscia, R., & Harries, J. (2015). iMsocial - A researched based social skills program.. In Asia Pacific Autism Conference (APAC). Brisbane, Australia.
    2015 Ng, K. Y. Y., Harries, J., Wilson, L., Kirby, N., & Ford, J. (2015). Evaluation of the work safety and psychosocial wellbeing of Disability Support Workers.. In APS 11th Industrial and Organisational Psychology Conference. Melbourne, Australia.
    2015 Ng, K. Y. Y., Harries, J., Kirby, N., Wilson, L., & Ford, J. (2015). Methods to improve standardised quantitative measure information to interpret the impact of psychosocial risk factors on Disability Support Workers.. In APS 11th Industrial and Organisational Psychology Conference.
    2015 Harries, J., Wilson, L., Kirby, N., & Ford, J. (2015). Psychosocial wellbeing and work safety outcomes associated with workplace bullying for Disability Support Workers.. In APS 11th Industrial and Organisational Psychology Conference. Melbourne, Australia.
    2015 Webber, M., Kirby, N., Harries, J., Wilson, L., & Ford, J. (2015). Disability Support Workers: Exposure to work-related violence, impact and preventative interventions.. In APS 11th Industrial and Organisational Psychology Conference. Melbourne, Australia.
    2014 Ng, K. Y. Y., Harries, J., Wilson, L., Kirby, N., & Ford, J. (2014). Evaluation of the work safety and psychological health of Disability Support Workers (DSWs).. In International Congress for Occupational Health and Work Organisation and Psychosocial Factors [ICOH-WOPS]. Adelaide, Australia.
    2013 Kirby, N., Harries, J., & Purmer, M. (2013). The iModelingTM project, a video and group based intervention: Four years of exciting research results.. In Asia Pacific Autism Conference (APAC).
    2011 Harries, J., Guscia, R., Wilson, L., & Kirby, N. (2011). Multiple Disabilities and the Nature of Associated Support Needs as Assessed by the Disability – Support Training and Resource Tool (D-START).. In 46th Annual Australasian Society for the Study of Intellectual Disability (ASSID) Conference. Adelaide, Australia.
    2009 Miller, J., Harries, J., & Kirby, N. (2009). Evaluating Support Worker Ratings of Support Needs of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities.. In Australasian Society for the Study of Intellectual Disability (ASSID) Conference. Hobart, Australia.
    2009 Hampel, S., Harries, J., & Kirby, N. (2009). Predicting Learning Styles and Capabilities of People with an Intellectual Disability: The Need for Formalised Assessment.. In Australasian Society for the Study of Intellectual Disability (ASSID) Conference. Hobart, Australia.
    2009 Kirby, N., Kuester, N., Guscia, R., & Harries, J. (2009). Planning for the future: A survey to identify future needs and responsibilities for supporting aging individuals with intellectual disabilities in Australia. In JOURNAL OF POLICY AND PRACTICE IN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES Vol. 6 (pp. 123). JOHN WILEY & SONS INC.
    2008 Kirby, N., Harries, J., Guscia, R., & Nettelbeck, T. (2008). Impact of multiple disabilities on the assessment of support needs for people with intellectual disabilities.. In Australasian Society for the Study of Intellectual Disability (ASSID) Conference. Melbourne, Australia.
    2005 Kirby, N., Guscia, R., & Harries, J. (2005). Disability and the environment: facilitators, barriers and needs.. In 40th Annual Australian Society for the Study of Intellectual Disability. Auckland, New Zealand.
    2005 Thomson, S., Kirby, N., Harries, J., Guscia, R., & Nettelbeck, T. (2005). Validating the Supported Residential Facility (SRF) assessment measure.. In 15th Annual Mental Health Services (MHS) Conference. Adelaide, Australia.
    2005 Kirby, N., Guscia, R., Harries, J., & Ekberg, S. (2005). Measurement of environmental constructs in disability assessment.. In First Asian-Pacific International Australasian Society for the Study of Intellectual Disability. Taipei, Taiwan.
    2004 Kirby, N., Harries, J., & Guscia, R. (2004). Developing a support needs assessment system for use across the disability sector for service planning and resource allocation.. In Australian Council for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled Conference. Sydney, Australia.
    2004 Kirby, N., Guscia, R., & Harries, J. (2004). Support needs assessment: Measures and critical issues.. In 39th Annual Australian Society for the Study of Intellectual Disability Conference. Adelaide, Australia.
    2004 Kirby, N., & Harries, J. (2004). Support needs and adaptive behaviour.. In 39th Annual Australian Psychological Society Conference. Sydney, Australia.
    2004 Kirby, N., Guscia, R., Harries, J., Nettelbeck, T., & Taplin, J. (2004). Evaluating the Service Need Assessment Profile (SNAP).. In National Accommodation and Community Support Conference.. Melbourne, Australia.
  • Conference Items

    Year Citation
    2023 Summers, D., Harries, J., & Kirby, N. (2023). SAFETY CLIMATE SUBCULTURES TO FUTUREPROOF WORK SAFETY. Poster session presented at the meeting of 23rd World Congress on Safety and Health at Work. Sydney, Australia.
    2014 Ng, K. Y. Y., Harries, J., Wilson, L., Kirby, N., & Ford, J. (2014). Understanding and interpreting the impact of psychosocial risk factors on the work safety of Disability Support Workers (DSWs) in order to identify interventions through the use of qualitative sources. Poster session presented at the meeting of the International Congress for Occupational Health and Work Organisation and Psychosocial Factors [ICOH-WOPS]. Adelaide, Australia.
    2007 Kirby, N., Harries, J., & Guscia, R. (2007). Impact of multiple disabilities on the assessment of support needs for people with intellectual disabilities. Poster session presented at the meeting of the annual meeting of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD). Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
  • Report for External Bodies

    Year Citation
    2023 Kirby, N., & Harries, J. (2023). Best Practice Approaches to Support Housemate Compatibility in Supported Accommodation.
    2023 Kirby, N., & Harries, J. (2023). Best Practice Evidence for Community and Social Participation Programs for Adults with Disability.
    2023 Harries, J., & Kirby, N. (2023). Building Employer Confidence: Inclusive Recruitment and Employment Supports.
    2021 Kirby, N., Harries, J., Baltussen, S., Bansal, J., & Melios-Traver, T. (2021). Evaluation of Disability Support Services: Transitions and Quality of Life Outcomes.
    2020 Kirby, N., Harries, J. A., & Sarris, A. (2020). Autism Modules Series 4 Adults: Research scoping review of principles that create conducive online learning environments and experiences for autistic adults.
    2020 Kirby, N., & Harries, J. A. (2020). iMsocial at School: Pilot Trial Results for Senior School Students with Autism.
    2018 Kirby, N., & Harries, J. A. (2018). Evaluation of the Autism SA Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Group.
    2017 Kirby, N., Harries, J. A., Ford, J., & Sarris, A. (2017). Evaluating sustainability and outcomes of implemented recommendations to improve work safety of Disability Support Workers. WHS Innovative Practice Grant for SafeWork SA and Disability Services.
    2017 Reid-Dicks, I., Kirby, N., & Harries, J. A. (2017). Evaluating the effectiveness of psychological screening in improving the recruitment of Disability Support Workers.
    2016 Kirby, N. H., & Harries, J. (2016). iMsocial at School: Implementation Evaluation Report.
    2015 Kirby, N., Ford, J., Harries, J., & Wilson, L. (2015). Psychosocial-related aspects of work safety for Disability Support Workers: Translating recommendations into practice. WHS Innovative Practice Grant for SafeWork SA and Disability Services.. South Australia: University of Adelaide.
    2014 Kirby, N., Guscia, R., Wilson, L., & Harries, J. (2014). Northern aged care employee engagement project. Research commissioned by DCSI Northern Connections..
    2014 Harries, J., Guscia, R., & Kirby, N. (2014). Autism SA and Telstra Foundation iModeling Social Groups Project 2: Final Report 2012-2013.. South Australia: University of Adelaide.
    2014 Kirby, N., Ford, J., Harries, J., Wilson, L., Webber, M., & Guscia, R. (2014). Psychosocial-Related Aspects of Work Safety of Disability Support Workers: Commissioned Research Report for SafeWork SA.. South Australia: University of Adelaide.
    2012 Harries, J., Hampel, S., Guscia, R., Wilson, L., & Kirby, N. (2012). Evaluation Report of the Autism SA and Telstra Foundation iModeling Social Groups Project: Final Report 2009-2011. South Australia: University of Adelaide.
    2010 Kirby, N., Harries, J., Guscia, R., Wilson, L., & Kaippully Chandrasekharan, R. (2010). Disability Support Training and Resource Tool (D-START): Technical Properties Report.. South Australia: University of Adelaide.
  • Theses

    Year Citation
    2008 Harries, J. A. (2008). Support Needs Assessment for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities: An Investigation of the Nature of the Support Needs Construct and Disability Factors that Impact on Support Needs.. (PhD Thesis, University of Adelaide).
  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2018 - 2022 External Supervisor 24-7 Safety Climate: Developing a Brief 24-Item, Seven Dimension Measure of Work Safety Climate for Monitoring and Remediating Safety Concerns Doctor of Philosophy with Master of Psychology (Organisational and Human Factors) Doctorate Full Time Mr Denvar Steven Summers
  • Other Supervision Activities

    Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name
    2021 - ongoing Co-Supervisor An evaluation of retirement planning service delivery for workers in a disability organisation providing supported employment. University of Adelaide Master of Psychology Organisational and Human Factors) Master - Juanita Bansal
    2021 - ongoing Co-Supervisor Perceptions of a supported employment service from individuals with disability and their family members/caregivers. University of Adelaide Master of Psychology Organisational and Human Factors) Master - Thomas Melios-Traver
    2021 - ongoing Co-Supervisor An evaluation of supported accommodationservice delivery for workers in a disability organisation providing supported employment. University of Adelaide Master of Psychology Organisational and Human Factors) Master - Susanne Baltssen
    2020 - 2020 Co-Supervisor Factors Impacting Safety Voice Intentions in Young Workers University of Adelaide Master of Psychology (Organisational and Human Factors) Master - Cathryn Robinson
    2019 - 2019 Co-Supervisor Personality and person/organisation fit of aged care workers within an Italian-specific aged care environment. University of Adelaide Master of Psychology (Organisational and Human Factors) Master - Carlo Tropiano
    2017 - 2018 Co-Supervisor Development of a Safety Climate Measure that can be used as a monitoring tool in organisations University of Adelaide Master of Psychology (Organisational and Human Factors) Master - Claire Jarrett
    2016 - 2017 Co-Supervisor Personality assessment and the prediction of future job performance University of Adelaide Master of Psychology (Organisational and Human Factors) Master - Isla Reid-Dicks
    2016 - 2016 Co-Supervisor Measuring workplace safety climate in terms of its key components University of Adelaide Honours Degree of Bachelor of Psychological Science Honours - Cassandra Heffernan
    2015 - 2016 Co-Supervisor Evaluation of the Implementation of Safety Related Procedures for Disability Support Workers University of Adelaide Master of Psychology (Organisational and Human Factors) Master - Chanel Nesci
    2014 - 2015 Co-Supervisor Exploring the Utility of FFM-Based Personality Assessment in Personnel Selection for Aged Care Workers University of Adelaide Master of Psychology (Organisational and Human Factors) Master - Wen F. Yan
    2013 - 2013 Co-Supervisor Exploring the Generalisation of a Group-Based Social Skills Video Modeling Program for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Teacher’s Perspective University of Adelaide Master of Psychology (Organisational and Human Factors) Master - Benjamin L. Carnell
    2013 - 2013 Co-Supervisor Parental Perceptions of Sibling Relationships in Families Raising a Child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Needs and Wellbeing of the Siblings University of Adelaide Honours Degree of Bachelor of Psychology Honours - Li Leng Tan
    2013 - 2013 Co-Supervisor Factors Affecting Social Skill Maintenance Following a Group-Based Video Modelling Program for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) University of Adelaide Honours Degree of Bachelor of Psychology Honours - Sophie Ward
    2009 - 2009 Principal Supervisor Evaluating Caregivers’ Support Needs Ratings for Individuals with Intellectual Disability University of Adelaide Honours Degree of Bachelor of Psychology Honours - Joseph Miller
    2008 - 2008 Co-Supervisor Teaching social skills to children with autism: Using video modeling in a group setting University of Adelaide Master of Psychology (Organisational and Human Factors) Master - Sophie Hampel
    2007 - 2007 Co-Supervisor Exploring the Training Needs and Capabilities of People with an Intellectual Disability: The Need for Formalised Assessment. University of Adelaide Honours Degree of Bachelor of Psychology Honours - Sophie Hampel
  • Memberships

    Date Role Membership Country
    2018 - ongoing Member Autism SA Professional Practice Committee Australia
    2003 - ongoing Member Australian Society for Intellectual Disability (ASID) Australia
    2003 - ongoing Member American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD). -
  • Position: Research Associate
  • Phone: 83130479
  • Email: julia.harries@adelaide.edu.au
  • Fax: 83133770
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Hughes, floor 2
  • Org Unit: School of Psychology

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