Amelia Di Tommaso

Amelia Di Tommaso

Senior Lecturer

School of Allied Health Science and Practice

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Amelia Di Tommaso is an occupational therapist, educator, and researcher who helps bring big ideas about health and wellbeing into everyday practice. Her work focuses on making sure that occupational therapy stays true to its core purpose: supporting people to do the things that matter most in their daily lives.

Amelia works closely with students, new graduates, and practicing therapists to bridge the gap between theory and real-world practice. She uses collaborative approaches, like co-design and coaching to help therapists feel confident applying occupation-centred thinking in all settings and workplaces, including hospitals, schools, and community services.

Amelia and an experienced research team have developed practical tools and frameworks that support therapists to stay focused on occupation, even when faced with busy environments or systems with a different focus than on everyday life. Her work is especially helpful for new graduates learning to navigate these challenges.

She is also an experienced supervisor and mentor, having supported many Honours, as well as HDR students to explore how occupational therapy can stay person- and occupation-centred in a changing world.   

  • Appointments
    Date Position Institution name
    2023 - ongoing Senior Lecturer University of Adelaide
    2016 - 2023 Lecturer Griffith University
    2013 - 2016 Teaching Fellow and PhD Candidate University of Canberra

  • Awards and Achievements
    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    2022 Teaching Award Health Group Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (individual) Griffith University Australia -
    2022 Teaching Award Griffith Health Group Learning & Teaching Citation (individual) Griffith University Australia -
    2020 Fellowship Fellow, Higher Education Academy Higher Education Academy United Kingdom -
    2019 Research Award Occupational Therapy Australia Early Career Researcher Award Occupational Therapy Australia -
    2017 Teaching Award Award for Excellence in Teaching (Group Learning & Teaching Citation) Griffith University Australia -

  • Education
    Date Institution name Country Title
    2020 Higher Education Academy United Kingdom Fellow
    2018 University of Canberra Australia Doctor of Philosophy
    2018 Griffith University Australia Graduate Certificate of Higher Education
    Charles Sturt University Australia Bachelor of Health Science (Occupational Therapy) (Hons)

  • Journals
    Year Citation
    2025 Hodson, T., Gustafsson, L., Bissett, M., Hogan, C., Shirota, C., & Di Tommaso, A. (2025). Understanding the experiences and needs of assistive technology users in Queensland. Disability and Rehabilitation Assistive Technology, 20(4), 823-832.
    DOI Scopus3 WoS3 Europe PMC2
    2025 Gustafsson, L., Shirota, C., Di Tommaso, A., Hodson, T., Hogan, C., & Bissett, M. (2025). Perspectives and needs of assistive technology advisors and suppliers in Queensland, Australia.. Disability and rehabilitation. Assistive technology, 20(5), 1-10.
    DOI Scopus1 WoS1 Europe PMC1
    2025 George, E., Moorthy, S., Tommaso, A. D., Rankin, E., Oxlad, M., Murthy, G. V., . . . D’Souza, B. (2025). Developing a modified and contextualised Occupational Justice Health Questionnaire (OJHQ) for use with marginalised populations: A Delphi study. Journal of Occupational Science, 32(3), 1-22.
    DOI Scopus1 WoS1
    2025 Mc Kittrick, A., Gustafsson, L., Hodson, T., & Di Tommaso, A. (2025). Co-design of an outcome measure for hand burn injuries. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 88(2), 116-128.
    DOI
    2024 Gilfillan, J., Irvine-Brown, L., Di Tommaso, A., Malfitano, A. P. S., & Farias, L. (2024). “(Not) knowing what you know”: Exploring educators’ perceptions of critical thinking in occupational therapy. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 31(1), 14 pages.
    DOI
    2023 Hogan, C., Gustafsson, L., Di Tommaso, A., Hodson, T., Bissett, M., & Shirota, C. (2023). Establishing the normative and comparative needs of assistive technology provision in Queensland from the agency and funding scheme perspective. BRAIN IMPAIRMENT, 24(2), 204-218.
    DOI Scopus8 WoS7
    2023 Mc Kittrick, A., Gustafsson, L., Hodson, T., & Di Tommaso, A. (2023). Clinical utility and validity testing of a co-designed outcome measure for hand burn injuries. Burns, 50(3), 666-673.
    DOI Scopus1 Europe PMC1
    2023 Phillips, K., Di Tommaso, A., Molineux, M., & Nicholson, E. (2023). Occupation-centred practice and supervision: Exploring senior occupational therapists' perspectives. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 70(5), 548-558.
    DOI Scopus3 WoS3 Europe PMC2
    2023 Seville, R., Hodson, T., & Di Tommaso, A. (2023). Environmental sustainability: An exploratory study of the perceived knowledge, attitudes, and skills of occupational therapists practicing in Australia. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 70(5), 535-547.
    DOI Scopus1 WoS2 Europe PMC2
    2023 Spalding, K., Gustafsson, L., & Di Tommaso, A. (2023). Evaluation of an inpatient occupation-based group program using a process evaluation framework. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 70(1), 32-42.
    DOI Scopus4 WoS4 Europe PMC4
    2023 Spalding, K., Di Tommaso, A., & Gustafsson, L. (2023). Uncovering the experiences of engaging in an inpatient occupation-based group program: The LifeSkills group. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 30(2), 251-260.
    DOI Scopus6 WoS7 Europe PMC5
    2023 Mc Kittrick, A., Gustafsson, L., Hodson, T., & Di Tommaso, A. (2023). Exploration of individuals perspectives of recovery following severe hand burn injuries. Burns, 49(2), 467-475.
    DOI Scopus12 WoS11 Europe PMC7
    2022 Ford, E., Di Tommaso, A., Molineux, M., & Gustafsson, L. (2022). Identifying the characteristics of occupation-centred practice: A Delphi study. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 69(1), 25-37.
    DOI Scopus12 WoS9 Europe PMC7
    2022 Ford, E., Di Tommaso, A., Gustafsson, L., & Molineux, M. (2022). Describing the occupational nature of practice: A scoping review. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 29(5), 353-362.
    DOI Scopus8 WoS7 Europe PMC4
    2022 Spalding, K., Gustafsson, L., & Di Tommaso, A. (2022). Exploring Patient Outcomes after Participation in an Inpatient Occupation-Based Group: A Longitudinal Observational Cohort Study. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 76(5), 7605205140.
    DOI Scopus4 Europe PMC3
    2022 Hoffmann, M., Gustafsson, L., & Di Tommaso, A. (2022). Exploring stroke survivors’ experiences and understandings of occupational therapy. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 29(2), 165-174.
    DOI Scopus4 WoS4 Europe PMC2
    2022 Spalding, K., Gustafsson, L., & Di Tommaso, A. (2022). Occupation-based group programs in the inpatient hospital rehabilitation setting: a scoping review. Disability and Rehabilitation, 44(10), 2138-2148.
    DOI Scopus11 WoS11 Europe PMC9
    2021 Murray, A., Di Tommaso, A., Molineux, M., Young, A., & Power, P. (2021). Contemporary occupational therapy philosophy and practice in hospital settings. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 28(3), 213-224.
    DOI Scopus23 WoS22 Europe PMC10
    2021 Irvine-Brown, L., Ware, V. A., Malfitano, A. P. S., & Di Tommaso, A. (2021). Re-engaging in our role with communities: The coupling of occupational therapy and community development. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 68(4), 308-316.
    DOI Scopus9 WoS8 Europe PMC5
    2020 Pereira, R. B., Whiteford, G., Hyett, N., Weekes, G., Di Tommaso, A., & Naismith, J. (2020). Capabilities, Opportunities, Resources and Environments (CORE): Using the CORE approach for inclusive, occupation-centred practice. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 67(2), 162-171.
    DOI Scopus21 WoS15 Europe PMC6
    2020 Irvine-Brown, L., Di Tommaso, A., Malfitano, A. P. S., & Molineux, M. (2020). Experiences of occupational therapy education: Contexts, communities and social occupational therapy. Brazilian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 28(1), 330-342.
    DOI Scopus8 WoS8
    2019 Murray, A., Di Tommaso, A., Molineux, M., Young, A., & Power, P. (2019). Occupational therapists’ perceptions of service transformation towards contemporary philosophy and practice in an acute specialist paediatric hospital. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 82(12), 759-769.
    DOI Scopus4 WoS3
    2019 Di Tommaso, A., Wicks, A., Scarvell, J., & Isbel, S. (2019). Experiences of occupation-based practice: An Australian phenomenological study of recently graduated occupational therapists. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 82(7), 412-421.
    DOI Scopus25 WoS23
    2019 Di Tommaso, A., Wicks, A., Scarvell, J., & Isbel, S. (2019). Uncovering educator perspectives of occupation-centred education in Australia: A qualitative study. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 66(2), 174-182.
    DOI Scopus11 WoS9 Europe PMC3
    2018 Burley, S., Di Tommaso, A., Cox, R., & Molineux, M. (2018). An occupational perspective in hand therapy: A scoping review. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 81(6), 299-318.
    DOI Scopus19 WoS18
    2018 Burley, S., Cox, R., Di Tommaso, A., & Molineux, M. (2018). Primary Contact Occupational Therapy Hand Clinics: The pull of an occupational perspective. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 65(6), 533-543.
    DOI Scopus16 WoS16 Europe PMC12
    2016 Di Tommaso, A., Isbel, S., Scarvell, J., & Wicks, A. (2016). Occupational therapists' perceptions of occupation in practice: An exploratory study. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 63(3), 206-213.
    DOI Scopus27 WoS22 Europe PMC14
    2015 Pereira, R. B., Wicks, A., & Tommaso, A. D. (2015). Solutions for strengthening the occupational therapy academic workforce. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 62(1), 72.
    DOI Scopus2 WoS2 Europe PMC2
    2014 Di Tommaso, A., Wicks, A., & Isbel, S. (2014). Occupation-Focused practice. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 77(4), 188.
    DOI

  • Book Chapters
    Year Citation
    2020 Di Tommaso, A. (2020). Not everything is rosy and not everyone wants to fix their garden: An Australian example of integrating the dark side of occupation into curriculum for final year students. In Illuminating the Dark Side of Occupation: International Perspectives from Occupational Therapy and Occupational Science (pp. 163-172). Routledge.
    DOI

  • Conference Papers
    Year Citation
    2024 Moorthy, S. D., Di Tommaso, A., & George, E. (2024). Contextualising the Occupational Justice Health Questionnaire for use in India among populations of people who are marginalised and experience exploitation. In Unpublished. Sapporo, Japan.

Judith Marsham Farrell Grant, Occupational Therapy Australia 

Assistive technology provision for the promotion of health and wellbeing: A needs analysis and solution building approach. National Injury Insurance Agency Queensland (NIISQ)

University of Canberra, Faculty of Health Seed Grant

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2025 Co-Supervisor Development of teletherapeutic assessment and management of protocols for children with autism spectrum disorder Master of Philosophy (Medical Science) Master Full Time Mr Muhammad Azzam Khan
    2025 Co-Supervisor Understanding the themes and factors contributing to retention of Early Career Australian Allied Health Professionals. Master of Philosophy (Public Health) Master Part Time Kellie Matthews

  • Committee Memberships
    Date Role Committee Institution Country
    2022 - 2023 Member Occupational Therapy Australia's 30th National Conference and Exhibition Occupational Therapy Australia, Scientific Program Committee Australia
    2020 - 2021 Member Occupational Therapy Australia's 29th National Conference and Exhibition Occupational Therapy Australia, Scientific Program Committee Australia
  • Position: Senior Lecturer
  • Phone: 83132689
  • Email: amelia.ditommaso@adelaide.edu.au
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Engineering and Maths. Sciences, floor Fourth Floor
  • Room: 408C
  • Org Unit: Occupational Therapy
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