Shoshannah Kiriam

Research Interests

Design practice and methods Homelessness and housing services Poverty, inclusivity and wellbeing

Dr Shoshannah Kiriam

Lecturer, Occupational Therapy

School of Allied Health and Human Performance

College of Health

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD (as Co-Supervisor) - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Dr Shoshannah Kiriam is an interdisciplinary academic and occupational therapist with over a decade of program and research experience in Australia, the Pacific, and South Asia. They hold a PhD in Anthropology and International Development (University of Adelaide) and a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours, UniSA). Their work bridges research, teaching, and community development, with a focus on health equity, co-design, and participatory practice.

Dr Kiriam’s research and practice is about working alongside communities to solve problems that impact everyday lives. They are passionate about co-design and participatory methods, where community members and people with lived experience shape the direction of projects and policies.

Their current and past work explores:

Youth mental health and wellbeing – developing creative, community-led supports in regional and rural areas.

Gender and health equity – examining how homelessness, poverty, caregiving, and social structures affect health and participation in meaningful occupation. 

Trauma-informed and inclusive practice – building systems and services that respond holistically to people’s needs.

Date Position Institution name
2023 - ongoing Lecturer in Occupational Therapy University of South Australia
2020 - 2022 Head of Urban Programs SAJIDA Foundation
2018 - 2018 Community Development Officer Human Rights Department, Ministry of Cultural and Internal Affairs
2016 - 2021 Wirringka Tutor and Project Coordinator University of South Australia

Date Institution name Country Title
2014 - 2011 University of South Australia Australia Bachelor of Health Sciences: Occupational Therapy (Hons)
2014 - 2018 University of Adelaide Australia Doctor of Philosophy

Year Citation
2026 Kernot, J., Kiriam, S., Seekamp, S., Little, K., Hunt, K., Lister, E., . . . Brinsley, J. (2026). Co-Designing Wellbeing Initiatives With Rural Adolescents: What Works, What Doesn't, and Why. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 37(4), e70221-1-e70221-14.
DOI Europe PMC1
2024 Kiriam, S., & Skuse, A. (2024). Honour, Survival and Protection An Ethnographic Exploration of Homeless Women’s Livelihood Priorities in Urban Dhaka. Anthropology in Action, 31(2), 13-23.
DOI
2024 Nandonik, A. J., Das Pooja, S., Kabir, Z. N., & Kiriam, S. (2024). Families adapting to COVID-19 in urban Bangladesh: 'It felt like the sky fell apart and we were in shock'. Frontiers in Psychology, 15(1296083), 1-10.
DOI Scopus1 WoS1 Europe PMC1
2020 Williams, S., & Drew, G. (2020). ‘Co-creating meeting spaces’: feminist ethnographic fieldwork in Bangladesh. Gender, Place and Culture, 27(6), 831-853.
DOI Scopus12 WoS11
2017 Stanley, M., Richard, A., & Williams, S. (2017). Older peoples' perspectives on time spent alone. Australian occupational therapy journal, 64(3), 235-242.
DOI Scopus11 WoS10 Europe PMC8
2013 Williams, S., & Murray, C. (2013). The lived experience of older adults' occupational adaptation following a stroke. Australian occupational therapy journal, 60(1), 39-47.
DOI Scopus42 WoS39 Europe PMC24
2013 Williams, S., & Murray, C. (2013). The experience of engaging in occupation following stroke: a qualitative meta-synthesis. British journal of occupational therapy, 76(8), 370-378.
DOI Scopus31 WoS29

  • Co-designing a wellbeing intervention with rural young people, SA Dept of Human Services, 25/07/2024 - 01/07/2025

Courses I teach

  • REHB 2049 Principles of Occupational Therapy Practice (2025)
  • REHB 3043 Participatory Community Practice: Planning (2025)
  • REHB 6014 Participatory Community Practice GE: Planning (2025)
  • REHB 6015 Participatory Community Practice GE: Implementation (2025)
  • REHB 4045 Participatory Community Practice: Implementation (2024)
  • REHB 6014 Participatory Community Practice GE: Planning (2024)
  • REHB 6015 Participatory Community Practice GE: Implementation (2024)

Programs I'm associated with

  • IHOC - Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours)
  • IMOG - Master of Occupational Therapy (Graduate Entry)

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2025 Co-Supervisor Exploring human-animal relationships in occupational therapy Master of Philosophy Master Part Time Ms Alison Dermody
2025 Co-Supervisor Supporting foster carers in using play as a therapeutic tool Master of Research (Health Sciences) Master Part Time Miss Rebecca Jane Smith

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2025 - 2026 Co-Supervisor What is known about group based, allied health run early childhood developmental support programs and their perceived value to parents? Master of Research (Health Sciences) Master Part Time Ms Zara Amy Soden

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