Sarah McMullen-Roach

Ms Sarah McMullen-Roach

Lecturer

School of Allied Health and Human Performance

College of Health

Available For Media Comment.

Sarah McMullen-Roach is a lecturer in the occupational therapy program and has experience in a range of practice areas including adult neurology, healthcare management, aged care, complex injury management, acute care, vocational rehabilitation and seating and postural management.  Sarah has spent a significant portion of her career working in New Zealand and has developed competence in the delivery of culturally adaptive Occupational Therapy. During her time in New Zealand, Sarah was able to develop models of practice that supported the implementation of Occupational Therapists in the emergency setting to promote holistic health outcomes and reduced length of hospital stay. She is a strong advocate for the practical application of Occupational Therapy Models of Practice to enable a holistic and occupationally focused perspective in health.Sarah’s research interests include rural and remote health, neurology, social role valorization and the prevention and reversal of frailty in the older population. Sarah is passionate in exploring methods to defend and preserve valued roles for older adults through enabling sustained engagement in meanignful occupations throughout the lifespan. 

Sarah is an occupational therapist with over a decade of experience working in aged care settings. Through these experiences Sarah has witnessed and is sensitive to the challenges experienced by people from diverse backgrounds when navigating the Australian aged care system. As a member of the LGBTI+ community, Sarah also has lived experience of the challenges faced by the LGBTI+ community when accessing healthcare.  Currently Sarah is a PhD Candidate exploring the experiences of LGBTI+ older adults as they navigate aged care. She is currently working as a lecturer in Occupational Therapy at Adelaide University

Year Citation
2026 Wilke, C., Zwickl, S., Chalmers, J., Parange, N., Maple, S., & McMullen‐Roach, S. (2026). An Exploration of the Views and Perspectives of Australian Trans and Gender Diverse Individuals About Transvaginal Ultrasound. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 58(1), 77-90.
DOI
2026 McMullen-Roach, S., Kumar, S., Murray, C., Lang, C., Air, T., & Inacio, M. (2026). Aged and Health Care Service Use by Older Australians Who Identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex or Gender Diverse: A Retrospective Cohort Study.. Journal of homosexuality, 1-20.
DOI
2026 Viswanathan, S., McMullen-Roach, S., Weeks, S., & Murray, C. M. (2026). The tensions between risk and choice: Perspectives of Australian occupational therapists about informed choice when working with older people. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 73(3), 15 pages.
DOI
2026 McMullen-Roach, S., Fryer, C., Banwell, H. A., Pham, K., Hiscock, E., van Kessel, G., & Phillips, A. (2026). Development and evaluation of ‘Learning-Bytes’: a mixed methods study of e-learning modules for clinical educator development in allied health professions. BMC Medical Education, 26(1), 13 pages.
DOI
2026 McMullen-Roach, S., Kumar, S., Inacio, M., & Murray, C. (2026). “A little bit of masking tape and a lot of glitter”: Perspectives of older LGBT+ Australians on navigating aged care. Geriatric Nursing, 72, 11 pages.
DOI
2025 McMullen-Roach, S., Kumar, S., Inacio, M., & Murray, C. (2025). The Perspectives and Experiences of Older LGBTI+ Adults about Long-Term Care: A Qualitative Systematic Review and Meta-Synthesis. Gerontologist, 65(7), 17 pages.
DOI Scopus12 WoS11 Europe PMC5
2024 Germeroth, D., Murray, C. M., McMullen Roach, S., & Boshoff, K. (2024). A scoping review of mentorship in allied health: attributes, programs and outcomes. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 71(1), 149-174.
DOI Scopus10 WoS10 Europe PMC3
2024 Turner, I., McMullen Roach, S., Baker, A., & Murray, C. M. (2024). 'Why is it not bringing me meaning and purpose?' Former occupational therapists' narratives of leaving the profession. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 71(5), 771-785.
DOI Scopus7 WoS6 Europe PMC6
2023 Hughes, S., Murray, C. M., McMullen Roach, S., & Berndt, A. (2023). A profile of practice: the occupational therapy process in community aged care in Australia.. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 70(3), 366-379.
DOI Scopus6 WoS6 Europe PMC2
2021 Kennedy Behr, A., Rosso, E., McMullen Roach, S., Berndt, A., Hauschild, A., Bakewell, H., . . . Murray, C. M. (2021). Intergenerational virtual program: promoting meaningful connections across the lifespan during the COVID-19 pandemic. Frontiers in Public Health, 9(768778), 1-7.
DOI Scopus5 WoS4 Europe PMC1
2014 Hubbard, I. J., Evans, M., McMullen Roach, S., Marquez, J., & Parsons, M. W. (2014). Five years of acute stroke unit care: comparing ASU and non-ASU admissions and allied health involvement. Stroke Research and Treatment, 214(798258), 1-5.
DOI Scopus4

Courses I teach

  • REHB 1031 Occupational Therapy Practice in Hospital Settings (2025)
  • REHB 2043 Enabling Occupation through Environmental Adaptation (2025)
  • REHB 3064 Primary Health Care Approaches in Occupational Therapy (2025)
  • REHB 1031 Occupational Therapy Practice in Hospital Settings (2024)
  • REHB 6014 Participatory Community Practice GE: Planning (2024)

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