Doctor Caroline Mills

Senior Lecturer, Occupational Therapy,
Occupational Therapy

Biography
Contact
Publications
Projects
Supervision
Teaching

Biography

Caroline is an Australian registered Occupational Therapist with 20 years experience working in the disability sector in Australia and overseas in government and not-for-profit roles. Caroline is interested in co-designed approaches which serve to improve the participation and health of people with disability across the lifespan.

Caroline graduated from The University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy) in 2003. Caroline has extensive clinical experience working with children and families in schools, family homes and other community settings in Australia and The UK. In 2008, Caroline was selected as an Australian Youth Ambassador for Development (AYAD) and relocated to China to serve as the first occupational therapist at The Shenzhen Autism Society. Caroline returned from China in 2009 to work as a school occupational therapist and positive behaviour support clinician for Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect).

Caroline holds a Master of Applied Linguistics from Macquarie University and a PhD from The University of Sydney. Her thesis title was Classroom based sensory processing intervention for children with autism. In 2013, Caroline was awarded The Aspect Elizabeth Hoyles Fellowship for her research and in 2016, Caroline was appointed an Aspect Practice Specialist in recognition of her experience and leadership in sensory processing practice and research.

An accomplished speaker, Caroline has been invited to present at numerous local and international conference related to autism, intellectual disability, sensory processing, positive behaviour support and school based occupational therapy. Caroline has been invited to present papers and workshops at The Singapore Autism Congress, Asia Pacific Autism Conference and The Australian Autism in Education Conference. Caroline’s research ia largely applied and is published in Australian and international peer reviewed journals.

This information has been contributed by Doctor Mills.

Qualifications

PhD University of Sydney
MAppLing Macquarie University
BAppSc(OT) University of Sydney

Professional Memberships

Australasian Society for Autism Research (ASfAR) (2012 - 2018)
Occupational Therapy Australia (2009 - 2018)

Awards

School of Science and Health Research Impact Competition- Winner 2019-07-04
Nominated- Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect)- Advancement Award 2016-07-01

Interests

Autism
Disability
Sensory Processing
Innovative and Interactive Applications of Technology
Intellectual Disabilities

Organisational Unit (School / Division)

Occupational Therapy

Committees

Occupational Therapy Australia- National Paediatric Steering Commitee

Contact

Email:	Caroline.Mills@westernsydney.edu.au
Phone:
Mobile:
Location:	Campbelltown

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Teaching

Previous Teaching Areas

400162 Child and Adolescent Occupations, 2018
400916 Occupational Justice, 2019
REHA3002 Child and Adolescent Occupations, 2019
REHA3002 Child and Adolescent Occupations, 2020
REHA3002 Child and Adolescent Occupations, 2022
REHA3002 Child and Adolescent Occupations, 2023
REHA3020 Occupation and Mental Health, 2023
REHA4009 Occupational Justice, 2021
REHA4009 Occupational Justice, 2022
REHA4009 Occupational Justice, 2023

Publications

Chapters in Books

Mills, C., Tracey, D. and Gorkin, R. (2024), 'Is virtual reality a panacea to promote the health of people with neurodevelopmental disabilities? : current evidence, challenges and the way forward', The Routledge International Handbook of Disability and Global Health, Routledge 9781032131849.

Journal Articles

Mills, C., Tracey, D., Kiddle, R., Gorkin, R. and Gorkin, R. (2023), 'Evaluating a virtual reality sensory room for adults with disabilities', Scientific Reports, vol 13, no 1 .
Mills, C., Tracey, D., Nash, S., Gorkin, R. and Gorkin, R. (2023), '[In Press] Perceptions of a virtual reality sensory room for adults with neurodevelopmental disabilities', Disability and Rehabilitation, .
Tulliani, N., Mills, C., Collison, L., Peel, N., Fahey, P. and Liu, K. (2023), 'Protocol : The effectiveness of sensory interventions targeted at improving occupational outcomes, quality of life, well-being and behavioural and psychological symptoms for older adults living with dementia : a systematic review and meta-analysis', Campbell Systematic Reviews, vol 19, no 2 .
Mills, C., Hazeltine, K., Zucco, A., Phan, T. and Baker, E. (2023), 'Therapist perceptions of barriers to telehealth uptake in children's occupational therapy', Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, vol 70, no 4 , pp 487 - 499.
Arnold , S., Arnold, S., Bruce, G., Weise, J., Mills, C., Trollor, J. and Coxon, K. (2023), '[In Press] Barriers to healthcare for Australian autistic adults', Autism, .
Michail, E., Mills, C. and Coxon, K. (2021), 'The impact of the sensory form on confidence and competence in occupational therapy students : a quasi-experimental study', Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, vol 5, no 1 .
Mills, C., Chapparo, C. and Hinitt, J. (2021), 'Impact of a sensory activity schedule intervention on cognitive strategy use in autistic students : a school-based pilot study', British Journal of Occupational Therapy, vol 84, no 12 , pp 775 - 784.
Mills, C., Chapparo, C. and Hinitt, J. (2020), 'Letter to the editor RE: Novak and Honan (2019)', Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, vol 67, no 1 , pp 94 - 94.
Mills, C., Michail, E. and Bye, R. (2020), 'A survey of occupational therapists on a new tool for sensory processing', Occupational Therapy International, vol 2020 .
Mills, C., Chapparo, C. and Hinitt, J. (2020), 'The impact of sensory activity schedule (SAS) intervention on classroom task performance in students with autism : a pilot randomised controlled trial', Advances in Autism, vol 6, no 3 , pp 179 - 193.
Mills, C. and Chapparo, C. (2018), 'Listening to teachers : views on delivery of a classroom based sensory intervention for students with autism', Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, vol 65, no 1 , pp 15 - 24.
Mills, C. and Chapparo, C. (2017), 'Use of perceive, recall, plan, perform stage two cognitive task analysis for students with autism and intellectual disability : the impact of a sensory activity schedule', Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, and Early Intervention, vol 10, no 3 , pp 232 - 253.
Mills, C., Chapparo, C. and Hinitt, J. (2016), 'The impact of an in-class sensory activity schedule on task performance of children with autism and intellectual disability : a pilot study', British Journal of Occupational Therapy, vol 79, no 9 , pp 530 - 539.
Mills, C. and Chapparo, C. (2016), 'Use of an in-class sensory activity schedule for a student with autism : critical case study', Creative Education, vol 7 , pp 979 - 989.

Conference Papers

Mills, C., Chapparo, C. and Hinitt, J. (2019), 'Home and school sensory processing in children with autism : a correlational study', Occupational Therapy Australia. National Conference and Exhibition , Sydney, N.S.W..
Mills, C. and Chapparo, C. (2017), 'A randomised controlled trial of classroom based sensory activity schedule intervention for children with autism', Occupational Therapy Australia Conference, Perth, W.A..
Mills, C. and Chapparo, C. (2017), '"She's bouncing off the walls, if we could just get that under control..." : teacher experiences of a classroom based sensory intervention for students with autism', Occupational Therapy Australia Conference, Perth, W.A..
Jones, F., Kathrada, A., Mills, C., Brown, N., Coe, R., Froude, E., Joosten, A., Layton, N., Riach, C., Springfield, L. and Vale, L. (2015), 'Paediatric scope of practice : an update', Occupational Therapy Australia. National Conference, Melbourne, Vic..
Mills, C. (2015), 'Positive behaviour support for people with autism spectrum disorders : occupational therapy's valuable contribution', Occupational Therapy Australia. National Conference, Melbourne, Vic..
Mills, C., Chapparo, C. and Hinitt, J. (2015), 'The impact of an in-class sensory activity schedule (SAS) on cognitive strategy use for five children with autism and intellectual disability', Occupational Therapy Australia. National Conference, Melbourne, Vic..

Other Publications

2023, 'Leading Disability Research and Workforce Development: A Western Sydney Collaboration', Report
2022, ''Thrown Out Into the World': Transition to Post Schooling for Autistic Young People', Report
2021, 'Exploring the Benefits of the Evenness Virtual Reality-Based Sensory Room', Report

my research looks into supporting children and adults with disabilities, particularly autism to participate in their communities and be included. I have conducted research in a wide range of schools to support students with learning difficulties and disabilities.