BA, BOccTher(Hons), MOT and Grad.Cert (Learn&TeachHigherEd) Trina is the Occupational Therapy Course Director in the School of Allied Health and Sports Sciences at Charles Sturt University. An AHPRA-registered occupational therapist, Trina is a technology enthusiast and is based on the Charles Sturt Albury-Wodonga campus. Trina’s initial undergraduate qualification from Monash University, Clayton was in Psychology and Sociology. She then completed a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) at LaTrobe University, Bundoora. Further post graduate studies include the completion of a Master of Occupational Therapy (LaTrobe University) and a Graduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (Charles Sturt University). Trina’s clinical occupational therapy experience in Melbourne included a community role with Scope working with children and their families, consultancy with Yooralla's ComTEC service, and several years at the Royal Children’s Hospital within both the Occupational Therapy Department and Victorian Paediatric Rehabilitation Service. Trina's role at Yooralla also included developing and delivering workshops for Assistive Technology Learning which was the education arm of the Independent Living Centre and ComTEC. At the Royal Children's Hospital, she provided services to children with diverse occupational issues arising from both acquired and congenital health conditions. Her various roles encompassed areas such as orthopaedics, neuromuscular conditions, rheumatology, prosthetic training with children with limb differences and implementing time-limited, goal-directed intervention within the Victorian Paediatric Rehabilitation Service. Trina has extensive experience in the selection and support of complex computer access, home control and communication technology options, and has presented on these topics at a number of national and international conferences. She enjoys providing capacity-building opportunities to her students and assistive technology stakeholders in the local area, as well as the challenge of maintaining currency in the context of continual technology development. Trina has a special interest in the applications of access features in everyday technologies. Trina is an active member of the Australian Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Association (ARATA) and served as a Director on the ARATA Board for over six years. She co-convened the Australian Assistive Technology Conference in 2022, and has represented ARATA at both national and international levels, including at the 2018 Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Assistive Technology in the National Disability Insurance Scheme. In 2023, Trina was awarded an ARATA Life Membership in recognition of her service to ARATA and the assistive technology sector. Trina has been involved in the development and delivery of subject content across all year levels of the occupational therapy course. She has introduced a range of authentic assessment tasks and aims to support students to engage in their learning with curiosity and critical analysis so they can flexibly apply and integrate skills and knowledge into their future professional practice. Trina is recognised as an enthusiastic educator who is passionate about occupational therapy and motivated to enable all students to achieve excellent outcomes. Trina has also been an invited lecturer in the Speech Pathology undergraduate and Master’s programs where she has delivered content and interactive workshops on being an effective communication partner for people with complex communication needs, alternative access and high and low tech Augmentative and Alternative Communication options. Various subject responsibilities include: Research interests include the selection and support of digital assistive technology, particularly high tech communication devices and complex computer access; occupational therapy clinical reasoning and knowledge translation.
Occupational Therapy
Trina Phuah
Course Director Occupational Therapy / Lecturer in Occupational Therapy
Albury / Wodonga
Building 673 Room 309
Subject content includes practices and processes involved in the selection, use and implementation of assistive devices. Incorporates practical skill development, and introduces students to relevant Standards, legislation and practice contexts to inform environmental assessment and modifications.
Introduces students to occupational therapy intervention processes, with the application of practical written and communication skills and the integration of theory and evidence to inform professional reasoning.
Builds on interventions and occupational therapy processes introduced in OCC206, extending professional reasoning and supporting students to develop dynamic, flexible problem solving skills.
Final year subject focussed on the transition to professional practice, incorporating topics on professional resilience, ethics, developing a Continuing Professional Development plan and contemporary practice contexts such as the NDIS.