Is Senior Lecturer in Clinical Geropsychology and former NHMRC-ARC Dementia Research Development Fellow. Her research focuses on functional outcomes for older people living in the community and in residential care, and people living with dementia and their care partners. Theresa's NHMRC-ARC fellowship translated a comprehensive support- and education-based driving cessation intervention for older people (CarFreeMe) for people living with (young- and late-onset) dementia. Theresa's latest NHMRC funded research project is developing essential educational resources and tools for managing driving safety assessment with persons with dementia. Among these tools is a video-based off-road fitness to drive test, specifically designed to eliminate existing barriers and enhance the management of dementia and driving within primary care settings. Her approach embraces participatory research and co-design, actively involving individuals with lived experiences as experts in the field.

In addition to her impactful work on dementia and driving, her diverse research portfolio addresses vital topics such as ageism and dementia stigma prevention, psychosocial interventions for individuals with dementia and their caregivers, as well as the therapeutic benefits of social and therapeutic horticulture in combating loneliness, isolation, and depression.