Professor Louise Gustafsson

PhD, BOccThy(Hons)
At St Margaret’s 1983-1987; Prefect, House Captain, Swimming Captain

Professor Louise Gustafsson is a Professor of Occupational Therapy at Griffith University, teaching and researching within the occupational therapy program and the Hopkins Centre. She focuses on two main areas of research – supporting the transitions and participation after stroke and restoring occupations and community participation for people with other neurological conditions and injury. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Australian Occupational Therapy Journal and a volunteer for Share the Dignity.

After graduating from St Margaret’s, Professor Gustafsson attended The University of Queensland (UQ) and worked in Rockhampton Base Hospital, around the UK, and at The Prince Charles Hospital before transitioning to an academic career at UQ in 2002.

Professor Gustafsson has made significant contributions to teaching and learning, receiving a SHRS teaching award and two SHRS Excellence in Research Awards. She also received the Mary Rankine Wilson Memorial Award for Professional Excellence in 2012 and was the recipient of St Margaret’s Distinguished Past Student Award in 2017. She became a Fellow of the Occupational Therapy Australia Research Academy in 2019.

Meeting her husband while working overseas, the couple have two daughters who are both currently attending St Margaret’s.

Of her St Margaret’s experience, Professor Gustafsson said: “Receiving an all-girls education at St Margaret’s and entering a predominantly female profession means that I have always had strong female role models and leaders around me who taught me to believe in myself and to keep challenging myself. I also learnt about the true meaning of community.”

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