Dr Theresa Scott

Senior Lecturer

School of Psychology
Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences
theresa.scott@uq.edu.au
+61 7 336 56723

Overview

Dr. Theresa Scott, Senior Lecturer in Clinical Geropsychology and former NHMRC Dementia Research Development Fellow, specialises in researching functional outcomes for the older people and people living, or caring for a person, with dementia in various settings. Her NHMRC fellowship focused on dementia-related driving issues, leading to the co-development of CarFreeMe, a driving cessation program delivering support to people with dementia, adapted for telehealth delivery through additional NHMRC funding.

Dr. Scott's recent NHMRC MRFF-funded project collaborates with stakeholders to create resources for safety assessment with persons with dementia in primary care settings, including an innovative video-based test. Her research spans qualitative and quantitative methods and emphasises participatory research, co-design, and the integration of lived experiences. Her work addresses ageism, dementia stigma, psychosocial interventions, and the mental health benefits of horticulture, significantly impacting dementia care and caregiver support.

Research interests:

  • Ageing
  • Aged care
  • Co-design
  • Dementia and quality of life
  • Driving cessation and driving safety assessment

Research Projects:

  • Video-based Medical Fitness to Drive assessment (MRFF) http://researchers.uq.edu.au/research-project/55955
  • Driving cessation intervention for persons with dementia (NHMRC) http://researchers.uq.edu.au/research-project/32115
  • Engaging the over 50s to ensure the sustainability of our blood supply (ARC) http://researchers.uq.edu.au/research-project/61705

Research Interests

  • Dementia
    Quality of life; Mobility; Driving; Fitness to drive assessment; Social support; Addressing stigma; Supporting communication within families; Engagement
  • Ageing
    Ageism; Stigma and Self-stereotypes; Positive ageing; Psychosocial interventions to support ageing well
  • Evidence based therapies
    Social and therapeutic horticulture; nature therapy; nature connection.

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Research Methods, The University of Queensland
  • Bachelor (Honours) of Psychological Science, The University of Queensland

Publications

View all Publications

Supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

  • Doctor Philosophy

  • Doctor Philosophy

View all Supervision

Available Projects

View all Available Projects

Publications

Featured Publications

Book Chapter

  • Scott, Theresa L. (2023). Health and wellbeing benefits of therapeutic gardens and gardening activities for older people living in residential aged care settings. Cultivated therapeutic landscapes. (pp. 192-209) edited by Pauline Marsh and Allison Williams. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003355731-12

  • Scott, Theresa, Liddle, Jacki and Pachana, Nancy A. (2021). Driving and community mobility for people living with dementia. Dementia rehabilitation: evidence-based interventions and clinical recommendations. (pp. 129-147) edited by Lee-Fay Low and Kate Laver. London, United Kingdom: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-818685-5.00008-8

  • Musselwhite, Charles B.A. and Scott, Theresa (2021). Transport modes and an aging society. International Encyclopedia of Transportation. (pp. 6-12) Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier BV. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-08-102671-7.10398-7

  • Scott, Theresa L. and Pachana, Nancy A. (2016). Therapeutic gardens and expressive therapies. Complementary, alternative, and integrative interventions for mental health and aging: research and practice. (pp. 529-546) New York , NY, United States: Oxford Univerisity Press.

  • Scott, Theresa L. (2015). Horticultural therapy. Encyclopedia of geropsychology. (pp. 1-5) edited by Nancy A. Pachana. Singapore: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-981-287-080-3_268-1

Journal Article

Conference Publication

Other Outputs

Grants (Administered at UQ)

PhD and MPhil Supervision

Current Supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor

    Other advisors:

Possible Research Projects

Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.