Audrey's research interests stems from her clinical experience, working in partnership with people with learning or intellectual disability and their caregivers. 

Audrey's current series of research projects integrates her clinical knowledge and experience with her personal interest in the concepts of humanising and empathic home environment designing (designing that puts the person in the centre and can evoke emotion, attention, and influence sensation and wellbeing). She is interested in the influence of 'home' on people, which considers the sensory experience and use of space within home designing and how it may affect one's emotions and participation in order to thrive and flourish in that space. 

Her collaborative research with experts-by-experience and colleagues in practice aims to increase the understanding of the occupational therapy contribution to this area. The overall goal is to better support people with intellectual disabilities to live a safe and sustainable quality of life in their homes and communities.

She is also interested in the use of photography/photos as as a creative and visual research method. 

A list of research/supervisory areas of interest can be found further below. 

Audrey's occupational therapy career began in the NHS where she worked in mental health services and subsequently, in learning/intellectual disability services. In this time, she worked with people with complex health and social care needs, alongside their families, carers and support services; with the aim of supporting their occupational participation in life. She moved into academia after 26 years of working in the NHS. 

She is currently working toward her PhD by Publication, which focuses on the concepts of humanising, empathic and safe home environment designing for people with intellectual disabilities. 

In 2023, Audrey was awarded the Royal College of Occupational therapists Research Career Development grant to support the following research study: The occupational therapy contribution to good home environment design to support the participation and wellbeing of  people with intellectual disabilities.

Audrey is a member of the University of Brighton  SOLID Research Group and Centre of Arts and Wellbeing (CAW) and and her other research projects can be found here. 

Audrey's clinical expertise is in the area of intellectual disabilities.  Where appropriate, she shares examples of her clinical knowledge and experience in this area, using current policies, best practice evidence and latest developments to help illuminate and reflect real-life practice. She uses a mix of blended learning methods in her teaching, such as online resources, practical approaches and real life case studies.

As a tutor, Audrey embraces the problem-based learning (PBL) approach, embedded across the occupational therapy programme at University of Brighton. This is an interactive and inclusive approach, which facilitates small groups of students to develop their ability to be independent thinkers and lifelong learners. Audrey adopts a ‘just-right’ challenging and supportive approach to illicit a balance of critical as well as reflective thinking from students. She is, at the same time, welcoming and respectful of what each student brings from their personal and professional background, which contribute to the overall experience of shared learning.

Audrey teaches photography and the traditional techniques of hand built pottery as therapeutic occupations within the occupational therapy course curriculums. She enables student learners to experience these creative occupations in order to understand and utilise them as agents of change for individuals within their environments.

Audrey is interested in supervising students on their research projects within the scope of her expertise. This could be in an area of her interests or methodological experience: 

Areas of interest:

• Humanistic home environment designing to support wellbeing and participation
• The importance and influence of 'home' (and in relation to the occupational science concepts of 'doing, being, becoming, belonging').
• The occupational participation of people with learning/intellectual disabilities. 
• The concept of belonging in one's community.
• Human rights and occupational justice for people who are marginalised.   
• The use of photographic methods in research (photovoice, photo elicitation, photo novella).
• Sensory integration or processing.
• Dementia and family caregiving.

Areas of methodological experience:

• Qualitative research.
• Systematic or scoping review.