Professor Carolyn Unsworth
Professor and Head of Occupational Therapy
Campus
Biography
Professor Carolyn Unsworth is an internationally respected researcher and educator in occupational therapy, with key research interests in public transport access and driver assessment and rehabilitation for people with disabilities. She is also known for her contributions to the fields of health outcome measurement and clinical reasoning.
Dr Unsworth’s research has informed transport improvements and policy changes for people with disabilities nationally. Her outcome measure AusTOMs-OT and driver assessment OT-DORA are used internationally. In 2017, Carolyn was inducted as an inaugural Fellow of the Occupational Therapy of Australia Research Academy.
Carolyn holds Adjunct Professorial appointments at Monash, Central Queensland and La Trobe University in Australia, and Jönköping University, Sweden. She has authored more than 160 journal articles and book chapters and made 150 conference and keynote presentations. She currently serves on the editorial boards of several journals, including as Associate Editor of the British Journal of Occupational Therapy.
Fields of research
- Occupational therapy
- People with disability
- Public transport
Find me on
- Publications
The Multiple Errands Test-Home Version and Its Association With Driving Potential: A Pilot Study
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.5014/ajot.2025.050647
The usability of a virtual reality augmented training program to teach goniometry to occupational therapy students
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1186/s12909-024-06384-0
'By us, for us'; Co-designing disability inclusion training for bus drivers
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1016/j.jth.2025.102012
Expert Consensus on a Cognitive Rehabilitation Learning Package for Novice Occupational Therapists
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1177/15394492251345815
Global, Regional, and National Burden of Nontraumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage The Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2025.1522
Initial validation of the powered mobility device autonomy residential screen (PoMoDARS)
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1080/11038128.2023.2260834
Global burden of 288 causes of death and life expectancy decomposition in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, 1990-2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00367-2
Occupational Encounters: The Interpersonal Impact of Bus Drivers’ Engagement With Disabled Passengers
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1177/15394492241237744
Comprehensive quality assessment for aphasia rehabilitation after stroke: protocol for a multicentre, mixed-methods study
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-080532
A Systematic Review of Effective Interventions and Strategies to Support the Transition of Older Adults From Driving to Driving Retirement/Cessation
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1093/geroni/igae054
Global incidence, prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs), disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and healthy life expectancy (HALE) for 371 diseases and injuries in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, 1990-2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00757-8
Development of a driving clinical decision pathway for non-driver trained occupational therapists
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1177/03080226241261185
'A Meaningful Difference, but Not Ultimately the Difference I Would Want': A Mixed-Methods Approach to Explore and Benchmark Clinically Meaningful Changes in Aphasia Recovery
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1111/hex.14169
Applying implementation science theories to support practice change in the assessment of cognition by occupational therapists
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1071/IB23105
Entrapment and extraction of wheelchairs at flange gaps with and without flange gap fillers at pedestrian railway crossings
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1080/17483107.2023.2296954
Evaluation of a driving clinical decision pathway for generalist occupational therapists: Pilot test of practice change
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1080/11038128.2024.2423712
Powered mobility device use in residential aged care: a retrospective audit of incidents and injuries
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1186/s12877-023-04073-z
A Systematic Review of Wheelchair and Mobility Scooter Containment Systems Used Internationally on Public Transit Buses
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.3390/ijerph20206952
Being treated like an actual person: attitudinal accessibility on the bus
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1080/17450101.2022.2126794
Education leads to increased adherence to the 'Australian Competency Standards for Occupational Therapy Driver Assessors'
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1080/11038128.2022.2076735
Survey of Occupational Therapy Driver Assessors’ Rehabilitation Interventions With Older Drivers
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1177/15394492211050634
Menstrual hygiene management strategies used by women who are blind or have low vision
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1080/11038128.2021.1954995
Use of the AusTOMs-OT to record outcomes in an occupational therapy homeless service
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1177/03080226211067427
Injury by design: A thematic networks and system dynamics analysis of work-related musculoskeletal disorders in tram drivers
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1016/j.apergo.2021.103644
Views of American and Australian mobility device users and ambulant bus users regarding occupant restraint systems on public buses
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1016/j.jth.2022.101380
Linking people and activities through community mobility: An international comparison of the mobility patterns of older drivers and non-drivers
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1017/S0144686X20001968
Effect of contamination and purity priming on attitudes to vaccination and other health interventions: A randomised controlled experiment
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.09.063
A systematic review of public transport accessibility for people using mobility devices
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1080/09638288.2019.1697382
An early warning system for diabetic automobile drivers with peripheral neuropathy
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1080/17483107.2019.1686076
Public perspectives on acquired brain injury rehabilitation and components of care: A Citizens’ Jury
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1111/hex.13176
The revision of competency standards for occupational therapy driver assessors in Australia: A mixed methods approach
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1111/1440-1630.12722
Feasibility of modifying the hospital environment to reduce the length of amnesia after traumatic brain injury: a pilot randomized controlled trial
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1093/intqhc/mzab044
Fitness to drive practices among non-driver trained occupational therapists in an Australian community-based rehabilitation setting
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1111/1440-1630.12733
Powered mobility aid access on public transport: A validation study of compliance with disability standards
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1016/j.jth.2021.101093
A 3D Measurement and Computerized Meshing Study to Promote Bus Ridership Among People Using Powered Mobility Aids
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.3389/fbuil.2020.00090
Burden and preparedness amongst informal caregivers of adults with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.3390/ijerph17176386
Occupational therapy and activity pacing with hospital-associated deconditioned older adults: a randomised controlled trial
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1080/09638288.2018.1535630
Out on a limb: Applying the Person-Environment-Occupation-Performance model to examine injury-linked factors among light rail drivers
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1016/j.ssci.2020.104696
Validity and reliability of the Australian Therapy Outcome Measures - Physiotherapy, for podiatry (AusTOMs-PT for use in podiatry)
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1186/s13047-020-00385-0
Writing systematic, scoping, and app reviews: summarising and appraising best evidence
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1177/0308022620914464
Maze test score time adjustments when using nondominant hand in fitness-to-drive assessments
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1097/MRR.0000000000000429
"I'm very visible but seldom seen': consumer choice and use of mobility aids on public transport
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1080/17483107.2017.1407829
A randomized controlled trial protocol investigating effectiveness of an activity-pacing program for deconditioned older adults [Un protocole d'essai randomise pour evaluer l'efficacite d'un programme de planification et de dosage des activities pour des adultes deconditionnes]
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1177/0008417419830374
Effect of Navigation Problems, Assessment Location, and a Practice Test on Driving Assessment Performance for People with Alzheimer's Disease
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.3233/JAD-181069
The inter-rater reliability of the Powered Mobility Device Assessment Training Tool
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1111/1440-1630.12566
The privilege paradox: Geographic areas with highest socio-economic advantage have the lowest rates of vaccination
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.06.060
Predicting fitness-to-drive following stroke using the Occupational Therapy–Driver Off Road Assessment Battery
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1080/09638288.2018.1445784
A randomised controlled trial to test the effectiveness of decision training on assessors' ability to determine optimal fitness-to-drive recommendations for older or disabled drivers
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1186/s12909-018-1131-4
Anti-vaccination and pro-CAM attitudes both reflect magical beliefs about health
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.12.068
Barriers and enablers to aligning rehabilitation goals to patient life roles following acquired brain injury
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1111/1440-1630.12492
Development of the International Expert Advisory Panel on Community Health and Transport (I-CHaT) to coordinate research on transport mobility
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1177/0308022617733389
Persistent symptoms and activity changes three months after mild traumatic brain injury
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1111/1440-1630.12457
Reliability of the Australian Therapy Outcome Measures for Occupational Therapy (AusTOMs-OT)
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1111/1440-1630.12476
The experience of attempting to return to work following spinal cord injury: a systematic review of the qualitative literature
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1080/09638288.2017.1312566
The experience of seeking, gaining and maintaining employment after traumatic spinal cord injury and the vocational pathways involved
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.3233/WOR-172660
Use of 3D scanning technology to determine bus access for people using powered mobility aids
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1016/j.jth.2018.07.002
Analysing and interpreting outcomes data to support evidence-based practice using the example of AusTOMs-OT
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1177/0308022617722480
Hazard perception skills of young drivers with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can be improved with computer based driver training: An exploratory randomised controlled trial
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1016/j.aap.2017.10.002
Longitudinal employment outcomes of an early intervention vocational rehabilitation service for people admitted to rehabilitation with a traumatic spinal cord injury
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1038/sc.2017.24
Review papers: Getting the best occupational therapy evidence into practice
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1177/0308022616688702
Revision of the Competency Standards for Occupational Therapy Driver Assessors: An overview of the evidence for the inclusion of cognitive and perceptual assessments within fitness-to-drive evaluations
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1111/1440-1630.12379
A systematic review of evidence for fitness-to-drive among people with the mental health conditions of schizophrenia, stress/anxiety disorder, depression, personality disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1186/s12888-017-1481-1
How therapists think: Exploring therapists’ reasoning when working with patients who have cognitive and perceptual problems following stroke
- Book Chapters
- DOI reference: 10.1016/B978-0-323-17281-3.00040-X
A HOME‐BASED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ENVIRONMENTAL MODIFICATION PROGRAM FOR CAREGIVERS HAD A MODEST EFFECT ON THE PERFORMANCE OF IADL IN PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA, WHILE FOR SOME CAREGIVER SUBGROUPS, THERE WAS IMPROVED EFFICACY AND REDUCED UPSET
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1111/j.1440-1630.2004.00451.x
Determining client cognitive status following mild traumatic brain injury
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.3109/11038128.2015.1082622
Determining Fitness to drive among drivers with Alzheimer's disease or cognitive decline
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1177/0308022615604645
Engaging patients with moderate to severe acquired brain injury in goal setting
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.12968/ijtr.2016.23.1.20
Determination of the minimal clinically important difference on the Australian Therapy Outcome Measures for Occupational Therapy (AusTOMs-OT)
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.3109/09638288.2014.952450
Development and validation of the Occupational Therapy Risk Propensity Test (OT-RiPT) for drivers with disability
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.3109/11038128.2014.992952
Occupational therapy inpatient rehabilitation interventions with deconditioned older adults following an acute hospital admission: A Delphi study
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1111/1440-1630.12169
Special Issue: Driving and community mobility (I) - Clinical assessment of fitness to drive
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1177/0308022614564670
Special issue: Driving and community mobility (II) - Interventions to enable driving
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1177/0308022614566859
Using social judgment theory method to examine how experienced occupational therapy driver assessors use information to make fitness-to-drive recommendations
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1177/0308022614562396
A systematic review of hospital experiences of people with intellectual disability
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1186/s12913-014-0505-5
A systematic review of the effectiveness of behavioural interventions for improving driving outcomes in novice drivers with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.4276/030802214X14044755581745
Rehabilitation interventions with deconditioned older adults following an acute hospital admission: A systematic review
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1177/0269215514530998
Using the Australian Therapy Outcome Measures for Occupational Therapy (AusTOMs-OT) to measure client participation outcomes
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.4276/030802214X13916969446958
Clinical assessment of fitness-to-drive: Positioning occupational therapy for workforce development
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.4276/030802213X13729279114852
Exploring the mobility preferences and perceived difficulties in using transport and driving with a sample of healthy and outpatient older adults in Singapore
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1111/1440-1630.12020
The inter-rater and test-retest reliability of the Self-care and Transfer scales, and intra-rater reliability of all scales of the Swedish Translation of the Australian Therapy Outcome Measures for Occupational Therapy (AusTOMs-OT-S)
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.3109/11038128.2013.777940
Community mobility promotes participation for people of all ages and abilities
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1111/j.1440-1630.2011.00994.x
Relationship between intuition and emotional intelligence in occupational therapists in mental health practice
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.5014/ajot.2012.001693
Validity of the Occupational Therapy-Drive Home Maze Test for right and left handed test takers
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1016/j.aap.2012.02.019
Developing skills in everyday activities and self-determination in adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1177/0741932510362223
Evidence-based practice depends on the routine use of outcome measures
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.4276/030802211X13046730116371
Gaining insights to the clinical reasoning that supports an on-road driver assessment
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.2182/cjot.2011.78.2.4
Interrater reliability of the Road Law and Road Craft Test as part of the OT-DORA Battery for off-road driver assessment
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.4276/030802211X13125646370960
Normative data, preliminary inter-rater reliability and predictive validity of the Drive Home Maze Test
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1177/0269215510382846
The patterns of activity, and transport to activities among older adults in singapore
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1016/j.hkjot.2011.12.002
A grounded theory of intuition among occupational therapists in mental health practice
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.4276/030802210X12759925544308
Validation of a test of road law and road craft knowledge with older or functionally impaired drivers
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.5014/ajot.64.2.306
An evaluation of the construct validity of the developmental test of visual-motor integration using the rasch measurement model
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1111/j.1440-1630.2009.00811.x
Benchmark comparison of outcomes for clients with upper-limb dysfunction after stroke using the Australian Therapy Outcome Measures for Occupational Therapy (AusTOMs-OT)
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.5014/ajot.63.6.732
Construct validity of the test of visual-motor integration: An evaluation using Rasch analysis
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1016/S1569-1861(09)70038-5
Construct validity of the Test of Visual-Motor Skills-Revised (TVMSR): An evaluation using the Rasch Measurement Model
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1080/11038120802443662
Evaluating construct validity of the slosson visual-motor performance test using the rasch measurement model
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.2466/PMS.108.2.367-382
Factor structure of four visual-motor instruments commonly used to evaluate school-age children
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.5014/ajot.63.6.710
Internal consistency and concurrent validity of four instruments used to evaluate the visual-motor integration skills of school-aged children
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1080/19411240902734628
Validation of the modified assessment of living skills and resources, an IADL measure for older people
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1080/09638280802105881
To continue, modify or relinquish driving: Findings from a longitudinal study of healthy ageing
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1159/000111489
Using the Australian Therapy Outcome Measures for Occupational Therapy (AusTOMs-OT) to measure outcomes for clients following stroke
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1310/tsr1504-351
Development and current status of occupational therapy driver assessment and rehabilitation in Victoria, Australia
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1111/j.1440-1630.2006.00617.x
Using social judgment theory to study occupational therapists' use of information when making driver licensing recommendations for older and functionally impaired adults
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.5014/ajot.61.5.493
Factors that lead to successful community integration following severe traumatic brain injury
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1097/00001199-200601000-00002
Reliability of the Australian therapy outcome measures for occupational therapy self-care scale
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1111/j.1440-1630.2006.00584.x
A comparison of client outcomes from two acute care neurological services using self-care data from the Australian Therapy Outcome Measures for Occupational Therapy (AusTOMs - OT)
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1177/030802260506801007
Clinical reasoning during community health home visits: Expert and novice differences
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1177/030802260506800505
Measuring outcomes using Australian Therapy Outcome Measures for occupational therapy (AusTOMs-OT): Data description and tool sensitivity
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1177/030802260506800804
Occupational therapy in acute hospitals: The effectiveness of a pilot program to maintain occupational performance in older clients
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1111/j.1440-1630.2005.00498.x
Reliability of the Australian therapy outcome measures for quantifying disability and health
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.12968/ijtr.2005.12.8.19536
Review of tests contributing to the occupational therapy off-road driver assessment
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1111/j.1440-1630.2005.00456.x
Time use following a severe traumatic brain injury
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1080/14427591.2005.9686550
Using a head-mounted video camera to explore current conceptualizations of clinical reasoning in occupational therapy
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.5014/ajot.59.1.31
Clinical reasoning: How do pragmatic reasoning, worldview and client-centredness fit?
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1177/030802260406700103
Role perceptions and clinical reasoning of community health occupational therapists undertaking home visits
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1111/j.1440-1630.2004.00372.x
The test-retest reliability of the child-initiated pretend play assessment
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.5014/ajot.58.1.93
Therapy outcome measures for allied health practitioners in Australia: The AusTOMs
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1093/intqhc/mzh059
Validity of the AusTOM scales: A comparison of the AusTOMs and EuroQol-5D
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1186/1477-7525-2-64
External validation of a housing recommendation model for clients following stroke rehabilitation
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1080/09638280310001600003
Examining the evidence base for occupational therapy with clients following stroke
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1177/030802260206500105
A comparison of self-report versus observation of performance using the assessment of living skills and resources (ALSAR) with an older population
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1177/030802260106400305
Selection for rehabilitation: Acute care discharge patterns for stroke and orthopaedic patients
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1097/00004356-200106000-00003
The clinical reasoning of novice and expert occupational therapists
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1080/110381201317166522
Time use and importance of instrumental activities of daily living
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1046/j.0045-0766.2001.00246.x
Using a head-mounted video camera to study clinical reasoning
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.5014/ajot.55.5.582
How do driver assessors make fitness-to-drive decisions for older or disabled drivers?
A systematic review of professional reasoning literature in occupational therapy
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1177/0308022615599994
What information is provided in Australian emergency departments about fitness-to-drive after mild traumatic brain injury: A national survey
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1111/1440-1630.12172
The role of occupational therapists in the rehabilitation team
- Book Chapters
- DOI reference: 10.1007/978-3-319-08141-0_46
Determining fitness to drive: A systematic review of the methods and assessments used after mild traumatic brain injury
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1177/0308022614562405
Fitness-to-drive after mild traumatic brain injury: Mapping the time trajectory of recovery in the acute stages post injury
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1016/j.aap.2015.03.014
Driver rehabilitation: A systematic review of the types and effectiveness of interventions used by occupational therapists to improve on-road fitness-to-drive
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1016/j.aap.2014.04.017
Development of a standardised Occupational Therapy - Driver Off-Road Assessment Battery to assess older and/or functionally impaired drivers
- Journals
- DOI reference: 10.1111/j.1440-1630.2011.00979.x