Rate My Professor Beth Mozolic-Staunton

Dr. Beth Mozolic-Staunton is an Adjunct Lecturer in the Faculty of Health at Southern Cross University, where she currently coordinates the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy degree program offered at the Gold Coast and Coffs Harbour campuses. Her academic background includes a PhD in Health and Human Sciences from Southern Cross University completed in 2020, with a doctoral thesis entitled "Developmental surveillance and identification of Autism Spectrum Disorder in early childhood." She also earned a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Colorado State University in 2004, a Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice from Southern Cross University in 2014, and a Bachelor's Degree in Behavioural Neuroscience and Psychology from Lehigh University in 2001. Professionally, she served as an Occupational Therapist at UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center in the United States from 2005 to 2009 before joining Southern Cross University as a lecturer and course coordinator in August 2009, positions she continues to hold.

Mozolic-Staunton's research interests lie in occupational therapy, paediatrics, inclusive education, allied health, health service delivery, health workforce development, and health promotion. Her work emphasizes early intervention strategies, child development, and the early detection of autism spectrum disorders through universal developmental surveillance in early childhood education and community settings. Notable publications include "Early detection for better outcomes: Universal developmental surveillance for autism across Australia" published in Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders in 2020 (cited 75 times), "Monitoring children's development in early childhood education settings to promote early detection of autism" in Australasian Journal of Early Childhood in 2021, "Canadian Occupational Performance Measure and Early Intervention" in the Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, & Early Intervention in 2020, "Action learning enhances professional development of academic and support staff" in Rural and Remote Health in 2012, "Interprofessional Primary Healthcare Student Placements: Qualitative Findings from a Mixed-Method Evaluation" in 2020, and recent contributions such as "Cultural safety and First Nations health content within tertiary education for undergraduate healthcare students: A scoping review" in Australian Occupational Therapy Journal in 2025. She has delivered public workshops, including on how early occupational therapy can alter child brain function, and her scholarship promotes occupational participation across the lifespan in areas like rural health, aged care, rehabilitation, school, and community-based practice.