
Inspires students to love learning.
A true role model for academic success.
Inspires curiosity and a thirst for knowledge.
Helps students see the joy in learning.
Always approachable and supportive.
Dr. Craig Thompson serves as a Senior Lecturer in the Curtin School of Allied Health, Faculty of Health Sciences at Curtin University. He earned his PhD in Occupational Therapy from Curtin University between 2013 and 2020, a Master of Occupational Therapy from the same institution, and a Bachelor of Psychology from the University of Western Australia. As a registered Occupational Therapist, Thompson brings practical experience from general medicine to his academic role.
Thompson's research focuses on supporting individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) through key life transitions, including employment, university education, and mental health management. His work explores success factors for autistic adults in the workplace from employers' perspectives, strategies for autistic students to navigate higher education, and interventions like peer mentoring, vigorous intermittent physical activity programs, and immersive virtual reality for stress reduction. He contributes to the Curtin enAble Institute and Curtin Autism Research Group, advancing disability inclusion research. Notable publications include "Success factors enabling employment for adults on the autism spectrum from employers’ perspective" (Dreaver et al., 2020, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders), "Effectiveness of sleep-based interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder: A meta-synthesis" (Cuomo et al., 2017, Pharmacotherapy), "Transitioning to adult life for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder" (Thompson et al., 2018, PLOS ONE), "Perspectives of key stakeholders on employment of autistic adults across the United States, Australia, and Sweden" (Black et al., 2019, Autism Research), and "The efficacy of the “Talk-to-Me” suicide prevention and mental health education program for tertiary students" (Afsharnejad et al., 2023, European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry). Thompson's research has been cited more than 600 times, highlighting its impact in occupational therapy and neurodiversity support. Additionally, he co-facilitates MOOCs such as "Talk-to-Me: Improving mental health and suicide prevention in young adults" and "Managing Study, Stress and Mental Health at University."
