Rate My Professor Kate Smith

Associate Professor Kate Smith serves as the Research Lead at Boola Boola Djinda in the Medical School at the University of Western Australia, on Nyoongar Country. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Western Australia, awarded in 2009, and Bachelor of Science degrees in Occupational Therapy as well as Human Movement and Psychology. Prior to her research career, Smith worked as an occupational therapist. She coordinates the units Aboriginal Health Research and Ethics (AHEA5801) and Aboriginal Health Research Project (AHEA3300), led the establishment of the Aboriginal Ageing Well research team at the Centre for Aboriginal Medical and Dental Health, and developed a support model in collaboration with the School of Indigenous Studies to increase enrolment and success of Aboriginal students in postgraduate health research. She currently supervises four Aboriginal postgraduate students.

Smith's research specializations encompass dementia, Aboriginal health, aged care services, health services and systems, quality of life and well-being, healthy ageing, cognitive assessment, and Indigenous mental health. She co-developed the Kimberley Indigenous Cognitive Assessment (KICA), a valid tool for assessing cognitive impairment in rural and remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged over 45, now used nationally and internationally including adaptations in Canada and Brazil. She also co-developed the Good Spirit, Good Life quality of life tool and framework for older Aboriginal Australians. Key publications include "Good Spirit, Good Life: A Quality of Life Tool and Framework for Older Aboriginal Peoples" (The Gerontologist, 2021), "High prevalence of dementia and cognitive impairment in Indigenous Australians" (Neurology, 2008), "Adaptation of the Good Spirit, Good Life quality of life tool for remote Indigenous Australians" (Quality of Life Research, 2025), and "A comparison of cognitive and health assessment tools used in a dementia prevention and risk management program for urban-dwelling older Aboriginal Australians (DAMPAA)" (SSM - Mental Health, 2025). She co-chaired and authored the NHMRC Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Roadmap for Dementia Research and Translation, served on Department of Health committees for national aged care reform, and is a founding member of the National Advisory Group for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Aged Care, member of the AIHW Dementia Expert Advisory Panel, and participant in the International Indigenous Dementia Network. Awards include the Vice Chancellor's Award for Collaborative Indigenous Research Partnerships (2023, shared) and Best Published Paper prize from the Medical Research Foundation, Royal Perth Hospital (2008).