Rate My Professor Kirsti Haracz

Dr Kirsti Haracz is a Senior Lecturer in Occupational Therapy within the School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, at the University of Newcastle. She earned her PhD from the University of Newcastle in 2016, with a thesis titled ‘Dealing with the double-whammy: Women’s experiences of schizophrenia and weight gain’; a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Coventry University, England; and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Sydney. Prior to academia, she worked as an occupational therapist for 13 years in Australia and the United Kingdom. Joining the University of Newcastle in 2006, she has designed and delivered courses on group processes, mental health, leisure and lifestyle, and cross-disciplinary research methods within the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) program. As Program Convenor for the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours), she currently co-supervises four PhD students and five honours students, having previously supervised 17 honours students to completion.

Dr Haracz specializes in the physical health of people with mental health disorders, occupational therapy in mental health, occupational therapy and obesity, and occupational therapy education, with a particular interest in the nexus between physical and mental health and lifestyle's role in health promotion and maintenance. Her PhD research examined women's experiences managing weight with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Key publications include the book chapter ‘Occupational Therapy and Health Promotion’ (2025) and ‘Participation and inclusion. Mental health service users' live experience - an international study’ (2017). Additional contributions cover occupational therapists' roles in diet issues for mental illness patients, obesity interventions, simulation models for mental health occupational therapy courses, and collaborative research on curriculum alignment for preparing occupational therapists in mental health practice across Australia and New Zealand. She is a member of the Critically Appraised Papers Advisory Board for the Australian Occupational Therapy Journal and a reviewer for various journals, enhancing the profession's evidence base.