Rate My Professor Matthew Yau

Dr. Matthew Yau is an Associate Professor in Occupational Therapy within the Faculty of Health at Southern Cross University, based at the Gold Coast campus. His academic qualifications include a Bachelor of Applied Science (BAppSc) from the University of Sydney, a Master of Commerce (MCom) from the University of New South Wales, a Master of Science with Honours (MSc(Hons)) from the University of Wollongong, and a PhD from the University of Sydney. Matthew possesses extensive academic and clinical experience in the field of mental health practice. He has undergone specialized training in sex therapy and serves as an active advocate for the sexual and intimacy rights of people with disabilities. These experiences inform his commitment to advancing knowledge in areas where mental health intersects with cultural and social factors.

Matthew Yau's research focuses on sexual health and sexuality in the context of disability, occupation-based interventions, community mental health practices, and the relationship between culture and mental illness. He has produced a substantial body of work, including over 64 peer-reviewed articles, garnering more than 2,500 citations. Among his key publications are "Traveling with a Disability: More than an Access Issue" published in 2004 in the Annals of Tourism Research, which explores travel challenges for people with disabilities beyond mere accessibility; "The Unintended Invisible Hand: A Conceptual Framework for the Analysis of the Sexual Lives of People with Intellectual Disabilities" (2019, Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities); "Larrikins? Wowsers? Hipsters? Snags? What does it mean to be a 'real man' in modern-day Australia?" (2019); "Alignment and mismatch in role relations at end-of-life: A constructivist grounded theory study" (2021, Death Studies); and "The sexual lives of people with intellectual disabilities: Perspectives from paid support workers" (2025, Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities). Matthew regularly presents workshops, delivers conference papers, and contributes to research teams such as the Resilient Ageing in Supportive Environments at Southern Cross University. His scholarly output demonstrates substantial impact in the fields of occupational therapy, disability studies, and mental health.