Vanette McLennan

Dr Vanette McLennan (PhD, BHlthSci (Rehabilitation Counselling)(Hons)) is Associate Professor of Allied Health and Academic Lead at the University Centre for Rural Health in Lismore, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney. She joined the centre in 2024 to lead allied health education and research programs, supporting rural health workforce development and benefits to local communities. Previously, McLennan held the position of Senior Lecturer in Case Management and Rehabilitation Counselling at Griffith University's School of Health Sciences and Social Work, associated with the Hopkins Centre. Before entering academia, she practiced as a Rehabilitation Counsellor in the private occupational rehabilitation industry under various government and insurance schemes. Her PhD, awarded by the University of Sydney in 2009, examined the role of family and community resilience in Indigenous wellbeing.

McLennan's research specializations encompass vocational rehabilitation with a focus on early intervention and return-to-work outcomes following spinal cord injury, acquired brain injury, and other serious injuries or illnesses. Additional interests include culturally safe rehabilitation services for Indigenous Australians, assistive technology in employment, cognitive communication assessments for work reintegration, and the impacts of allied health student placements in rural and aged-care settings. Notable publications include 'Early Vocational Rehabilitation After Serious Injury or Illness: A Systematic Review' (Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 2020), 'Assistive Technology at Work: A Metasynthesis of the Perspectives of People with Spinal Cord Injury/Damage' (2025), 'Assessing Cognitive Communication Skills for Returning to Work Following Acquired Brain Injury: A Systematic Scoping Review' (2024), 'Injured Worker Participation in Assessment During the Acute Phase of Workers Compensation Rehabilitation: A Scoping Review' (2024), and contributions to fostering integrated healthcare in rural Australia (2025). Her scholarship is evidenced by over 616 citations on Google Scholar, influencing rehabilitation counseling practices, policy, and education. McLennan received the Sustained Contribution Award from the Hopkins Centre in 2023 and serves as an academic adviser to the Rehabilitation Counselling Association of Australasia, advancing the profession.

Professional Email: V.Mclennan@sydney.edu.au