Dr Ben Turner is a full-time Lecturer in Occupational Therapy. Ben has extensive clinical experience working with adults with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) and their families to optimise community reintegration and quality of life outcomes. Ben completed his PhD at the University of Queensland in 2011 in which he examined the experiences and outcomes of individuals with ABI and their family members during the transition from hospital to home.
Ben has utilised his clinical and research expertise to contribute to the development of significant service enhancements for brain injury services in Queensland and provided specialist training/consultation in relation to ABI community rehabilitation approaches at a state-wide level and beyond.
Ben’s research interests extend to consumer experiences, outcomes and co-design; the development and evaluation of innovative models of rehabilitation; vocational rehabilitation; community-based rehabilitation approaches; and interdisciplinary goal planning practices.
Ben is passionate about enhancing engagement in meaningful occupations in the community.
Professional Memberships
- Occupational Therapy Australia (OTA)
- Australasian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment (ASSBI)
- Queensland Brain Injury Collaborative (QBIC)
Awards and Fellowships
- Clinical Practice Commendation, Occupational Therapy Practice Education Collaborative - Queensland (OTPEC-Q), the University of Queensland, October 2020
- Outstanding Contribution Award, Division of Rehabilitation Excellence Awards, Princess Alexandra Hospital, May 2016
- Finalist, Consumer Partnerships Category, Healthcare Improvement Awards, Queensland Health, August 2011
- Australian Post-graduate Award for doctoral studies, 2006 - 2008
Research Grants
Grant/project name |
Investigators |
Funding body and AUD$ value |
Year(s) |
Focus of research grant |
Co-designing and evaluating a tailored program for managing substance use in acquired brain injury. |
Gullo, M., Gullo, H., Ponsford, J., Fleming, J., Wong, D., Ownsworth, T., Reid, N., Dawe, S., Russell, T., Brown, H., Mitchell, J., Lion, K., Piatkowski, T., Lemsky, C., Beaulieu-Bonneau, S., Turner, B., & Kendall, M. |
Metro South Health (MSH) Research Support Scheme $125,000 |
2023/24 |
Qualitative study to explore the lived experiences of people with brain injury seeking substance use treatment; identify and appraise ways to optimise existing approaches to delivering substance use disorder (SUD) interventions for people with brain injury; and co-design a novel optimised substance use treatment program for individuals with brain injury. |
Using qualitative case studies to understand the journey away from alcohol and substance use following acquired brain injury. |
Brown, H., Gullo, H., Gullo, M., Kendall, M., Turner, B., & Mitchell, J. |
Metro South Health (MSH) Research Support Scheme $24,624 |
2023/24 |
Qualitative study to gain in-depth insight into the real-life journeys away from alcohol and substance use following ABI; explore enablers of abstinence including personal, environmental, and social factors; and identify practical strategies to support people with ABI on the journey away from alcohol and substance use following injury. |
Developing self-advocacy skills across the brain injury rehabilitation service continuum: a co-designed platform to advance personalised transitions and supports. |
Ownsworth, T., Bates, A., Watter, K., Morgan, C., Bell, R., Griffin, J., Turner, B., Kennedy, A., Kendall, M., Adams, B., Gibson, E., Hakala, T., & Mitchell, J. |
MSH Co-Funded Collaborative Grant $50,000 |
2023-2024 |
Qualitative study to understand what constitutes self-advocacy and associated barriers and facilitators throughout hospital transition into the community; and co-design the development of a ‘tool’ to promote self-advocacy across the continuum of care. |
Evaluation of the implementation of a novel, interdisciplinary role-based approach to goal setting in a slow to recover brain injury rehabilitation setting. |
Doig, E., Pick, V., Turner, B., New, A., Douglas, D., Foster, M. |
Hopkins Centre Interdisciplinary Translation Research Grant $24,801 |
2017 |
Mixed methods study to evaluate the implementation of a novel role-based interdisciplinary approach to goal setting in a slow to recover/extended brain injury rehabilitation setting. |
The efficacy of telehealth for delivery and sustainability of community rehabilitation programs for adults with acquired brain injury in Queensland. |
Turner, B., Kennedy, A., Kendall, M., & Smith, A. |
Queensland Health, Community Rehabilitation Workforce Project Research and Development Grant $19,756 |
2013/14 |
Qualitative study to explore the efficacy of telehealth for the delivery of a group-based self-management program for adults with ABI in the community. |
Supporting the growth of peer-professional workforces in health care settings: an investigation of the training and support needs of volunteer leaders of the STEPS Program. |
Turner, B., Kennedy, A., Kendall, K., & Muenchberger, H. |
Queensland Health Health Practitioner Research Scheme - $39,121 |
2011/2012 |
Qualitative study to explore the training needs of a volunteer peer-professional leader workforce in the delivery of the STEPS Program. |
Efficacy-oriented care: an intervention for brain-injured patients, family members, nurses and allied health professionals.
|
Kuipers, P., Turner, B., Mitchell, M., Fleming, J., Kendall, M., & Mills, C. |
PA Research Foundation Grant $24,000 |
2010 |
Qualitative study to explore the experiences of patients and family members about their involvement in brain injury rehabilitation. |
Determinants of successful community transition for individuals with acquired brain injury and their families.
|
Fleming, J., Cornwell, P., Haines, T., Kendall, M., & Turner, B. |
Queensland Health, Community Rehabilitation Research Scheme $68,853 |
2007/2008 |
Mixed method study to examine the experiences and outcomes of individuals with ABI and their families during the transition from hospital to home to better understand the key determinants of successful community reintegration during the transition phase. |
Research areas
- Consumer experiences, outcomes and co-design
- Development and evaluation of innovative models of rehabilitation
- Vocational rehabilitation
- Community-based rehabilitation approaches
- Interdisciplinary goal planning practices