Yvonne Thomas (occupational therapist)

Yvonne Thomas is an English-New Zealand occupation therapist and academic, and is a full professor at Otago Polytechnic, specialising in occupational health, wellbeing and homelessness.

Academic career
Thomas is English, and trained as an occupational therapist, graduating from St Loyes School of Occupational Therapy (now part of the University of Plymouth) in 1983. Thomas then worked as an occupational therapist, gaining experience in social care, rehabilitation of stroke patients, and mental health. Thomas moved first to New Zealand, where she gained a postgraduate certificate in clinical teaching from the University of Canterbury, and a graduate diploma in education from the University of Otago. Thomas then moved to Queensland, where she earned a Masters of Education, and completed a PhD titled An occupational perspective of wellbeing: a case study of homelessness in Townsville at James Cook University in 2012. Thomas has worked at the University of Worcester, where she developed and led an occupational therapy programme. Thomas then joined the faculty Otago Polytechnic, rising to full professor in 2022. Her research focuses on how occupations can affect wellbeing, especially for marginalised and socially disadvantaged people. As part of this, she is interested in the concept of home and how homeless people maintain wellbeing. Thomas also investigates professional practice and practice education for health professionals, and has reviewed the use and role of simulation in the education of health professionals.

Thomas is the research coordinator for the Otago Polytechnic.