Dr Tawanda Machingura

Professor
PhD, MHPrac (Hons in Rehab), PGDip (Mental H)ealth), PGCert (Fornsic Psych Care), Grad

Email: tawanda.machingura@nd.edu.au

  • Biography

    Professor Tawanda Machingura is an experienced occupational therapist and academic at the University of Notre Dame Australia, renowned for his innovative approaches to mental health rehabilitation and teaching. He has dedicated almost three decades to advancing the field of occupational therapy through research, teaching, and clinical practice.

    Professor Machingura obtained his first degree in occupational therapy from the University of Zimbabwe before moving to New Zealand and later Australia where he pursued further education and eventually obtaining a PhD from Griffith University, Australia. His research interests include mental health recovery, sensory modulation and culturally responsive practices in occupational therapy.

    At Notre Dame, Professor Machingura is known for his engaging teaching style and commitment to mentoring students. He is currently focused on developing a world-class and unique occupational therapy program that fuses real world practical skills training, theory and the objects of the university to nature occupational therapists. Outside of academia, he enjoys going to the gym, travelling, exploring local cultures, and advocating for mental health awareness. Professor Machingura’s passion for occupational therapy and dedication to his students make him a respected leader in his field.

  • Teaching areas

    • Mental health
    • Research Methods
    • Occupational Science
    • Occupational Therapy

  • Research expertise and supervision

    Research Expertise:

    • Sensory Modulation
    • Sensory Approaches
    • Mental Health
    • Recovery
    • Supported Employment
    • Occupational Science
    • Mixed Methods

    Supervision:

    • Master of Research
    • Master of Philosophy
    • Doctor of Philosophy

  • Books

    • Machingura, T. (2024). Occupational Therapy Practice in Mental Health: Models, Conditions, Interventions and Recovery. Betham Science, UAE. (In press).

  • Book chapters

    • Machingura, T., Mavindidze, E., & Nhunzvi, C. (2024). The Model of Human Occupation. In
    • Machingura, T. (ed). Occupational Therapy Practice in Mental Health: Models, Conditions, Interventions and Recovery. Betham Science, UAE (in press).
    • Machingura, T. (2024). Canadian Model of Occupational Performance and Engagement. In Machingura, T. (ed). Occupational Therapy Practice in Mental Health: Models, Conditions, Interventions and Recovery. Betham Science, UAE (in press).
    • Machingura, T. (2024). The Kawa Model. In Machingura, T. (ed). Occupational Therapy Practice in Mental Health: Models, Conditions, Interventions and Recovery. Betham Science, UAE (in press).
    • Machingura, T. (2024). Psychotic Disorders. In Machingura, T. (ed). Occupational Therapy Practice in Mental Health: Models, Conditions, Interventions and Recovery. Betham Science, UAE (in press).
    • Machingura, T. & Fair, M. (2024). Person-Environment-Occupation (PEO) Model and its derivates. In Machingura, T. (ed). Occupational Therapy Practice in Mental Health: Models, Conditions, Interventions and Recovery. Betham Science, UAE (in press).
    • Machingura, T. & Hurley, C. (2024). Anxiety and Mood Disorders. In Machingura, T. (ed). Occupational Therapy Practice in Mental Health: Models, Conditions, Interventions and Recovery. Betham Science, UAE (in press).
    • Thew, S & Machingura, T. (2024). Eating Disorders. In Machingura, T. (ed). Occupational Therapy Practice in Mental Health: Models, Conditions, Interventions and Recovery. Betham Science, UAE (in press).
    • Machingura, T., Machingura, C., & Pereira, R. B. (2024). Foundations of occupational therapy practice in mental health. In Machingura, T. (ed). Occupational Therapy Practice in Mental Health: Models, Conditions, Interventions and Recovery. Betham Science, UAE (in press).
    • Machingura, T. (2024). CoViD-19, mental health and occupational therapy. In Machingura, T. (ed). Occupational Therapy Practice in Mental Health: Models, Conditions, Interventions and Recovery. Betham Science, UAE (in press).

  • Journal articles and proceedings

    • Ellis, A., Gillespie, K., McCosker, L., Hudson, C., Diamond, G., Machingura, T., ... & Woerwag-Mehta, S. (2024). Meal support intervention for eating disorders: a mixed-methods systematic review. Journal of Eating Disorders, 12(1), 47. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-024-01002-2
    • Kay, E., Levick, J., Machingura, T., & Bird, S. (2024). Sensory Considerations for Emerging Textile Applications. Textiles, 4(1), 17-25. https://doi.org/10.3390/textiles4010002
    • Machingura, T., Natanasubramanian, S., & Quadros, S. (2023). ELearning Sensory Approaches Used by Caregivers of People with Developmental Disorders: a Rapid Review. Current Developmental Disorders Reports, 10(4), 250-263. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40474-023-00287-3
    • Afsharnejad, B., Milbourn, B., Brown, C., Clifford, R., Foley, K.R., Logan, A., Lund, S., Machingura, T., McAuliffe, T., Mozolic‐Staunton, B. & Sharp, N. (2023). Understanding the utility of “Talk‐to‐Me” an online suicide prevention program for Australian university students. Suicide and Life‐Threatening Behavior, 53(5), 725-738. https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.12978
    • Afsharnejad, B., Milbourn, B., Hayden-Evans, M., Baker-Young, E., Black, M. H., Thompson, C., ... Machingura, T & Girdler, S. (2022). The efficacy of the “Talk-to-Me” suicide prevention and mental health education program for tertiary students: a crossover randomised control trial. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-022-02094-4
    • Machingura, T., Shum, D., Lloyd, C., Murphy, K., Rathbone, E., & Green, H. (2022). Effectiveness of sensory modulation for people with schizophrenia: A multisite quantitative prospective cohort study. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal. https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1630.12803
    • Brown, S., Cordner, P., Weir, K. A., & Machingura, T. (2021). A systematic scoping literature review on the use of child life therapy (CLT) in the perioperative setting. Journal of Perioperative Practice. https://doi.org/10.1177/17504589211005714
    • Machingura, T., Lloyd, C., Murphy, K., Goulder, S., Shum, D., & Green, H. (2021). Views about sensory modulation from people with schizophrenia and treating staff: A multisite qualitative study. The British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 0(0), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1177/0308022620988470
    • Scanlan, J., Logan, A., Arblaster, K., …Machingura, T., Webster, J. (2019). Mental health consumer involvement in occupational therapy education in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 67(1), 83–93. https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1630.12634
    • Machingura, T., Kaur, G., Lloyd, C., Mickan, S., Shum, D., Rathbone, E. and Green, H. (2019). An exploration of sensory processing patterns and their association with demographic factors in healthy adults. Irish Journal of Occupational Therapy, 48(1), 3-16. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOT-12-2018-0025
    • Machingura, T., Lloyd, C. (2019). What Causes Patient Aggressive Behaviours in Healthcare Settings? Psychology Behavioral Science International Journal. 10(5):555796. https://doi.org/10.19080/PBSIJ.2019.10.555796
    • Machingura, T., & Lloyd, C. (2018). Sensory modulation optimises performance of clinicians.  International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation. 25(2), 49-50. https://doi.org/10.12968/ijtr.2018.25.2.49
    • Machingura, T., & Lloyd, C. (2017). Sensory approaches in mental health: Contemporary occupation-based practice or a redundant medical approach?  International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation. 24(5), 189-190. https://doi.org/10.12968/ijtr.2017.24.9.373
    • Machingura, T., Shum, D., Molineux, M., & Lloyd, C. (2017). Effectiveness of Sensory Modulation in Treating Sensory Modulation Disorders in Adults with Schizophrenia: A Systematic Literature Review. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 16, 764–780. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-017-9807-2
    • Fair, M. & Machingura, T. (2017). A critical examination of the demand for occupational therapy skills into the future. International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 24(10), 417-418. https://doi.org/10.12968/ijtr.2017.24.10.417
    • Machingura, T., Lloyd, C. (2017).  Mental health occupational therapy and supported employment. Irish Journal of Occupational Therapy, 45(1), 52-57. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOT-02-2017-0004
    • Machingura, T., Lloyd, C. (2017).  Suicide risk assessments: Are they really predictive or just good guesses? International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation 24(5):189-189. https://doi.org/10.12968/ijtr.2017.24.5.189
    • Machingura, T., & Lloyd, C. (2017). A reflection of success factors in implementing sensory modulation in an acute mental health setting. International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 24(1): 35-39. https://doi.org/10.12968/ijtr.2017.24.1.35
    • Machingura, T., & Lloyd, C. (2017). Contemporary occupational therapy: disruption or transformation? International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 24(1): 5-6. 01/2017; 24(1):5.  https://doi.org/10.12968/ijtr.2017.24.1.5
    • Williams, P. l., Lloyd, C., King, R., Waghorn, G., Machingura, T., (2015). Implementing evidence-based practices in supported employment on the Gold Coast for people with severe mental illness. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal 62(5), 316-325. https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1630.12202
    • Lloyd, C., Williams, P., Machingura, T., Tse S. (2015). A focus on recovery: using the mental health recovery star as an outcome measure. Advances in Mental Health, 14(1), 57-64. https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/18387357.2015.1064341
    • Lloyd, C., Williams, P. L., & Machingura, T. (2015). A process for developing a student led programme in an acute mental health setting. New Zealand Journal of Occupational Therapy, 62 (2), 67–70.
    • Lloyd, C., King, R., Machingura, T. (2014). An investigation into the effectiveness of sensory modulation in reducing seclusion within an acute mental health unit. Advances in Mental Health Journal 12(2): 93-100.  https://doi.org/10.5172/jamh.2013.3800
    • Machingura, T. (2004). Employment status of mental health consumers: A pilot study. New Zealand Journal of occupational therapy 51 (1): 28-29

  • Conference papers

    • Machingura, T., Green, H., Murphy, K., Lloyd, C. (2021). Effectiveness of sensory modulation in people with schizophrenia: A multisite convergent parallel mixed-methods study. Australian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 68 (1), 7. https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1630.12737
    • Goulder, S & Machingura, T. (2021). The experiences of adults with schizophrenia using sensory modulation in an inpatient setting: A single site study. Australian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 68 (1), 9. https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1630.12737
    • Glancy, P & Machingura, T. (2021). Allied health single-entry point paediatric services: A systematic scoping review. Australian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 68 (1), 52. https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1630.12737
    • Jackson, R & Machingura, T. (2021). The effectiveness of yoga as a therapeutic tool: A systematic literature review. Australian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 68 (1), 76. https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1630.12737
    • Machingura, T. (2019, July). Sensory processing patterns in healthy adults and their association with demographic factors. E-poster Presentation. Abstract 210. OTA 28th National Conference and Exhibition 2019, Melbourne, Australia.
    • Scanlan, J., Logan, A., Arblaster, K., …Machingura, T., Webster, J. (2019, July). How are consumers involved in mental health education in Australian and New Zealand occupational therapy programs and what are the barriers and facilitators to involvement? OTA 28th National Conference and Exhibition 2019, Melbourne, Australia.
    • Machingura, T. (2018, October). Sleep as an occupation: Putting the ‘S” back into Occupations. OTA-NT Regional Conference 2018, Gold Coast, Australia.
    • Machingura, T., Kaur, G., Rathbone, E. (2018, October). An investigation into the relationship between demographic factor and sensory patterns in general population.  Poster Presentation.  OTA-NT Regional Conference 2018, Gold Coast, Australia.
    • Machingura, T. (2015). A focus on recovery: Using the Mental Health Recovery Star as an outcome measure. OT Australia 26th National Conference.
    • Gill, Z., Machingura, T., Evans, J. (2015). Enhancing Consumer and Carer Participation in an Acute Care Setting. 16th International Mental Health Conference. http://anzmh.asn.au/conference/registration.html

  • Professional affiliations

    • Occupational Therapy Board of Australia registration through Australian Health Practitioner Regulatory Agency (Ahpra)-Full Registration,
    • Occupational Therapy Australia (OTA) Member
    • Steering Committee Member Australia and New Zealand Occupational Therapy Mental Health Academics (ANZOTMHA)
    • Driver Trained Occupational Therapist
    • Accredited Mental Health First Aider

  • Awards

    • 2019 Certificate of Excellence (eTEVAL) award – Engage in Occupation (Bond University)
    • 2019 Certificate of Excellence (eTEVAL) award – Foundations in OT (Bond University)
    • 2018 Certificate of Excellence (eTEVAL) award – Foundations in OT (Bond University)