Katie is a health and disability researcher. She did an undergraduate degree in health sciences. Though this, she gained the language and understanding of the social determinants of health, providing the framework to contextualise the health disparities she had witnessed growing up. Her passion for research was fostered when she did a research project in intellectual disability during her last semester. After learning about the significant health gap experienced by people with intellectual disability, she was motivated to make a change. Seeing that researchers were the people making the most difference, she went on to do her PhD. Her postdoctoral research focuses on working with people with intellectual disability and autistic people to improve the way healthcare is delivered to them.
Katie is woking on the EASY-Health project which aims to improve access to mainstream hospital services for people with intellectual and developmental disability. This position is with the Mater Intellectual Disability and Autism Service (MIDAS) at Mater Research.
Katie also holds a UQ Research Stimulus Fellowship and is continuing herprimary care research to improve healthcare experiences for Autistic adults. This position is with the Queensland Centre for Intellectual and Developmental Disability (QCIDD) at Mater Research Institute-UQ.
Journal Article: Intellectual disability healthcare in <scp>Australia: Progress</scp>, challenges, and future directions
Brooker, K. S., De Greef, R., Trollor, J. N., Franklin, C. S. and Weise, J. (2024). Intellectual disability healthcare in Australia: Progress, challenges, and future directions. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 21 (1) e12497. doi: 10.1111/jppi.12497
Journal Article: “My autism is linked with everything”: at the crossroads of autism and diabetes
Vinayagam, Ritwika, Tanner, Christopher, Harley, David, Karatella, Shamshad and Brooker, Katie (2023). “My autism is linked with everything”: at the crossroads of autism and diabetes. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. doi: 10.1007/s10803-023-06033-3
Journal Article: Commentary on "Development of LDPAQ: learning disability physical activity questionnaire"
Brooker, Katie and Hill, Jessica (2022). Commentary on "Development of LDPAQ: learning disability physical activity questionnaire". Tizard Learning Disability Review, 27 (2), 122-126. doi: 10.1108/tldr-07-2022-0013
(2023–2027) NHMRC Targeted Research
EASY Health: Enhancing Access to Services for Your Health
(2022–2027) Mater Misericordiae Ltd
Evaluating online training for doctors on providing care to Autistic adult patients
(2022–2023) Margot Prior ECR Award
People with intellectual disability experience significant health disparity and engage in less preventive health actions than the general population. Practice nurses are now common in general practice and are an untapped resource for building capacity in intellectual disability health in primary care. We will deliver an intervention which includes (i) specialised intellectual disability nurse support, (ii) training for practice nurses to deliver the CHAP annual health assessment tool, (iii) an online primary care education package; and (iv) online resources. A cluster-randomised trial design will be used to evaluate the evidence for improved preventive health outcomes including vaccinations, metabolic syndrome screening and cancer screening in people with intellectual disability aged 15 years and over.
Flipping a collaborative classroom to gain deeper understanding of the Health System
Mutch, Allyson, Young, Charlotte, Smith, Neville, van Dooren, Kate, Ranatunga, Cassandra, Gillan, Cathie, Brooker, Katie, Fowler, Greg and Fitzgerald, Lisa (2017). Flipping a collaborative classroom to gain deeper understanding of the Health System. The flipped classroom: practice and practices in higher education. (pp. 257-271) Singapore, Singapore: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-981-10-3413-8_16
Brooker, K. S., De Greef, R., Trollor, J. N., Franklin, C. S. and Weise, J. (2024). Intellectual disability healthcare in Australia: Progress, challenges, and future directions. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 21 (1) e12497. doi: 10.1111/jppi.12497
“My autism is linked with everything”: at the crossroads of autism and diabetes
Vinayagam, Ritwika, Tanner, Christopher, Harley, David, Karatella, Shamshad and Brooker, Katie (2023). “My autism is linked with everything”: at the crossroads of autism and diabetes. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. doi: 10.1007/s10803-023-06033-3
Commentary on "Development of LDPAQ: learning disability physical activity questionnaire"
Brooker, Katie and Hill, Jessica (2022). Commentary on "Development of LDPAQ: learning disability physical activity questionnaire". Tizard Learning Disability Review, 27 (2), 122-126. doi: 10.1108/tldr-07-2022-0013
'Autistic' or 'with autism'? Why the way general practitioners view and talk about autism matters
Bradshaw, Pia, Pickett, Claire, Brooker, Katie, Urbanowicz, Anna and van Driel, Mieke L. (2021). 'Autistic' or 'with autism'? Why the way general practitioners view and talk about autism matters. Australian Journal of General Practice, 50 (3), 104-108. doi: 10.31128/ajgp-11-20-5721
Recognising, supporting and understanding Autistic adults in general practice settings
Bradshaw, Pia, Pickett, Claire, van Driel, Mieke L., Brooker, Katie and Urbanowicz, Anna (2021). Recognising, supporting and understanding Autistic adults in general practice settings. Australian Journal of General Practice, 50 (3), 126-130. doi: 10.31128/ajgp-11-20-5722
A consensus statement on how to conduct inclusive health research
Frankena, T. K., Naaldenberg, J., Cardol, M., Garcia Iriarte, E., Buchner, T., Brooker, K., Embregts, P., Joosa, E., Crowther, F., Fudge Schormans, A., Schippers, A., Walmsley, J., O'Brien, P., Linehan, C., Northway, R., van Schrojenstein Lantman-de Valk, H. and Leusink, G. (2018). A consensus statement on how to conduct inclusive health research. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 63 (1), 1-11. doi: 10.1111/jir.12486
Young, Charlotte E., Boyle, Frances M., Brooker, Katie S. and Mutch, Allyson J. (2015). Incorporating patient preferences in the management of multiple long-term conditions: is this a role for clinical practice guidelines?. Journal of Comorbidity, 5 (1), 122-131. doi: 10.15256/joc.2015.5.53
Brooker, Katie, van Dooren, Kate, Tseng, Chih-Han, McPherson, Lyn, Lennox, Nick and Ware, Robert (2015). Out of sight, out of mind? The inclusion and identification of people with intellectual disability in public health research. Perspectives in Public Health, 135 (4), 204-211. doi: 10.1177/1757913914552583
Brooker, Katie, Van Dooren, Kate, McPherson, Lyn, Lennox, Nick and Ware, Robert (2015). A systematic review of interventions to improve involvement in physical activity among adults with intellectual disability. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 12 (3), 434-444. doi: 10.1123/jpah.2013-0014
Brooker, Katie, Mutch, Allyson, McPherson, Lyn, Ware, Robert, Lennox, Nick and van Dooren, Kate (2015). "We Can Talk While We're Walking": Seeking the Views of Adults With Intellectual Disability to Inform a Walking and Social-Support Program. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 32 (1), 34-48. doi: 10.1123/apaq.2013-0067
Mulumba, Moses, Nantaba, Juliana, Brolan, Claire E., Ruano, Ana Loreno, Brooker, Katie and Hammonds, Rachel (2014). Perceptions and experiences of access to public healthcare by people with disabilities and older people in Uganda. International Journal for Equity in Health, 13 (76) 76, 1-9. doi: 10.1186/s12939-014-0076-4
Brooker, K., van Dooren, K. and Mutch, A. (2016). Applying inclusive qualitative research practices with adults with intellectual disabilities: some reflections. 2016 IASSIDD World Congress, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 15-19 August 2016. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/jir.12306
Brooker, Katie, van Dooren, Kate and Mutch, Allyson (2016). Inclusive Qualitative Research With People With Intellectual Disability: A Systematic Mapping of the Field. Qualitative Health Research Conference, Toronto, 19-21 October 2015. Canada: University of Alberta International Institute for Qualitative Methodology. doi: 10.1177/1609406916628953
Brooker, K., van Dooren, K. and Mutch, A. (2016). The relationship between social support and physical activity for adults with intellectual disabilities. 2016 IASSIDD World Congress, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 15-19 August 2016. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/jir.12305
Franklin, Cathy , Brooker, Katie and Vinayagam, Ritwika (2022). Mater Intellectual Disability and Autism Service (MIDAS), Mater and the Queensland Centre for Intellectual and Developmental Disability (QCIDD), Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland Joint submission to the Mental Health Select Committee. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Queensland Parliment.
Tools, strategies, and techniques developed to improve the health and wellbeing for autistic adults
Brooker, Katie , Bradshaw, Pia , Franklin, Catherine and Urbanowicz, Anna (2022). Tools, strategies, and techniques developed to improve the health and wellbeing for autistic adults. Brisbane, Australia: Cooperation Research Centre for Living with Autism.
Brooker, Katie, Vinayagam, Ritwika and Franklin, Cathy (2021). Religious Freedom Bills Third Exposure Drafts submission by Queensland Centre for Intellectual and Developmental Disability. Canberra, ACT Australia: Parliament of Australia .
Mackay HealthPathways Autism Initiative: Autism HealthPathways
Antoniette (Toni) Simmons, Katie Brooker, Anna Urbanowicz, Emma Jean Moohin, Aaron Kennedy and David Harley (2021). Mackay HealthPathways Autism Initiative: Autism HealthPathways. Brisbane: Cooperation Research Centre for Living with Autism.
Brooker, Katie, Baker, Ava Ruth, Harley, David and Urbanowicz, Anna (2021). Online Health Information and Me: Enabling the utilisation of the Autism CRC Health Hub webpages by autistic adults with intellectual disability and their support people . Brisbane: Autism CRC.
Brooker, Katie , Bradshaw, Pia , Urbanowicz, Anna , Harley, David , Chapman, Hayley and Tanner, Chris (2020). Queensland Centre for Intellectual and Developmental Disability and the Social Global Studies Centre, RMIT University: Submission to the Select Committee on Autism. Brisbane, Australia: The University of Queensland.
Brooker, Katie, Harley, David, Bradshaw, Pia, Karatela, Shamshad and Vinayagam, Ritwika (2020). Religious Freedom Bills Second Exposure Drafts submission by Queensland Centre for Intellectual and Developmental Disability. Canberra, ACT Australia: Parliament of Australia.
Brooker, Katie Sheree (2018). An investigation of the role of social support on physical activity participation among adults with intellectual disability. PhD Thesis, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2018.696
(2023–2027) NHMRC Targeted Research
EASY Health: Enhancing Access to Services for Your Health
(2022–2027) Mater Misericordiae Ltd
Evaluating online training for doctors on providing care to Autistic adult patients
(2022–2023) Margot Prior ECR Award
Evaluation of the SANE Australia pilot for people with complex mental health needs
(2021–2023) Commonwealth Department of Health
(2020–2022) Diabetes Australia Research Program
(2017–2020) CRC for Living with Autism Spectrum Disorders (Autism CRC Limited)
Utilising the Autism CR Health Hub tools and resources
(2017–2020) CRC for Living with Autism Spectrum Disorders (Autism CRC Limited)
Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.
People with intellectual disability experience significant health disparity and engage in less preventive health actions than the general population. Practice nurses are now common in general practice and are an untapped resource for building capacity in intellectual disability health in primary care. We will deliver an intervention which includes (i) specialised intellectual disability nurse support, (ii) training for practice nurses to deliver the CHAP annual health assessment tool, (iii) an online primary care education package; and (iv) online resources. A cluster-randomised trial design will be used to evaluate the evidence for improved preventive health outcomes including vaccinations, metabolic syndrome screening and cancer screening in people with intellectual disability aged 15 years and over.