This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it.

+61-2-8878-0500

+61-2-9807-7053

In 2009 Patricia returned to Australia from Trinity College Dublin to take up the position of Chair in Disability Studies and Director, Centre for Disability Studies, University of Sydney. At Trinity College Patricia was the Foundation Director, National Institute for Intellectual Disability where her work supported a mission of Inclusion through Education, Research and Advocacy. She attracted several research and development grants that focused on inclusive research where people with disabilities and family members were involved in developing and participating in research that they had ownership over.

Prior to Ireland Patricia worked at the University of Auckland where she taught both graduate and post graduate courses relevant for professionals working in the area of human services and special education. Patricia has co-edited two texts that promote disability services as value driven and person centred organisations.

Patricia’s teaching and research interests cover advocacy, deinstitutionalisation, community participation, transition, inclusion, as well as the interface between offenders with intellectual disabilities and the criminal justice system. Her interest in community participation arose from leading a team in New Zealand to relocate people with intellectual disabilities from institutional settings to community based residences. Two major projects that she has recently been involved in Ireland have respectively seen young people with intellectual disabilities gaining further education within university settings as well as people with intellectual disabilities becoming co-researchers within a National Survey of Peoples’ Needs. Results of the later project can be seen here

PUBLICATIONS AND OTHER PUBLIC OUTPUT

Books

O’Brien, P., Thesing, A., & Herbert, P. (2006). Alternative Education: Literature Review and Report on Key Informants’ Experiences. Ministry of Education web site. Retrieved January, 23rd, 2009, from http://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/pulications/schooling/5003 (pp.1-144)

O’Brien, P., & Sullivan, M. (2005). Allies in emancipation: Moving from providing service to being of support. South Melbourne: Thomson Dunmore (pp. 1- 236)

O'Brien, P., & Murray, R. (1997, 2008). (Eds). Human services: Towards partnership and support. Palmerston North: Dunmore Press (pp.1-372)

O'Brien, P.M. (1989). Mainstreaming secondary school students with visual impairments. Wellington: New Zealand Council for Educational Research (pp.1-80).

Book Chapters

Thesing, A. & O’Brien, P. (2008). Quality indicators for alternative education programmes. In C. Rubie-Davies and C. Rawlinson, Challenging thinking about teaching and learning (pp. 167 - 168 ): Nova Science publishers

O’Brien, P., Newell, C., & Mc Inerery, I. with Thesing A. (2005). In I. Dempsey & K. Nankervis, Community Disability Services : An Evidence–Based Approach to Practice (pp. 27-50). Sydney: University of NSW Press

O’Brien, P. (2005). Haki’s story. In K. Johnson & R. Traustadottir, Deinstitutionalization & people with learning disabilities (pp. 231- 239).London: Jessica Kingsley

O’Brien, P., & Ryba, K. (2005). Policies and practices in special education. In D. Fraser, R. Moltzen & K. Ryba (Eds.) Learners with Special Needs in Aotearoa/New Zealand (3rd ed.) (pp. 22-48). Southbank, Victoria : Thomson Dunmore

O’Brien, P., Thesing, A., & Capie, A. (2005). Supporting people out of one institution while avoiding another. In P. O’Brien & M. Sullivan, Allies in emancipation: Moving from providing service to being of support (pp. 135- 150). Victoria: Thomson Dunmore

Ferguson, P., & O’Brien, P. (2005). From giving service to being of service. In P. O’Brien & M. Sullivan, Allies in emancipation: Moving from providing service to being of support (pp. 3-18). Victoria: Thomson Dunmore

Sullivan, M., & O’Brien, P. (2005). Being of support-a final reflection. In P. O’Brien & M. Sullivan, Allies in emancipation: Moving from providing service to being of support (pp. 213-218). Victoria: Thomson Dunmore

Kane, R.. Alcorn, N., Bishop, R., Cardno, C., Crooks, T., Fairburn-Dunlop, P., Hattie, J., Jones, A., O’Brien, P., & Stevenson, J. (2005). Working smarter with electronic evidence portfolios: lessons from the 2003 PBRF assessment exercise. In R. Smith & J. Jesson, Punishing the discipline-the PBRF regime evaluating the position for Education-where to from here? (pp. 164-171). AUT: University of Auckland

Rata, E., O’Brien, P., Murray, R., Mara, D., Gray, S., & Rawlinson, C. (2001). Diversity. In V. Carpenter, H. Dixon, & C. Rawlinson, Theory in practice for educators (pp. 189-210). Palmerston North: Dunmore Press

O'Brien, P. (1997). Human Services: Creating or alleviating disability? In P. O'Brien and R. Murray, Human services: Towards partnership and support. (pp. 64- 81) Palmerston North: Dunmore Press

Espiner, D., Murray, R., & O’Brien, P. (1997). Leadership, personal effectiveness and communication training for human service workers. In P. O'Brien and R. Murray Human services: Towards partnership and support. (pp. 229-240). Palmerston North: Dunmore Press.

Journal articles

O’Brien, P., Shevlin, M., O’Keeffe, M., FitzGerald, S., Curtis, S., & Kenny. M. (2009). Opening up a whole new world for students with intellectual disabilities within third level setting British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 37 (4) 285-292

O’Brien, P., Hamilton, c., & Johnson, K. (2009). Editorial, British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 37 (4) 241

Johnson, K., O’Brien, P., & Hamilton. C. (2009) In conversation with Bill Roberts, Paul Alford and Marie Wolfe. British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 37 (4) 242-244

Walker, A., Tuck. B., & O’Brien, P. (2006). Attitudes towards Christianity and elements of the Catholic faith among adolescents in New Zealand Catholic secondary schools. Journal of Religious Education, 54(2), 42-49.

Edwards, S., O’Brien, P., & Ryan, S. (2005). Count me in: Including students with learning disabilities in Trinity College Dublin, Reach 19(1) 23-30.

Alcorn, N., Bishop, R., Cardno, C., Crooks, T., Fairburn-Dunlop, P. Hattie, J., Jones, A., Kane, R., O’Brien, P., & Stevenson, J. (2004). Enhancing education research in New Zealand: Experiences and recommendations from the PBRF Education peer review panel. New Zealand Journal of Educational Studies, 39 (2), 275-302.

O’Brien, P. (2003). Envisioning the future without the social alienation of difference. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 50(1), 22-39.

O'Brien, P., Thesing, A., Tuck, B., & Capie, A. (2001). Perceptions of change, advantage and quality of life for people with intellectual disability who left a long stay institution to live in the community. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 26(1), 67-82.

O'Brien, P. (1999). A parent advocacy perspective on inclusion: Conflict or harmony? SET Special 1999: Special Education. Wellington: NZCER.

O'Brien, P., Tuck, B., Cummins, R., & Elkins, J. (1998). Visual behaviour and dyadic interaction between people with intellectual disability and people who are non-disabled. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 42(1), 13-21.

Riley, Y., & O’Brien, P. (1998). Perceptions of a shared care programme: The view of families. New Zealand Journal of Disability Studies, 5, 99-166.

Wilson, P., & O’Brien, P. (1998). Creating a self supporting network within a tertiary education setting for people who had periods of mental ill health. New Zealand Journal of Disability Studies, 5, 36-50.

Papers in conference proceedings/association publications

O'Brien, P. (2006). Bridging the divide between the ordinary and the extraordinary. IDA, Intellectual Disability Australisia, 27(3) 3-6; 13-18

O’Brien, P., McLean, M., & Espiner, D. (2003). Professional development in nonaversive intervention strategies: Bridging the divide between academic institutions and the workplace. Referred paper, CD Rom NZARE/AARE conference proceedings, University of Auckland, New Zealand 29 November-3 December

Thesing, A., O’Brien, P., & Herbert, P. (2002). Alternative education quality programmes for young people alienated from the school system. Referred paper, CD Rom, NZARE Conference Proceedings, Massey University, Palmerston North, 5-8 December

Research monographs

O’Brien, P., Shevlin, M., O’Keeffe, M., Kenny, M., Fitzgerald, S., Edwards, s. & O’Shea, A. (2008) Inclusive education: a tertiary experience and transferable model? Lessons learned from the Certificate in Contemporary Living Programme Report prepared for the National Disability Authority by the National Institute for Intellectual Disability, Trinity College Dublin (pp. 1-97). NIID Monograph 3

O’Brien, P., Kenny, M., & Mahony, K. (2006). Resources required for the implementation of the provisions of the EPSEN Act regarding IEP development, implementation and review. Research commissioned by and final report accepted by National Council for Special Education, Dublin (pp. 1-59) NIID Monogrpah 2

O’Brien, P., Thesing, A., & Herbert, P. (2006). Alternative Education: Literature Review and Report on Key Informants’ Experiences. Ministry of Education web site. Retrieved August 11th 2008, from http://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/pulications/schooling/5003 (pp.1-144)

O’Brien, P., Thesing, A., & James, W. (2004). Enhancing effective practice in special education; A pilot study. Research commissioned by and final report Ministry of Education, Wellington, New Zealand (pp. 1-51).

O’Brien, P., Thesing, A., & James, W. (2004). Enhancing effective practice in special education; Portfolio of Evidence. Research commissioned by Ministry of Education, Wellington, New Zealand (pp. 1-134).

O’Brien, P., Miller-Burgering, W., Diesfeld, K., Vickery, R., Lett, L. (2002). The interface between people with intellectual disability and the criminal justice system. Stage 2 Training and advocacy. Auckland: Auckland College of Education/New Zealand Law Foundation (pp.1-81)