Health Sciences

School of Occupational Therapy

Dr Marilyn DiStefano

Senior Lecturer

BAppSci(Occ.Ther)
Grad Dip (Ergonomics)
PhD

Interests

Research

Faculty of Health Sciences Research Priority Area:
- Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation

School Research Group:
- Enabling Productivity Occupations

Specific Research Interests:
- Ergonomics / Human Factors
- Driver Assessment and Rehabilitation
- Occupational Health and Safety
- Vocational Rehabilitation
- Design and Development

Learning and Teaching Areas

Ergonomics / Human Factors
Driver Assessment and Rehabilitation
Occupational Health and Safety
Vocational Rehabilitation
Design and Development

Professional Activities

Associate Fellow of the Australasian College of Road Safety
Member, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society of Australasia
Member, OT Australia

Recent Private Practice / Consultancy experience

Ergonomics / Human Factors and Occupational Health and Safety
Driver Assessment and Rehabilitation
Occupational Therapy: Adult Rehabilitation

Publications

Recent Book / Journal Publications (last five years)
           
Book Chapters

Di Stefano, M, & Macdonald, W. (2008 in press). An Introduction to Driver Assessment and Rehabilitation, in W.Curtin, M. (Ed). Occupational Therapy and Physical Dysfunction. (6th ed). Philadelphia: Elsevier.

DiStefano, M., & Macdonald, W. (2006). On-the-road evaluation of driving performance. In J. Pellerito (Ed.), Driver rehabilitation and community mobility: principles and practice (pp. 255 - 274). St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier Mosby.

DiStefano, M., & Macdonald, W. (2006). Advanced strategies for on-road driver rehabilitation and training. In J. Pellerito (Ed.), Driver rehabilitation and community mobility: principles and practice (pp. 297 - 310). St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier Mosby.

DiStefano, M, & Macdonald, W. (2006). In-Vehicle Intelligent Transport Systems.  In J. Pellerito (Ed.), Driver rehabilitation and community mobility: principles and practice (pp. 373 - 390). St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier Mosby.
 
DiStefano, M. (2006). On-Road Evaluation and Training of Clients with Hearing Impairments. In J. Pellerito (Ed.), Driver rehabilitation and community mobility: principles and practice (pp. 285 - 295). St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier Mosby.

DiStefano, M. (2006). The Clinical evaluation of Hearing, In J. Pellerito (Ed.), Driver rehabilitation and community mobility: principles and practice (pp. 146 – 152.). St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier Mosby.

Macdonald, W., Pellerito, J., & Di Stefano, M. (2006). Introduction to driver rehabilitation and community mobility. In J. Pellerito (Ed.), Driver rehabilitation and community mobility: principles and practice (pp. 5 - 35). Philadelphia: Elsevier.

Journal Articles

Wheatley, C. & Di Stefano, M. (2007 in press). Individualized Assessment of Driving Fitness for Older Individuals with Health, Disability and Age-Related Concerns. Transport Injury Prevention.

DiStefano, M., & Lovell, R. (2006). Using a participatory research method to develop a handbook for driving instructors to assist with teaching older drivers. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 53, 132-135.

Di Stefano, M., & Macdonald, W. (2003). Intelligent transport systems and occupational therapy practice. Occupational Therapy International, 10 (1), 56 – 74.

Di Stefano, M., & Macdonald, W. (2003). Assessment of older drivers: Relationships among on-road errors, medical conditions and test outcome. Journal of Safety Research, 34, 415 – 429.(Special “Older Driver” research edition).

Selected Conference Presentations: International

Di Stefano, M., & Macdonald, W. (2006). Occupational Therapist Assessment of Functionally Impaired Drivers: Research to Optimize a Standard Set of Route Design Criteria and Driving Maneuvers. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Aging, Disability and Independence Conference, February 1 - 5, (pp. 383-384). St. Petersburg, Florida, USA: University of Florida , Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for Successful Aging.
  
Di Stefano, M. & Macdonald, W. (2006). Characteristics of drivers referred for OT driver assessment within a licensing medical review system. In Proceedings, 14th Congress of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists, 23 - 28 July, 2006, Sydney Convention Centre: OT Australia.

Barber, V. & Di Stefano, M. (2006). An exploratory study investigating a family member’s perspective of a driver experiencing a change in driving ability. In Proceedings, 14th Congress of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists, 23 - 28 July, 2006, Sydney Convention Centre: OT Australia.

Selected Conference Presentations: National

Presentations and full Papers published in Conference Proceedings (Peer reviewed)

Di Stefano, M., & Macdonald, W. (2007 in press). Driving assessment procedures of occupational therapists: some results from a national survey of OT driver assessors. In Proceedings of the Road Safety, Research, Policing and Education Conference, October 17 - 19, Sydney: Australian College of Road Safety.

Di Stefano, M., & Macdonald, W. (2003). Driving Instructor Interventions during On-Road Tests of Functionally Impaired Drivers: Implications for Test Criteria. In Proceedings of the Road Safety, Research, Policing and Education Conference, September 24 - 26, (pp. 70 – 77). Sydney: Australian College of Road Safety.

Presentations and Abstracts published in Conference Proceedings (Peer reviewed)

Di Stefano, M., & Macdonald, W. (2002). Older Driver Errors on VicRoads Review Tests. In Proceedings of the Road Safety, Research, Policing and Education Conference, November 4 – 5, (p. 43), Sydney: Australian College of Road Safety.

Di Stefano, M., & Lovell, R. (2002).  Teaching Older Drivers: A handbook for driving instructors. In Proceedings of the Road Safety, Research, Policing and Education Conference, November 4 - 5, (p.44), Sydney: Australian College of Road Safety.

Macdonald, W., & Di Stefano, M. (2002).  Intelligent cars: making driving easier for older drivers? Invited presentation to the HF2002 Human Factors Conference, Design for the whole person: Integrating physical, cognitive and social aspects, November 27 – 29, Panel on Ergonomics & the Car. Melbourne; Human Factors and Ergonomics Society of Australasia.

Di Stefano, M., & Macdonald, W. (2001). Occupational Therapy On-Road Assessment Driver errors: Implications for Recording and Scoring. In Proceedings OT 21: Continuing Professional Excellence, OT Australia 21st National Conference, Sheraton Brisbane, 1 – 4 April, 2001, Melbourne: OT Australia.

DiStefano, M., & Lovell, R. (2001). Driving in the 21st century: The impact of technology on driving with a functional impairment. In Proceedings OT 21: Continuing Professional Excellence, OT Australia 21st National Conference, (pp. 96 – 98). Sheraton Brisbane, 1 – 4 April, 2001, Melbourne: OT Australia.

DiStefano, M., & Lovell, R. (2000). Driving and Disability. Invited presentation to the 8th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australasian Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine. In Proceedings Rehabilitation: The New Millennium, AFRM (RACP), Hilton on the Park Hotel, Melbourne, 15 – 19th August, 2000. Melbourne: AFRM (RACP).

Di Stefano, M. (2002).The Role of Occupational Therapy, Health Professionals Workshop. Mobility and Safety of Older People Conference, August 23rd, 2002.Organised by the Road Safety Committee of the Victorian State Parliament, Melbourne, Victoria: Victorian Government.