Dr Kitty-Rose Foley
Senior Research Fellow
Queensland Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability and Autism Health, Mater Research Institute-UQ
Researcher biography
Kitty is an Occupational Therapist and Senior Research Fellow in the Queensland Centre of Excellence in Autism and Intellectual Disability Health. Kitty is leading the Health Services Development team in the National Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability Health.
Her research program is focused on improving the health and wellbeing of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She completed her PhD at The Kids Institute in Perth, WA. Following this, she undertook a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at UNSW Sydney which involved co-leading the development of the Australian Longitudinal Study of Autism in Adults (ALSAA). Kitty is passionate about conducting research which is co-developed and co-produced. This includes working with people with intellecutal disability and autistic people in research development and implementation.
PhD and MPhil Supervision
- View current and completed supervisions on UQ Researchers.
Find out more information on how to apply for a Research Higher Degree (MPhil or PhD). For all enquiries regarding research supervision, please contact us.
Journal Articles
Happell, Brenda, Warner, Terri, Whitaker, Louise, Foley, Kitty‐Rose, Joffee‐Kohn, Nina, Roper, Cath and Stott, Sam Brhaspati (2025). Towards Coproduction in Mental Health Academia: A Cooperative Inquiry. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 34 (4) e70108, 4. doi: 10.1111/inm.70108
Glanville, Bridgette, Oates, Jennifer, Foley, Kitty-Rose, Hurem, Aida, Osmetti, Lily and Allen, Kachina (2025). Harmonizing identities: a scoping review on voice and communication supports and challenges for autistic trans and gender diverse individuals. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 102849, 1-15. doi: 10.1007/s10803-025-06768-1
Morrison, Chelsea, Cashin, Andrew and Foley, Kitty-Rose (2024). Daily living skill support for autistic people through a neurodiversity-affirming practice lens. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 72 (2) e13002. doi: 10.1111/1440-1630.13002
Doherty, Monica, Foley, Kitty-Rose and Schloss, Janet (2024). Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Autism - A Systematic Review. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 55 (10), 3689-3699. doi: 10.1007/s10803-024-06449-5
Hurley, John, Longbottom, Paula, Bennett, Bindi, Yoxall, Jacqui, Hutchinson, Marie, Foley, Kitty‐Rose, Happell, Brenda, Parkes, Jill and Currey, Kate (2024). Workforce strategies to address children's mental health and behavioural needs in rural, regional and remote areas: A scoping review. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 32 (3), 462-474. doi: 10.1111/ajr.13119
Huang, Yunhe, Trollor, Julian N., Foley, Kitty-Rose and Arnold, Samuel R.C. (2023). “I've spent my whole life striving to be normal”: internalized stigma and perceived impact of diagnosis in autistic adults. Autism in Adulthood, 5 (4), 423-436. doi: 10.1089/aut.2022.0066
Afsharnejad, Bahareh, Milbourn, Ben, Brown, Cherylee, Clifford, Rhonda, Foley, Kitty‐Rose, Logan, Alexandra, Lund, Stephan, Machingura, Tawanda, McAuliffe, Tomomi, Mozolic‐Staunton, Beth, Sharp, Nicole, Hayden‐Evans, Maya, Baker Young, Ellie, Black, Melissa, Zimmermann, Frank, Kacic, Viktor, Bölte, Sven and Girdler, Sonya (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. doi: 10.1111/sltb.12978
Hwang, Ye In Jane, Foley, Kitty-Rose, Elley, Kieran, Brown, Scott, Joy-Leong, Dawn, Li, Xue, Grove, Rachel, Trollor, Julian, Pellicano, Elizabeth and Zheng, Lidan (2023). Experiences of performing daily activities in middle-aged and older autistic adults: a qualitative study. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 53 (5), 2037-2049. doi: 10.1007/s10803-022-05473-7
Huang, Yunhe, Arnold, Samuel R. C., Foley, Kitty-Rose and Trollor, Julian N. (2022). A qualitative study of adults’ and support persons’ experiences of support after autism diagnosis. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 54 (3), 1157-1170. doi: 10.1007/s10803-022-05828-0
Huang, Yunhe, Arnold, Samuel R. C., Foley, Kitty-Rose and Trollor, Julian N. (2022). Experiences of support following autism diagnosis in adulthood. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 54 (2), 518-531. doi: 10.1007/s10803-022-05811-9
Auld, Chelsea, Foley, Kitty-Rose and Cashin, Andrew (2022). Daily living skills of autistic adolescents and young adults: a scoping review. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 69 (4), 456-474. doi: 10.1111/1440-1630.12806
Huang, Yunhe, Arnold, Samuel R. C., Foley, Kitty-Rose and Trollor, Julian N. (2022). Choose your own adventure: pathways to adulthood autism diagnosis in Australia. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 52 (7), 2984-2996. doi: 10.1007/s10803-021-05169-4
Huang, Yunhe, Arnold, Samuel R. C., Foley, Kitty-Rose, Lawson, Lauren P., Richdale, Amanda L. and Trollor, Julian N. (2021). Factors associated with age at autism diagnosis in a community sample of Australian adults. Autism Research, 14 (12), 2677-2687. doi: 10.1002/aur.2610
Zheng, Lidan, Foley, Kitty-Rose, Grove, Rachel, Elley, Kieran, Brown, Scott Andrew, Leong, Dawn-joy, Li, Xue, Pellicano, Elizabeth, Trollor, Julian N and Hwang, Ye In (Jane) (2021). The use of everyday and assistive technology in the lives of older autistic adults. Autism, 26 (6), 1550-1562. doi: 10.1177/13623613211058519
Harvery, Madeleine, Froude, Elspeth H., Foley, Kitty-Rose, Trollor, Julian N. and Arnold, Samuel R. C. (2021). Employment profiles of autistic adults in Australia. Autism Research, 14 (10), 2061-2077. doi: 10.1002/aur.2588
Uljarević, Mirko, Hedley, Darren, Rose-Foley, Kitty, Magiati, Iliana, Cai, Ru Ying, Dissanayake, Cheryl, Richdale, Amanda and Trollor, Julian (2020). Anxiety and depression from adolescence to old age in autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 50 (9), 3155-3165. doi: 10.1007/s10803-019-04084-z
Udovicich, Anthea, Foley, Kitty-Rose, Bull, Danielle and Salehi, Nasim (2020). Occupational therapy group interventions in oncology: a scoping review. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74 (4) 7404205010p1, 4. doi: 10.5014/ajot.2020.036855
Hwang, Ye In, Foley, Kitty-Rose and Trollor, Julian N. (2020). Aging well on the autism spectrum: an examination of the dominant model of successful aging. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 50 (7), 2326-2335. doi: 10.1007/s10803-018-3596-8
Huang, Yunhe, Arnold, Samuel R.C., Foley, Kitty-Rose and Trollor, Julian N. (2020). Diagnosis of autism in adulthood: A scoping review. Autism, 24 (6), 1311-1327. doi: 10.1177/1362361320903128
Foley, Kitty-Rose and den Houting, Jacqueline (2020). Occupational therapists use of autism terminology. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 67 (1), 97-97. doi: 10.1111/1440-1630.12637
Arnold, Samuel, Foley, Kitty-Rose, Hwang, Ye In, Richdale, Amanda L., Uljarevic, Mirko, Lawson, Lauren P., Cai, Ru Ying, Falkmer, Torbjorn, Falkmer, Marita, Lennox, Nick G., Urbanowicz, Anna and Trollor, Julian (2019). Cohort profile: the Australian Longitudinal Study of Adults with Autism (ALSAA). BMJ Open, 9 (12) e030798, 1-16. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-030798
Stacey, Taylor-Leigh, Froude, Elspeth H, Trollor, Julian and Foley, Kitty-Rose (2019). Leisure participation and satisfaction in autistic adults and neurotypical adults. Autism, 23 (4), 993-1004. doi: 10.1177/1362361318791275
Hwang, Ye In (Jane), Srasuebkul, Preeyaporn, Foley, Kitty-Rose, Arnold, Samuel and Trollor, Julian N. (2019). Mortality and cause of death of Australians on the autism spectrum. Autism Research, 12 (5), 806-815. doi: 10.1002/aur.2086
Cvejic, Rachael C., Arnold, Samuel R.C., Foley, Kitty-Rose and Trollor, Julian N. (2018). Neuropsychiatric profile and psychotropic medication use in adults with autism spectrum disorder: Results from the Australian Longitudinal Study of Adults with Autism. BJPsych Open, 4 (6), 461-466. doi: 10.1192/bjo.2018.64
Hwang, Ye In Jane, Foley, Kitty-Rose and Trollor, Julian N. (2017). Aging well on the autism spectrum: The perspectives of autistic adults and carers. International Psychogeriatrics, 29 (12), 2033-2046. doi: 10.1017/S1041610217001521
Birch, Rachael C., Foley, Kitty-Rose, Pollak, Allan, Britt, Helena, Lennox, Nicholas and Trollor, Julian N. (2017). Problems managed and medications prescribed during encounters with people with autism spectrum disorder in Australian general practice. Autism, 22 (8), 136236131771458-1004. doi: 10.1177/1362361317714588
Foley, Kitty-Rose, Pollak, Allan J., Britt, Helena C., Lennox, Nicholas G. and Trollor, Julian N. (2017). General practice encounters with young patients with autism spectrum disorder in Australia. Autism, 22 (7), 1362361317702560-793. doi: 10.1177/1362361317702560
Foley, Kitty-Rose, Taffe, John, Bourke, Jenny, Einfeld, Stewart L., Tonge, Bruce J., Trollor, Julian and Leonard, Helen (2016). Young people with intellectual disability transitioning to adulthood: Do behaviour trajectories differ in those with and without down syndrome?. PLoS ONE, 11 (7) e0157667. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0157667
Leonard, Helen, Foley, Kitty-Rose, Pikora, Terri, Bourke, Jenny, Wong, Kingsley, McPherson, Lyn, Lennox, Nick and Downs, Jenny (2016). Transition to adulthood for young people with intellectual disability: the experiences of their families. European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 25 (12), 1369-1381. doi: 10.1007/s00787-016-0853-2
Foley, Kitty-Rose, Bourke, Jenny, Einfeld, Stewart L., Tonge, Bruce J., Jacoby, Peter and Leonard, Helen (2015). Patterns of depressive symptoms and social relating behaviors differ over time from other behavioral domains for young people with down syndrome. Medicine (United States), 94 (19) 710. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000000710
Foley, Kitty-Rose and Trollor, Julian (2015). Management of mental ill health in people with autism spectrum disorder. Australian Family Physician, 44 (11), 784-790.
Foley, Kitty-Rose, Jacoby, Peter, Einfeld, Stewart, Girdler, Sonya, Bourke, Jenny, Riches, Vivienne and Leonard, Helen (2014). Day occupation is associated with psychopathology for adolescents and young adults with Down syndrome. BMC Psychiatry, 14 (1) 266. doi: 10.1186/s12888-014-0266-z
Foley, Kitty-Rose, Girdler, Sonya, Bourke, Jenny, Jacoby, Peter, Llewellyn, Gwynnyth, Einfeld, Stewart, Tonge, Bruce, Parmenter, Trevor R. and Leonard, Helen (2014). Influence of the environment on participation in social roles for young adults with down syndrome. PLoS ONE, 9 (9) e108413, e108413. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0108413
Foley, Kitty-Rose, Girdler, Sonya, Downs, Jenny, Jacoby, Peter, Bourke, Jenny, Lennox, Nick, Einfeld, Stewart, Llewellyn, Gwynnyth, Parmenter, Trevor R. and Leonard, Helen (2014). Relationship between family quality of life and day occupations of young people with Down syndrome. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 49 (9), 1455-1465. doi: 10.1007/s00127-013-0812-x
Pikora, Terri J., Bourke, Jenny, Bathgate, Katherine, Foley, Kitty-Rose, Lennox, Nicholas and Leonard, Helen (2014). Health conditions and their impact among adolescents and young adults with down syndrome. PLoS One, 9 (5) e96868, 1-8. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0096868
Scott, Melissa, Foley, Kitty-Rose, Bourke, Jenny, Leonard, Helen and Girdler, Sonya (2014). "I have a good life": The meaning of well-being from the perspective of young adults with Down syndrome. Disability and Rehabilitation, 36 (15), 1290-1298. doi: 10.3109/09638288.2013.854843
Foley, K. -R., Jacoby, P., Girdler, S., Bourke, J., Pikora, T., Lennox, N., Einfeld, S., Llewellyn, G., Parmenter, T. R. and Leonard, H. (2013). Functioning and post-school transition outcomes for young people with Down syndrome. Child Care Health and Development, 39 (6), 789-800. doi: 10.1111/cch.12019
Foley, K. R., Dyke, P., Girdler, S., Bourke, J. and Leonard, H. (2012). Young adults with intellectual disability transitioning from school to post-school: A literature review framed within the ICF. Disability and Rehabilitation, 34 (20), 1747-1764. doi: 10.3109/09638288.2012.660603
Foley, K. R., Blackmore, A. M., Girdler, S., O'Donnell, M., Glauert, R., Llewellyn, G. and Leonard, H. (2012). To feel belonged: The voices of children and youth with disabilities on the meaning of wellbeing. Child Indicators Research, 5 (2), 375-391. doi: 10.1007/s12187-011-9134-2
Foley, Kitty-Rose, Downs, Jenny, Bebbington, Ami, Jacoby, Peter, Girdler, Sonya, Kaufmann, Walter E. and Leonard, Helen (2011). Change in Gross Motor Abilities of Girls and Women With Rett Syndrome Over a 3-to 4-Year Period. Journal of Child Neurology, 26 (10), 1237-1245. doi: 10.1177/0883073811402688
Conference Papers
Tse, Tamara, Hoyle, Melanie, Wheatcroft, Jacqui, Urbanowicz, Anna and Foley, Kitty-Rose (2023). Early career researcher and mid career researcher: journeys and survival into research and academia. OTA National Conference and Exhibition 2023, Cairns, QLD, Australia, 21-23 June 2023.
Foley, K. -R., Uljarevic, M., Richdale, A. and Trollor, J. (2016). Self-reported quality of life of autistic adults living in Australia compared to non-autistic adults. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.
Foley, K. -R., Leonard, H., Bourke, J., Downs, J. and Pikora, T. (2016). Transition to adulthood for young people with Down syndrome: Longitudinal research from the Telethon Kids Institute. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.
Hwang, J., Srasuebkul, P., Foley, K.-R., Florio, T., Lennox, N. and Trollor, J. (2016). Mortality and cause of death in those with intellectual disabilities with and without autism spectrum disorder: an exploration of new South Wales state-based administrative data. 2016 IASSIDD World Congress, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 15-19 August 2016. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/jir.12305
Foley, K-R., Bourke, S. Girdler. J. and Leonard, H. (2012). Functioning of young adults with Down syndrome transitioning into post school day occupations. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.
Foley, K. -R., Girdler, S., Bourke, J. and Leonard, H. (2012). Family quality of life of young adults with Down syndrome transitioning from school to post-school. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.
Foley, K-R, Girdler, S., Bourke, J. and Leonard, H. (2012). Behaviour changes over five years for young adults with Down syndrome transitioning from school to post-school. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.