Dr Julia Sterman
Senior Lecturer
Occupational Therapy
Areas of expertise: occupational therapy; neurodiversity; intersectional; autism; inclusion; qualitative; case study
Phone: +61 2 6209 1251
Email: Julia.Sterman@acu.edu.au
Location: ACU Canberra Campus
HDR Supervisor accreditation status: HDR Supervisor (Provisional)
ORCID ID: 0000-0001-6941-2642
Julia Sterman is a Senior Lecturer in Occupational Therapy whose research focuses on culturally and neurodiversity affirming care for autistic people using a critically reflexive lens and increasing occupational participation and inclusion for children with disabilities through a focus on changing tasks and environments. She has co-led research on family-centred emergency preparedness, and contributed to commissioned research by the Scottish Government on the government response to the COVID-19 pandemic for paediatric populations.
Julia brings an international perspective in her research through her experience working in the USA and Scotland, as well as her ongoing international collaborations.
Select publications
- Sterman, J., Wagland, Z., Scott-Cole, L., Spassiani, N., & Njelesani, J. (2025). Navigating Racism, Stigma, and Autism Services: A scoping review of the lived experiences of racially and ethnically minoritized families. PLOS Mental Health. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmen.0000481
- Wagland, Z., Sterman, J., Scott-Cole, L., Spassiani, N., & Njelesani, J. (2025). Promoting neurodiversity affirming care for Autistic children: A scoping review. Neurodiversity. Doi.org/10.1177/27546330251357479
- Sterman, J., & Merighi, J. (2024). It's been a hard year": How families who have children with disabilities and chronic health conditions experience the COVID-19 pandemic. Children and Youth Services Review. 164. Doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.107858
- Flanagan, S., Sterman, J., Merighi, J., & Batty, R. (2023). Bridging the gap, how interprofessional collaboration can support emergency preparedness for children with disabilities and their families: an exploratory qualitative study. BMC Public Health, 23(1), 777. Doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15580-4
- Sterman, J., Gustafson, E., Eisenmenger, L., Duffy, E., Edwards, J. (2023) Autistic adult perspectives on occupational therapy for Autistic children and youth. OTJR: Occupation, Participation, and Health. 43(2), 237-244. Doi 10.1177/15394492221103850
- Spencer, G., Stillianesis, S., Villeneuve, M., Sterman, J., Wyver, S., Beetham, K., Tranter, P., Naughton, G., Ragen, J., Bundy, A. (2021). Parents' perspectives on managing risk in play for children with a disability. Disability and Society. 1-19. Doi:10.1080/09687599.2021.1874298
- Sterman, J., Njelesani, J., & Carr, S. (2022). Anti-racism and occupational therapy education: Beyond diversity and inclusion. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education. Doi: 10.26681/jote.2022.060103
- Sterman, J. & Njelesani, J. (2021). Becoming anti-racist occupational therapy practitioners: A scoping study. OTJR: Occupation, Participation, and Health. 41(4) 24 Doi: 10.1177/15394492211019931
- Sterman, J., Villevueve, M., Spencer, G., Wyver, S., Beetham, K., Naughton, G., Tranter, P., Ragen, J., Bundy, A. (2019). Creating play opportunities on the school playground: Educator experiences of the Sydney Playground Project. Occupational Therapy Journal of Australia. 67(1), 62-73. Doi: 10.1111/1440-1630.12624
- Sterman, J., Naughton, G., Bundy, A., Froude, E., & Villeneuve, M. (2019). Outdoor play decision-making by mothers of children with disabilities at home and in the community. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy. 27(5), 373-384. Doi:10.1080/11038128.2019.1684556
- Sterman, J., Naughton, G., Bundy, A., Froude, E., & Villeneuve, M. (2018). Is play a choice? Application of the capabilities approach to children with disabilities on the school playground. International Journal of Inclusive Education. 24(6), 579-596. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2018.1472819
Projects
- Scottish Covid-19 inquiry: Health and social care for under 18s; 2024; McKay, C., Stavert, J., Breen, C., McKay E., Spassiani, N., Rose, S., Petropoulou, E., Davey, J., Sterman, J., Thompson, K., Higgins, A., Woodrow, A., & King, M. Funded by the Scottish Government ($55,000).
- Towards evidenced-based neurodiversity affirming occupational therapy practice; 2021-2022; Sterman, J., & Spassiani, N. Funded by Edinburgh Napier University ($16,000)
- Get To Know Me: Understanding the experiences of people with disabilities when accessing emergency services; 2021-2022. Spassiani, N., Sterman, J., Murray, J., Piotrowska, B., & Shapiro, E. Funded by Edinburgh Napier University Public Engagement in Research Fund ($8,000).
- Emergency Preparedness for Children with Disabilities or Chronic Health Conditions and Their Families in Minnesota; 2020-2023; Sterman, J., & Merighi, J. Funded by University of Minnesota Office of Academic and Clinical Affairs ($300,000).
International journal review panels
- Editorial board: OTJR: Occupational Therapy Journal of Research (2023- current)
Public engagement
- Sterman, J. (2021) Family-centered planning: Preparing before an emergency. Impact. 34(1) https://publications.ici.umn.edu/impact/34-1/back-cover
