Dr Kirsti Haracz is a registered occupational therapist, mid-career researcher, qualitative methodologist and senior lecturer at the University of Newcastle.

Dr Haracz obtained her PhD from the University of Newcastle in 2016, for her thesis entitled ‘Dealing with the double-whammy: Women’s experiences of schizophrenia and weight gain’. Post PhD, Dr Haracz has maintained her research interests in mental health recovery and lifestyle and health behaviours in people with long term mental and physical health conditions and their carers.

Dr Haracz is the program convenor for the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy Honours Degree at the university of Newcastle. She has extensive experience in course coordination and curriculum development and demonstrates commitment to providing high quality educational experiences through leadership of pedagogical innovations and engagement in health education research.

Dr Haracz has supervised five PhD students and more than 30 honours students to completion and is currently supervising five PhD, one MPhil and two honours students.