Dr Kate Rachel Gould, BBNSc (Hons), DPsych (Clinical Neuropsychology) is a Senior Research Fellow who leads a theme of clinically applied research on understanding and improving cognitive, psychiatric and behavioural changes following acquired brain injury (ABI) with the Monash-Epworth Rehabilitation Research Centre. Dr Gould is a scientist-practitioner, with her research synergistically enhanced by her clinical skills as a practising Clinical Neuropsychologist in community brain injury rehabilitation. She leads experimental, qualitative, scoping, intervention-based and translation studies that have a strong consumer co-design focus.

Dr Gould currently leads a landmark study mapping the longitudinal course of psychiatric disorders following Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). This body of work is foundational in the design of interventions to treat post-TBI psychiatric disorders and has been cited in international clinical recommendations, and three practice handbooks.

A complimentary stream of research works to understand and improve behavioural changes following ABI. Dr Gould was the clinical lead on the world’s first randomised trial of Positive Behaviour support for adults with ABI, funded by the Transport Accident Commission. She now leads the translation of findings from this project, and in 2021 established the Positive Behaviour Service at the Turner Clinics, Monash University, where she provides clinical training in Positive Behaviour Support to allied health clinicians, provisional psychologists and speech therapy trainees. Dr Gould is working with people with living experience of ABI and challenging behaviour to co-design clinical intervention resources and a podcast.

Dr Gould has pioneered the recognition of the vulnerability of people with ABI to cybercrime, now leading the CYBERABILITY project, together with people with living expertise, the co-design of community education resources, validation of novel measures, and tailored psychological interventions (project link below).

Dr Gould has published 27 peer-reviewed articles and two book chapters in brain injury and psychological disorders (cited over 978 times, Source: Google Scholar; h-index=17). Dr Gould’s research has attracted $1,741,196 in funding. Her innovative and impactful work has been recognised by the Turner Institute Strategic Grant (2021), Turner Institute Consumer and Community Involvement Award (2021), Vice Chancellor’s Award for her innovative suicide risk management procedures (2020), Allen Martin Research Scholarship from the Summer Foundation (2018), the ASSBI Clinical Innovation Award (2018) and the NTRI Centre of Excellence in TBI Research Rehabilitation Fellowship (2012-13).

Dr Gould is an active clinical and research mentor who has supervised to completion 2 doctoral students, 4 honours students, 3 clinical placement trainees and 1 clinical registrar. She is currently supervising 3 doctoral students. She has presented at over 30 national and international conferences, regularly consults to the community and industry sectors, and is subject matter expert for traditional media and podcasts.

Related Links:

• Psych: Research Themes
• CYBERABILITY Project
• Twitter: @THINKFULLY_