University of Cape Town

Fadia is an Occupational Therapist by profession. She completed both her undergraduate (BSc in Occupational Therapy) and post graduate (Masters in Occupational Therapy) degrees at the University of Cape Town (UCT). Fadia is currently an African Mental Health Research Initiative (AMARI) PhD fellow based at the Alan Flischer Centre for Public Mental Health. Prior to commencing her studies she was employed as a senior clinical educator in the Division of Occupational Therapy at UCT.

Fadia considers herself to be a lifelong learner and disability rights activist who focuses on public health issues that impact on access to living, socialising, learning and working opportunities for marginalised sectors of the population. She is passionate about the contribution occupational therapists can make towards a collective understanding of the impact of occupations on the health and well-being of communities. She has actively participated in engaged scholarship projects related to public mental health, intersectoral collaboration, health innovation, curriculum development and social engagement.

Fadia is interested in mental health service user perspectives and through her doctoral study she intends to explore recovery focussed psychosocial interventions for men with severe mental illness and comorbid substance use disorders.

Supervisors:

Associate Professor Katherine Sorsdahl,  University of Cape Town

Professor Bronwyn Myers, University of Cape Town, MRC

Professor Roshan Galvaan, University of Cape Town