Professor Vivienne Riches
Centre for Disability Studies (CDS)
Faculty Medicine and Health
Vivienne Riches is a psychologist, educator, researcher and consultant at the Centre for Disability Studies, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney. Vivienne has undertaken significant research and development work for and with people with disability in areas including vocational training and employment, transition from school to post school, classification and assessment of support needs, community living, social and interpersonal skills, well being, mental and emotional health, behaviour of concern and forensic issues, and Active Support. Vivienne teaches the Diploma of Disability in Singapore and Australia offered by CDS through SydneyLearning, and is also involved in clinical work at the NSW Developmental Disability Health Unit. Member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS), Member IASSID, PSYCHDD, ASID NSW and Board Director for Australasian Society for Intellectual Disability (ASID). Inducted into the Disability Employment Australia Hall Of Fame 2013 in recognition of an outstanding contribution to Disability Employment.
Research and teaching interests include disability support needs assessment and classification, transition from school to work, vocational training and employment, mental and emotional health, social and interpersonal skills training, behaviour of concern and risk enablement, and Active Support for people with disabilities.
- Developmental Disability and Positive Behaviour Support;
- Intellectual disability and mental health;
- Transition from school to work, vocational training and employment;
- Social and interpersonal skills training,
- Active Support for people with disabilities.
- Disability employment - enhancing outcomes
- Autism Spectrum Disorder and employment
- Active Support
- International Society for the Study of Intellectual & Developmental Disability (IASSIDD)
- Australasian Society in Intellectual Disability (ASID) and ASID NSW/ACT
- Registered Psychologist, Australian Psychology Board
- Australian Psychological Society; APS Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Psychology Interest Group; APS Psychology and Christianity Interest Group
2013 Inducted into Disability Employment Australia Hall of Fame, August 7th 2013, Adelaide SA: in recognition of an outstanding contribution to Disability Employment
2011 ASID 2011 Australasian Research Prize for paper “Transforming staff practice through Active Support” Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability 36(3): 1–32: judged to be the most innovative contribution by an Australian author/s resulting in positive life changes for people with an intellectual disability.
1997 Awarded Australian Institute for Inclusive Communities (AIIC) Scholarship for Research in Developmental Disabilities.
1995 Awarded Macquarie University Research Grant for Frustration and anger control among youth with disabilities.
(Ministry of Education Special Education Branch) Invited consultant for prototype Transition School To Work Collaborative Program between Singapore Ministry of Education, Special Education Branch and SG Enable. Provided consultancy on Transition planning for postschool environments and School to Work as well as evaluation framework for the project. Provided targeted staff training and workshops to key staff in five prototype schools and SG Enable staff, 2014-15, and additional SPED schools 2016-17 | |
(Movement for the Intellectually Disabled Singapore (MINDS)) Clinical support | |
(Social Services Training Institute (SSTI)) Development and delivery of Diploma in Disability Studies, offered by the Centre for Disability Studies in partnership with the Social Service Training Institute, Singapore |
Selected publications
(Centre for Disability Studies, 2014)
Publications
Books
- O'Brien, P., Arnold, S., Espiner, D., Riches, V. (2014). Evaluation report on the Developmental Psychiatry Clinic: A Partnership between The Children's Hospital at Westmead and Statewide Behaviour Intervention Service (ADHC). Sydney: Centre for Disability Studies.
Book Chapters
- Riches, T., Riches, V., O'Brien, B. (2020). "Colouring Outside the Lines": Employment and Resilience for Art-Makers with Disabilities. In Loraine McKay, Georgina Barton, Susanne Garvis, Viviana Sappa (Eds.), Arts-Based Research, Resilience and Well-Being Across the Lifespan, (pp. 257-278). Cham: Palgrave Macmillan. [More Information]
- Parmenter, T., Harman, A., Yazbeck, M., Riches, V. (2016). Life skills training for adolescents with an intellectual disability. In Alan Carr, Christine Linehan, Gary OReilly, Patricia N. Walsh and John McEvoy (Eds.), The Handbook of Intellectual Disability and Clinical Psychology Practice: Second Edition, (pp. 605-636). Abingdon: Routledge. [More Information]
- Stancliffe, R., Arnold, S., Riches, V. (2016). The supports paradigm. In Robert L. Schalock and Kenneth D. Keith (Eds.), Cross-Cultural Quality of Life: Enhancing the Lives of Persons with Intellectual Disability (Second Edition), (pp. 133-142). Washington DC: American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD).
Journals
- Cheah, K., Riches, V., Manokara, V. (2024). Impact on persons with disabilities and their families when they are contributors to society through volunteerism and employment. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 37(2), e13172. [More Information]
- Riches, V., O'Brien, P., Manokara, V., Mueller, A. (2023). A study of caregiver support services: Perspectives of family caregivers of persons with intellectual disabilities in Singapore. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 20(1), 117-131. [More Information]
- Wilson, N., Riches, V., Riches, T., Durvasula, S., Rodrigues, R., Pinto, S. (2020). Complex support needs profile of an adult cohort with intellectual disability transitioning from state-based service provision to NDIS-funded residential support. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 45(4), 355-364. [More Information]
Conferences
- Arnold, S., Riches, V., Stancliffe, R. (2016). Advocating for needed supports using a standardised assessment of support needs. 15th World Congress of the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities - Global Partnerships: Enhancing Research, Policy and Practice, Melbourne, Vic: Presentation.
- Arnold, S., Riches, V., Stancliffe, R. (2014). Support needs predict funding need better than adaptive behaviour. IASSIDD-Europe Conference, Vienna: IASSIDD-Europe Conference.
- Arnold, S., Devyver, V., Riches, V., Stancliffe, R. (2013). I-CAN measure Active Support outcomes: Does support change and activity increase through Active Support training? 48th annual conference of the Australasian Society for Intellectual Disability (ASID), Sydney: Australasian Society for Intellectual Disability (ASID).
Report
- Riches, V., Wiese, M., Pye, N. (2008). Evaluation of the innovative support and housing pilots for Disability Services Queensland. Final Report. Sydney: Centre for Developmental Disability Studies, University of Sydney, Australia.
Research Reports
- Riches, V., MacDonald, J. (2016). Enhanced Employment Outcomes Study October 2016, (pp. 1 - 65). Sydney, Australia: Centre for Disability Studies.
- Riches, V., Arnold, S., Gadow, F. (2014). Behaviour Support Policy: Person-Centred Positive Behaviour Support Planning, Sydney, Australia: NSW Family & Community Services.
- Riches, V., Knox, M., O'Brien, B. (2014). Nova Transition To Work (TTW) Program Evaluation Report 2014, (pp. 1 - 47). Sydney, Australia: University of Sydney Centre for Disability Studies.
2024
- Cheah, K., Riches, V., Manokara, V. (2024). Impact on persons with disabilities and their families when they are contributors to society through volunteerism and employment. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 37(2), e13172. [More Information]
2023
- Riches, V., O'Brien, P., Manokara, V., Mueller, A. (2023). A study of caregiver support services: Perspectives of family caregivers of persons with intellectual disabilities in Singapore. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 20(1), 117-131. [More Information]
2020
- Riches, T., Riches, V., O'Brien, B. (2020). "Colouring Outside the Lines": Employment and Resilience for Art-Makers with Disabilities. In Loraine McKay, Georgina Barton, Susanne Garvis, Viviana Sappa (Eds.), Arts-Based Research, Resilience and Well-Being Across the Lifespan, (pp. 257-278). Cham: Palgrave Macmillan. [More Information]
- Wilson, N., Riches, V., Riches, T., Durvasula, S., Rodrigues, R., Pinto, S. (2020). Complex support needs profile of an adult cohort with intellectual disability transitioning from state-based service provision to NDIS-funded residential support. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 45(4), 355-364. [More Information]
2016
- Arnold, S., Riches, V., Stancliffe, R. (2016). Advocating for needed supports using a standardised assessment of support needs. 15th World Congress of the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities - Global Partnerships: Enhancing Research, Policy and Practice, Melbourne, Vic: Presentation.
- Riches, V., MacDonald, J. (2016). Enhanced Employment Outcomes Study October 2016, (pp. 1 - 65). Sydney, Australia: Centre for Disability Studies.
- Parmenter, T., Harman, A., Yazbeck, M., Riches, V. (2016). Life skills training for adolescents with an intellectual disability. In Alan Carr, Christine Linehan, Gary OReilly, Patricia N. Walsh and John McEvoy (Eds.), The Handbook of Intellectual Disability and Clinical Psychology Practice: Second Edition, (pp. 605-636). Abingdon: Routledge. [More Information]
2015
- Arnold, S., Riches, V., Stancliffe, R. (2015). Does a Measure of Support Needs Predict Funding Need Better Than a Measure of Adaptive and Maladaptive Behavior? American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 120(5), 375-394. [More Information]
2014
- Riches, V., Arnold, S., Gadow, F. (2014). Behaviour Support Policy: Person-Centred Positive Behaviour Support Planning, Sydney, Australia: NSW Family & Community Services.
- Foley, K., Jacoby, P., Einfeld, S., Girdler, S., Bourke, J., Riches, V., Leonard, H. (2014). Day occupation is associated with psychopathology for adolescents and young adults with Down syndrome. BMC Psychiatry, 14(1), 1-8. [More Information]
- O'Brien, P., Arnold, S., Espiner, D., Riches, V. (2014). Evaluation report on the Developmental Psychiatry Clinic: A Partnership between The Children's Hospital at Westmead and Statewide Behaviour Intervention Service (ADHC). Sydney: Centre for Disability Studies.
2013
- Arnold, S., Devyver, V., Riches, V., Stancliffe, R. (2013). I-CAN measure Active Support outcomes: Does support change and activity increase through Active Support training? 48th annual conference of the Australasian Society for Intellectual Disability (ASID), Sydney: Australasian Society for Intellectual Disability (ASID).
2012
- Chan, J., Arnold, S., Webber, L., Riches, V., Parmenter, T., Stancliffe, R. (2012). Is it time to drop the term 'challenging behaviour'? Learning Disability Practice, 15(5), 36-38.
2011
- Arnold, S., Riches, V., Stancliffe, R. (2011). Intelligence is as intelligence does: Can additional support needs replace disability? Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 36(4), 258-262. [More Information]
- Riches, V. (2011). Preventing social isolation in adulthood: A discussion around four vignettes. Down Syndrome Quarterly, 13(1&2), 14-19.
- Riches, V., Harman, A., Keen, D., Pennell, D., Harley, J., Walker, M. (2011). Transforming staff practice through active support. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 36(3), 156-166. [More Information]
2009
- Riches, V., Parmenter, T., Llewellyn, G., Hindmarsh, G., Chan, J. (2009). I-CAN: A New Instrument to Classify Support Needs for People with Disability: Part I. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 22(4), 326-339.
- Arnold, S., Riches, V., Parmenter, T., Stancliffe, R. (2009). The I-CAN: Using e-Health to get People the Support they Need. Electronic Journal of Health Informatics, 4(1), 1-7.
- Riches, V., Parmenter, T., Llewellyn, G., Hindmarsh, G., Chan, J. (2009). The Reliability, Validity and Practical Utility of Measuring Supports using the I-CAN Instrument: Part II. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities.
2008
- Riches, V., Wiese, M., Pye, N. (2008). Evaluating a transition model for people with intellectual disability and complex behaviour: What works and what doesn’t (Abstract). Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 52(8/9), 666.
- Riches, V., Wiese, M., Pye, N. (2008). Evaluation of the innovative support and housing pilots for Disability Services Queensland. Final Report. Sydney: Centre for Developmental Disability Studies, University of Sydney, Australia.
- Riches, V., Parmenter, T., Llewellyn, G., Hindmarsh, G., Chan, J. (2008). I-CAN: A New Instrument to Classify Support Needs for People with Disability: Part I. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 22(4), 326-339. [More Information]
2006
- Riches, V., Parmenter, T., Wiese, M., Stancliffe, R. (2006). Intellectual disability and mental illness in the NSW criminal justice system. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 29, 386-396. [More Information]
2005
- Riches, V., Llewellyn, G., Parmenter, T., Hindmarsh, G., Chan, J. (2005). I-CAN: An instrument to classify and assess support needs of people with disability. Australasian Society for the Study of Intellectual Disability - 40TH Annual Conference, Auckland: ASSID.
- Llewellyn, G., Parmenter, T., Riches, V., Hindmarsh, G., Chan, J. (2005). ICAN: A tool to assess support needs of people with ID, based on the WHO's international classification of functioning disability & Health (ICF). 1st International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disabilities (IASSID) Asia-Pacific Regional Congress 2005, United States: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
- Wiese, M., Parmenter, T., McVilly, K., Riches, V., Yazbeck, M., Stancliffe, R., Atkinson, N. (2005). S3-4 Teaching and Research: A Partnership between Australia and Singapore. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 2(3/4), 181-181.
2003
- Riches, V. (2003). Classification of support needs ina residential setting. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 28(4), 323-341. [More Information]
- Riches, V., Green, V. (2003). Social integration in the workplace for people with disabilities: An Australian perspective. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 19(3), 127-142.
Selected Grants
2021
- Homelessness policy and systems for people with disabilities 21/PRO/73276, Gurran N, O'Donovan M, O'Brien P, Riches V, Parmenter T, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute/Research Grant
- NDIS: Reality versus Rhetoric, O'Donovan M, O'Brien P, Riches V, Parmenter T, Australian Research Council (ARC)/Linkage Projects (LP)