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Professor of Rehabilitation Studies, University of Sydney

Professor Craig was the Professor of Behavioural Sciences in the Department of Medical and Molecular Biosciences, University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) from 1999 to 2007. He also held the position of Associate Dean (Research) in the Faculty of Science, UTS from 2001 to 2005, and was founding chair of the UTS Human Research Ethics Committee from 1993 to 2001. He was Alternate Dean, University Graduate School, UTS from 2002-2005, and was acting Dean of Science for various times between 2001-2004. Professor Craig was invited to take up a visiting Professorship in South-West University (SWU), Bulgaria 2002, and was granted an Honorary Doctorate (Honoris Causa) in 2002 for his contribution to neurological research by SWU.

In mid 2007, Professor Craig left his UTS Professorship in order to join colleagues at the Rehabilitation Studies Unit, as an Honorary Professor. In addition to working as a Senior Clinical Psychologist in the READ Clinic where he treats psychological injury (eg. depression, PTSD) arising from physical injury such as spinal cord injury, head injury, musculoskeletal injuries, and problems of chronic pain, he is devoting his time to research in the area of neurological disorders, specifically in the field of psychological injury arising from physical injury (eg. spinal cord injury). For instance, his team was the first to mount, in Australia and overseas, a prospective study of psychological adjustment and treatment from admission to 6 years after a spinal cord injury. He established the efficacy of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for improving adjustment to SCI, and he showed that brain wave activity (EEG) is substantially altered as a result of suffering a SCI. He has also found links between neuropathic pain and brain wave activity in SCI people, and has studied the association between chronic fatigue, quality of life, feelings of helplessness (self efficacy) and pain in people with SCI. He also developed and co-invented “hands-free” control technology known as the Mind Switch. The Mind Switch uses conscious control of brain wave activity and allows a severely disabled persons such as someone with tetraplegia to manipulate devices such as their TV, PC, room lights and so on. The Mind Switch to date is the only novel brain computer interface hands-free control technology that has undergone a clinical trial (Craig et al., 2002) and shown to be effective.

In October 2013 Professor Craig was named as a Professor of Rehabilitation Studies (Psychosocial Health). This position continues his involvement in researching injury and recovery. This professorial position is funded by the Motor Accident Authority, and the major emphasis is on investigating psychological injury and health determinants associated with motor vehicle crashes

Professor Craig has been an Editor-in-Chief for an international Elsevier Journal (2007-2011). He has written invited papers on neurological disorder in journals such as Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, and Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, a commissioned paper for the College of Psychiatry, UK. He has published over 180 refereed journal papers, book chapters, and refereed conference papers. He has won over $6 million from the Australian Research Council in the past 15 years and graduated over 20 Post Graduate students. He has also had significant funding from the NSW State Government for SCI research with colleagues, attaining a $1 million grant as a Chief Investigator and a $2 million grant as a co-investigator in 2005-2009. He has also received over $1 million in grant funding from the MAA and LTCSA from 1997 to 2012 for his injury related research.

Experience

  • –present
    Professor of Rehabilitation Studies, The University of Sydney