Roelien Funchal

Roelien Funchal joined the University of East Anglia (UEA) in 2018 as a Lecturer in Occupational Therapy and is currently Course Director and Admissions Officer for the BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy programme. The course has been ranked the top occupational therapy course in the UK for the past three consecutive years.

Roelien qualified as an Occupational Therapist at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, where she also completed a British Psychological Society (BPS) recognised Honours degree in Social Sciences, specialising in Psychology. After relocating to the UK in 2008, she gained 18 years of experience as a paediatric occupational therapist across NHS community and acute services, special schools, and the private sector.

In 2015, Roelien completed a Master’s degree in Sensory Integration at the University of Ulster, followed by a Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Education at UEA in 2019. She is an accredited Advanced Practitioner in Sensory Integration and has undertaken postgraduate training in the administration of ADOS assessments and in Bobath Neurodevelopmental Treatment.

She continues to combine academic and clinical roles, holding an honorary position as Consultant Occupational Therapist for a private OT practice, where she supervises staff, supports multi-disciplinary assessments, and leads parent and teacher conferences.

She also serves as a reviewer for the Infant Mental Health Journal, is a member of the Oxford i-TRAUMA Interdisciplinary Network, the Oxford University Interdisciplinary Policy Roundtable advisory group, affiliated with the Rees Centre at the University of Oxford.

Roelien is currently completing a Professional Doctorate in Health and Social Care, focusing on the impact of sensory integration difficulties on the daily lives of children and families.

Proud to be an Occupational Therapist, she is passionate about advancing the profession through high-quality education, research, and clinical practice, inspiring the next generation of OTs.