Fellows - Olivia Jakobs

Dr Olivia Jakobs
Senior Researcher in Clinical Governance, Clinical Governance Unit, Clinical Operations
ACT Health
PhD, BSpPath(Hons), BA, CSP, AMusA, ATCL

Contact Details:
Telephone: 6205 2643
Email: olivia.jakobs@act.gov.au

 

 

 

 

 

 

Biography

Dr Jakobs’ background is in Speech Pathology. She is a Certified Speech Pathologist (CSP) and Member of Speech Pathology Australia, the national body for Speech Pathology in Australia.

Dr Jakobs’ doctoral research is in the clinical practice area of paediatric dysphagia, a sub-discipline in Speech Pathology. Her dissertation is concerned with the place of paediatric dysphagia in speech pathology practice, and in speech pathology training, in Australia, where paediatric dysphagia is a marginalised sub-discipline. Against the background of an emerging need for models of practice in paediatric dysphagia, and for models of training, Dr Jakobs’ dissertation offers a composite perspective: by way of an analysis of the Australian speech pathology profession’s own view of its competencies and preparedness for practice in paediatric dysphagia; the description of the establishment and operations of an interdisciplinary dysphagia clinic in a University Speech Pathology Department, which provides one model for the delivery of paediatric dysphagia services, and paediatric dysphagia clinical education and in-service training; and a conceptualisation of paediatric dysphagia practice through the notion of “failure-to-thrive”. The studies contribute to the disciplinary knowledge of the speech pathology profession in the Australian context by combining an understanding of speech pathologists’ and students’ perspectives of their needs in paediatric dysphagia with a report on a real-world application of innovative principles of patient care and professional training in this medically complex clinical practice area.

Dr Jakobs’ major areas of undergraduate study were Speech Pathology, Linguistics, Psychology and Business German. Dr Jakobs was awarded her Bachelor of Speech Pathology degree with First Class Honours and a University Medal at The University of Newcastle, Australia. She was also awarded the Speech Pathology Australia Student Award. Dr Jakobs has proficiency in German reading, writing and speaking, having resided with her family in Germany for two years as a child.

Between 2000-2004, Dr Jakobs held various academic and clinical appointments in Linguistics and Speech Pathology at The University of Newcastle, Australia. Since 2003, Dr Jakobs has held senior positions with ACT Health in Clinical Governance. Until March 2007, Dr Jakobs worked closely with Associate Professor Wayne Ramsey in the position of Senior Policy Officer in Clinical Governance to develop a clinical quality, safety and risk management framework for ACT Health. Between 2004-2006, Associate Professor Ramsey and Dr Jakobs jointly supervised the design, implementation and documentation stages of research projects completed by first- and second-year medical students enrolled in the MBBS graduate-entry program at the ANU Medical School.

Dr Jakobs’ current role as Senior Researcher in Clinical Governance is to provide high-level strategic support to the Senior Specialist in Clinical Governance that ensures the provision of timely and appropriate advice to the Deputy Chief Executive on clinical governance matters.

The Clinical Governance Unit supports the three peak clinical governance committees in ACT Health, including the:

• Clinical Privileges Committee (CPC), which provides specialist advice in the medical specialist and dental appointment and re-appointment process through its conduct of the extraordinary (or unplanned) review of clinical privileges for doctors and dentists employed by ACT Health; 
• Clinical Audit Committee (CAC), which oversees territory-wide clinical audit, clinical review and incident management processes conducted throughout ACT Health by augmenting existing Divisional and Stream committee structures and processes across the territory; and
• Health Technology Assessment Committee (HTAC),which advises on the role, safety, efficacy and resource implications of proposed new technologies in the ACT, considering only health technologies that have been supported for use within Australia by a recognised authority, such as the Australian Government Medical Services Advisory Committee

Current Student

No student supervision in 2008.

Publications

• Jakobs, O. M., Mathisen, B. A., Baines, S. K., & Jones, P. D. (2004). Competency in paediatric dysphagia : A professional requirement for speech pathologists in Australia. In B. E. Murdoch, J. Goozee, B. Whelan, & K. Docking, (Eds.), Proceedings of the 26th World Congress of the International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics. CD-ROM, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: Speech Pathology Australia.
• Jakobs, O. M., Mathisen, B. A., Jones, P. D., & Baines, S. K. (2004). Making educational innovation in paediatric dysphagia economically sustainable. In B. E. Murdoch, J. Goozee, B. Whelan, & K. Docking, (Eds.), Proceedings of the 26th World Congress of the International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics. CD-ROM, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: Speech Pathology Australia.
• Jakobs, O. M., Mathisen, B. A., Baines, S. K., & Jones, P. D. (2002). Failure to thrive in an Australian Context: A Clinical Profile. In C. Williams & S. Leitao (Eds.), Journey from the Centre: Proceedings of the 2002 Speech Pathology Australia National Conference (pp. 87-94). Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: Speech Pathology Australia.
• Jakobs, O. M., Mathisen, B. A., Jones, P. D., & Baines, S. K. (2001). Failure to thrive in Australian infants: An investigation of oral-motor function and feeding development. In L. Wilson & S. Hewat (Eds.), Evidence and Innovation: Proceedings of the 2001 Speech Pathology Australia National Conference (pp. 233-240). Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: Speech Pathology Australia.
• Jakobs, O. M., & Mathisen, B. A. (1999). Failure to thrive in infancy: Identification of an Australian population. In S. McLeod & L. McAllister (Eds.), Towards 2000 - Embracing Change, Challenge & Choice: Proceedings of the 1999 Speech Pathology Australia National Conference (pp. 237-245). Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: Speech Pathology Australia.
• Mathisen, B., Jakobs, O. M., Jones, P., Baines, S., & Dathan-Horder, K. (2002). Client satisfaction with the interdisciplinary dysphagia clinic. In C. Williams & S. Leitao (Eds.), Journey from the Centre: Proceedings of the 2002 Speech Pathology Australia National Conference (pp. 79-86). Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: Speech Pathology Australia.
• Jakobs, O. M. & Mathisen, B. A. (2004). The competency of Australian speech pathologists in paediatric dysphagia. Poster presented at the Thirteenth Annual Dysphagia Research Society (DRS) Meeting. Montreal, Canada.
• Jakobs, O. M. & Mathisen, B. A. (2005). A perspective on paediatric dysphagia and speech pathology in Australia. Poster presented at the National Conference of Speech Pathology Australia, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 

Projects

Not currently involved in any ANU MBBS projects.

CV

CV Olivia Jakobs