Hello,

My name is Julie Hughes, MSc, B.Occ. Thy, B.A., PGCE, GCHE, FHEA.

I am an Australian registered Occupational therapist with over 30 years of experience in a variety of clinical, managerial, and education/research roles both in the UK and Australia.

AHPRA registration number: OCC0001991115

My Story

Way back in 1997, I became the first full-time Occupational Therapist in the Leeds Chronic Fatigue Syndrome service, where I helped establish a regional therapy program for individuals living with ME/CFS. This experience sparked a deep and lasting interest in supporting people with ME/CFS, and more recently, those with Long Covid and other invisible conditions that contribute to exhaustion and disability.

After 26 busy years in the UK, I returned to Queensland in 2017 and I returned to education as a lecturer in Occupational Therapy in Brisbane. My return also made me aware of the significant gap in support for people with ME/CFS in Australia, which motivated me to restart my research in this area through small-scale projects alongside my Honours students.

More recently, I decided to reestablish my private clinical practice, offering telehealth services to individuals across Australia who face challenges accessing healthcare providers knowledgeable about the complexity—and often the stigma—associated with invisible or hidden disabilities. I plan to provide compassionate, evidence-informed support to help people better manage exhaustion and live more fulfilling lives.

Outside of work, I enjoy life in the Sunshine Coast hinterland with my husband. We love spending time outdoors, especially bushwalking, and I’m also a proud mother to two grown sons.