Elvin Williams
Qualifications
BSc. Occupational Therapy (Cum Laude) UWC
M.Phil. (Infant Mental Health) US
Introduction
Elvin Williams is a lecturer in the Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Division of Occupational Therapy. He graduated from UWC in 2003 and later pursued his master’s degree in infant mental health at Stellenbosch University. Elvin has worked as the Head of the OT Department at Tygerberg Hospital, Provincial Assistant Director for OT, PT and Prosthetic/Orthotics in the Western Cape Department of Health, and the COO for the Occupational Therapy of South Africa (OTASA). In addition, he has worked in various clinical areas, including mental health, work practice, physical rehabilitation, neurorehabilitation, and pediatrics. Elvin furthermore serves as Board Chair for Empilweni, an NGO in Cape Town and is the Vice President: Policy and Strategic Development for OTASA. Elvin is passionate about working with “persons and groups” on the margins and in his spare time, enjoys taking long walks with his dog and spending time with loved ones.
Areas of interest
Infant, child, and adolescent mental health; Leadership in OT; Public Health; Minority identities in OT.
Current Research Projects
Socially responsive Occupational Therapy practice education
Sexual and gender minority identities in Occupational Therapy education
The National Health Insurance (NHI) and its implications for OT in RSA
Publications
Cowley, B., Lachman, A., Williams, E., & Berg, A. (2020). “I Know That It's Something That's Creating a Bond”: Fathers' Experiences of Participating in Baby Theater with Their Infants in South Africa. Frontiers in Psychiatry. 11. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.580038
Williams, E, de Witt P (2020). Guest Editorial. Voices from the margins. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy. 50 (2), pp. 2-4.
Williams, E, et.al. (2019). The first 1000 days of life and infant mental health: Perceptions of community care workers in the Drakenstein Municipality of the Western Cape. Unpublished thesis: Stellenbosch University, Department of Psychiatry.
Andries, C., Cowley, B., Nhlanhla, L., Noble, J., Whittaker, T., Williams, E., Wirz, B., Lachman, A., Berg, A. and Richter, L., 2018. Could or should a robot rear a baby? Perspectives in Infant Mental Health, 26(2-3).
Williams, E, et al (2017). Guest Editorial: Rehabilitation – strengthening advocacy for change. It’s time to act. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy. 47 (3), pp.2.
Williams, E. (2015). Creating Partnerships for Change: Transformational Leadership within Public Health Occupational Therapy. Focus, 2, pp. 41 - 43.