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A photograph of Michelle Bergin's face

Michelle Bergin

Dr.

 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1605-2644

Accepting PhD Students

Personal profile

Biography

Dr Michelle Bergin is an occupational therapist, educator and postdoctoral researcher with over 20 years’ experience across health, disability, education and community services in Ireland and internationally. She is currently working on the EU funded Labs2School4DCD project. Her work is grounded in human rights and social justice, focusing on how everyday occupations, especially children’s play, are enabled, tolerated or restricted in public spaces such as schools, and what this means for health, inclusion and equity. Michelle led the Research Ireland funded "Making Space for Play in Irish Schoolyards" project, a national evaluation of play rights in Irish schools.  As a Marie Curie Scholar, her PhD research examined restrictions on play in Irish schoolyards as an issue of occupational justice,  as part of the EU Horizon 2020 P4Play project. Michelle has worked alongside teachers through Teaching Council–funded communities of practice on inclusion, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and supportive school environments and contributes to interdisciplinary networks spanning public health, occupational science, climate justice, play sufficiency and inclusive education. 

Related documents

Education/Academic qualification

Bachelor, BSc Occupational Therapy ( Hons), Trinity College Dublin

Masters, MSc Disability Studies, University College Dublin

PhD Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy (Joint), University of Technology Lulea & University College Cork

External positions

Secretary, Occupational Science Europe

1 May 2026 → …

Committee Member, Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland

Supervisor, European Masters in Occupational Therapy

Working Group, European Network of Occupational Therapists in Higher Education

Committee Member, International Play Association- Irish Branch

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  1. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
  2. SDG 4 - Quality Education
    SDG 4 Quality Education
  3. SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities
    SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
  4. SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
    SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
  5. SDG 13 - Climate Action
    SDG 13 Climate Action
  6. SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
    SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions