Latest news, research and events from the Melbourne Disability Institute at the University of Melbourne
Community-Based Research Scheme
This year we launched the MDI Community-based research scheme to encourage and support the evaluation and research of innovative ideas in the disability sector. The Scheme connects community organisations that are running local, innovative projects demonstrating significant impact on the well-being of people with disability, their families and carers, to researchers at the University of Melbourne in an effort to help build the evidence base in disability.
The first year of the scheme has been successful, with a wide variety of projects funded. A few examples of funded projects include an evaluation of a walking program which offers carers of people with disability an opportunity to share walks with other carers and exchange knowledge, a research project to measure the impact of sport on the lives of amputees, and an evaluation of a day program based on gardening to support participant goals.
Our second and last round for 2019 has now closed with a total of 6 more projects to receive support for research and evaluation of projects that build social capital, share practices, and replicate or scale up ideas. We look forward to our next round in 2020. For more information on the Community-Based Research Scheme, visit our website.
Disability Research Community of Practice
In August, the MDI launched the Disability Research Community of Practice to provide a regular forum for University of Melbourne researchers working in the field of disability to connect. This month we kicked off our lunchtime series with a presentation on policy development by the Honorable Jenny Macklin.
Learn more.
Disability Engagement Strategy - India
On Tuesday, the Melbourne Disability Institute in partnership with the Australia India Institute and the Nossal Institute for Global Health, led a Disability Engagement Strategy for India Roundtable to review and discuss disability project work in India and consider an overarching framework for our work going forward.
The Honorable Luke Donnellan, Minister for Disability, Aging and Carers, opened the session with remarks on the importance of a productive collaboration between the Department of Empowerment of People with Disability in India and the University of Melbourne, as well as the Victorian Government’s support for a disability engagement strategy with India to complement current initiatives in health.
Grand Prize Winner
Beauty Unconfined
Photographer: Shelly Higgs
Diversity in Disability Image Competition
We're very excited to announce the winners of our Diversity in Disability Image Competition! After careful consideration, one grand prize winner and 13 finalists were selected from over 100 submissions by photographers across Australia. We feel these images depict disability from many different perspectives and we are so pleased to share them with you. With so many well-crafted, impactful and diverse images to choose from; our job was not easy! We look forward to showcasing these images across MDI as we continue our work to build a collaborative, interdisciplinary and translational research program to improve the lives of people with disability.
All finalist images can be viewed on our website.
Alicia Yon, Project Manager - Housing
Alicia has a background in education and urban planning, and has mainly worked in policy development, with a focus on inclusive planning practice. She is currently completing a higher degree on broader mainstream service access, including crisis housing, for women with disabilities and complex support needs experiencing violence. Alicia has a longstanding interest in exploring affordable and alternative housing solutions for disadvantaged groups, and has worked in housing-related aspects in both technical and research capacities. Alicia enjoys working across disciplinary boundaries, and is excited to join the Melbourne Disability Institute as an organisation that shares her sense of justice for all people.
Brain Injury Australia's National Brain Injury Conference
28-29 Oct 2019
University of MelbourneBrain Injury Australia's 7th National Brain Injury Conference will be held, in partnership with the Melbourne Disability Institute, at The University of Melbourne in Parkville, on Monday 28th and Tuesday 29th October, 2019. The Conference has become one of the premier learning and development events on the disability calendar – driving improvements in services and supports for the over 700,000 Australians living with a brain injury.
Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy & Developmental Medicine 2020
11-14 Mar 2020
Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre
The AusACPDM 2020 Visionaries conference aims to provide new insights and ways of thinking, opportunities to learn new practice and research approaches and enhance engagement with communities.
The Melbourne Disability Institute was established in 2018 to build a collaborative, interdisciplinary and translational research program to improve the lives of people with disability. The MDI program of research aims to capitalise on national reforms and active partnerships with the disability sector to deliver evidence for change and is centered around providing much-needed evidence for the disability sector and broader community to address the complex problems facing people with disability, their families and carers.
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