Latest news, research and events from the Melbourne Disability Institute at the University of Melbourne
Our research team is working to improve understanding around if and how people with disability (aged 18-64 years) who are not receiving funding through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) are finding and using any support and services they need to participate in the community and the economy.
How can you get involved?
Two important sources of evidence for this project are online surveys for people with disability aged 18-64 years living in Victoria, Tasmania or South Australia who do not have NDIS funding, and for their families and carers. The surveys are open during August and September 2021. Please share these survey links with anyone you think would be interested.
Completing the surveys is voluntary and responses are anonymous. If you have questions or would like more information about the project or the surveys, please visit our website or contact us at md-i@unimelb.edu.au.
Community-Based Research Scheme
Application Period closing soon!
Do you run a great program or service that is making a difference in the lives of people with disability and/or their families? Are you looking to show just how effective it is or what great outcomes you are achieving? At Melbourne Disability Institute we run a program that might just be able to help.
The Melbourne Disability Institute’s Community-Based Research Scheme provides research support and evaluation for strength-based and innovative programs that are making a difference in the lives of people with disability, their families and carers.
Follow the link below to learn more and to access application material. Please note, applications close Thursday, 12 August 2021.
If you have any questions about the program or the application process, please contact Campbell Message, at Campbell.message@unimelb.edu.au.
Vaccination Urgently Needed for Disability Sector
Outbreaks of COVID19 are continuing all across Australia in different states and regions. Without vaccination, people with disability remain at high risk.
Despite being in Phase 1a of the vaccine rollout, vaccination rates in disability group homes are unacceptably low and residents are at risk of further outbreaks.
Read the statement released by the Centre of Research Excellence of Disability and Health, Professor Anne Kavanagh and other leading academics, which calls on governments to rapidly escalate vaccination for people with disability and support workers, improve pandemic preparedness in the sector, and implement best practice responses to outbreaks in disability residential settings.
YES | Youth Employment Study
The Youth Employment Study is a study of Australian youth, aged 15 to 25, looking for work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Intervening early to enable young Australians transition into meaningful, sustainable work is likely to have enormous payoffs for their health and wellbeing, as well as reduce economic costs to society.
The first report from the YES study provides analysis of contemporary economic and social issues in Australia from the perspective of young people. Read the full report here to better understand individual experiences of looking for work, employment programs, previous experiences of work, mental health, disability and experiences of housing and financial stress during this time.
Australasian Research Management Society (ARMS) Virtual Conference: Calling for Abstract Submissions
Conference: 3 Nov - 5 November 2021
Abstract submissions due: 30 August 2021
Abstract submissions should address dynamics, disruption and innovation relating to research across 5 sub-themes; Developing Research, Connecting Research, Conducting Research, Assessing Research and Disseminating Research.
Access the 2021 Abstract Guidelines here and find out more on how to submit here.
For further details about the ARMS event, visit https://arms.eventsair.com/arms-virtual-event-2021
Melbourne Disability Institute | Seed Funding
MDI’s Seed Funding scheme is designed to support University of Melbourne researchers working on small or medium sized projects at the discovery or pilot phase of research. We are looking for University of Melbourne projects that have practical outcomes for people with disability and their families, are based on strong partnerships and have a clear pathway to sustainable funding. The next round of funding will open in August. Contact Kirsten Deane at kirsten.deane@unimelb.edu.au with any questions.
Find out about opportunities and events that are happening in the community below. Interested in promoting your event, sharing a job posting, research opportunity or another item of interest? Send the details through to Sara.Donaldson@unimelb.edu.au.
The Melbourne Disability Institute was established in 2018 to build a collaborative, interdisciplinary and translational disability research program at the University of Melbourne.
Questions? Contact us at md-i@unimelb.edu.au
