Exciting Start to 2025 with QDRN!

Happy New Year! We're thrilled to bring you the first Queensland Disability Research Network (QDRN) update for 2025.

A big thank you to everyone who expressed interest in serving on the 2025 QDRN Advisory Group and Sector Stakeholder Committee. Your support drives our mission to foster impactful disability research and inclusive collaboration.

We’re proud to announce the members of these groups, representing diverse expertise and lived experience:

2025 QDRN Advisory Group

• Professor Kate Ames (Torrens University)
• Adjunct Professor Ruth Barker (James Cook University)
• Professor Charlotte Brownlow (University of Southern Queensland)
• Sasha Job (CQUniversity)
• Professor Byron Keating (Queensland University of Technology)
• Professor Elizabeth Kendall (Griffith University)
• Dr. Talitha Kingsmill (QDRN Lead)
• Professor Sean Tweedy (The University of Queensland)
• Adjunct Professor Denise Wood (University of the Sunshine Coast)

2025 QDRN Sector Stakeholder Committee

• Jesse Althaus (Queensland Advocacy for Inclusion - QAI)
• Simon Clough (Queensland Alliance for Mental Health - QAMH)
• Nina Carr, Kate Dufty, Maria O’Hara, Belinda Thompson, Peter Tully, Nerine Williams (Advocates & Citizen Scientists)
• Ewan Filmer (Capricorn Citizen Advocacy)
• Dr. Olivia Gatfield (Autism CRC)
• Katie Grehan (Outback Independent Living Inc.)

The QDRN unites researchers, advocates, and stakeholders to advance inclusive research through quality co-design and collaboration across Queensland universities, government, and community sectors.

Our vision? To improve the lives and participation of people with disability through sustainable, impactful research partnerships.

Stay tuned for updates on our work throughout the year!

To learn more or get involved, reach out to us at qdrn@griffith.edu.au or connect directly with Dr. Talitha Kingsmill at t.kingsmill@griffith.edu.au.

Let’s make 2025 a year of transformative progress for disability inclusion and research.