Category Disability Research   Show all

  • Inclusive Futures Research Writing Competition 2024

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    Research reimagining a world where disability is not a barrier.

    Supported by The Hopkins Centre, Griffith University

    What is the Inclusive Futures Writing Competition?

    We are asking researchers to write about their research that contributes to an inclusive future for all. Entries must be written in easy-to-understand language and tell a compelling story about published or in-progress research that positively impacts the lives of people with disability.

    Who can enter the competition?

    The competition is open to individuals, not groups. To enter the competition, you must be a principal or associate investigator on the research you are writing about.

    How do I enter the competition?

    Register to enter the competition through the online entry form: https://forms.office.com/r/g3TEWh5frW.

    Entries are to be submitted via email to: inclusivefutures@griffith.edu.au

    You will be required to provide:

    • a photograph of yourself suitable for publication (headshot)
    • a biography of 60 to 80 words
    • a written piece about your research of 700 to 800 words, submitted as an Microsoft Word document
    • a copyright-free image that complements your written piece (optional)
    • some details about the research you are writing about e.g. ethics approval number, citation of a published article, funding acknowledgement, name of chief investigator–if this isn’t you.

    A young middle age woman with long brown hair sits crosslegged on the floor writing onto her laptop.

    What do I include in the written piece?

    Your written piece should:

    • explain your research (or a specific aspect of your research)
    • describe how your research will impact the lives of people with disability and contribute to an inclusive future for all
    • explain why readers should care about your research.

    What writing style do I use?

    • Using plain language, your piece should target a non-scientific audience.
    • A narrative or storytelling style that engages readers is preferred.
    • Avoid exaggeration and overreach. Be open, honest and realistic.
    • For guidelines on the use of Artificial intelligence (AI) please refer to the Inclusive Futures Research Writing Competition 'Terms and Conditions'.

    When does the competition close, and when will the winner be announced?

    Entries open Wednesday 23 October and close on Friday 22 November.

    The winning entry will be announced on International Day of People with Disability, Tuesday, 3 December 2024.

    How will my entry be judged?

    Members of a judging panel will independently score entries.

    The panel will consider:

    • Has the writer explained the research in a way that is easy to understand?
    • Has the writer made a clear case for how the research positively impacts the lives of people with disabilities and contributes to an inclusive future for all?
    • Does the writer explain why the reader should care about the research?
    • Is the piece compelling to read?

    The judges are:

    • Person (expert by experience)
    • Person (expert by experience)
    • Person (writing/journalism background)
    • Person (professional in the disability and rehabilitation area)

    What is the prize?

    All short-listed entries will be published in ‘Research for Inclusive Futures’, a digital compendium prepared and hosted by Inclusive Futures, Griffith University. The compendium will be freely available and widely shared.

    The entry voted the best by the judging panel will receive an AUD$500 cash prize and acknowledgement as the ‘Judges Choice’.

    Please read the Terms and Conditions and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) documents on our website for more detailed information.

    If you have any questions, please email inclusivefutures@griffith.edu.au

    More information

    Find out more and access all supporting documents on our website or by scanning the QR code below.

    A young man and wheelchair user sits at his desk typing on his laptop, he is holding a pet dog in his lap.




  • Inclusive Futures: Welcoming Dr. Lisa Stafford, ARC Future Fellow

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    A montage of three photos of Dr Lisa Stafford, a wheelchair user and middle age white woman with long blonde hair.Dr. Lisa Stafford, ARC Future Fellow

    Griffith University researchers have secured over $8.5 million in funding for eight out of 22 projects announced in the latest Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellowship round. With eight fellowships granted, totalling $8,587,849, Griffith achieved an 36.4% success rate—one of the highest in the country.

    Among these outstanding researchers, we’re excited to welcome Dr. Lisa Stafford to the Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability team. Dr. Stafford has been awarded $1,052,822 for her project, "Transport Equity for All".

    This project builds on Lisa’s existing body of work and aims to enhance how transport equity is understood, included, and applied in transport planning. Through a collaborative approach with people with disability and transport planners, the project will co-design a practice framework and tools to guide more inclusive decision-making. By co-creating this knowledge and developing practical methods, the project seeks to significantly advance transport equity for people with disability across Australia.

    About Dr. Lisa Stafford

    Lisa is passionate about inclusive sustainable communities and transport equity. With over 25 years of experience as a researcher, educator, and planner across government, non-government, and university sectors, Lisa continues to lead change at the intersection of disability participation, urban planning and transport. Her work also champions inclusive participatory and co-creation methods to ensure the ‘voices’ of all people, particularly children and people with complex communication needs are heard in research and public planning.

    Lisa has lead research, practice and strategic transformation in inclusive community planning and mobility/transport equity to improve social-economic participation of people with disabilities. Her recent work has included:

    Lisa brings valuable insights from her lived experience as a woman with disability. Lisa lives with multiple autoimmune diseases and uses a walking stick and power wheelchair for daily mobility. Additionally, her leadership experience across various boards and committees continues to be instrumental in advancing inclusive communities and cities, systems, transport, and disability rights for all Australians. Currently Lisa serves as an Australian Human Rights Commission Includeability Ambassador and recent appointment as Chair of Disability-Informed Ethical Oversight Panel for National Disability Data Asset. Lisa is also a member of the Transport Australia Society (TAs), Disability Leadership Institute, and the Planning Institute of Australia (MPIA).

    She will join us in 2025 to begin the next chapter of her important work on transport equity.

    A group of attendees and panellists at the Transport Conference 2024 including Dr Lisa Stafford, a wheelchair user who is seated front right. This image is courtesy of Justin Cooper Photography.Photo credit: Justin Cooper Photography, Transport Conference 2024.


    How Lisa’s project will benefit Australians

    Better ways of planning transport to ensure its fair and accessible for all Australians is a significant need.

    Transport is essential to everyday life yet remains one of the most reported forms of discrimination experienced by Australian with disabilities.

    Every Australian will have an experience of disability in their lifetime, and transport equity is a way of ensuring access needs are met for the most disadvantage to ensure same level of services as everyone.

    Problems persist due to little knowledge and practice know how, and gaps in existing national standards. Without fit-for-purpose knowledge to guide planners, applying equity in transport will remain makeshift.

    This research will work directly with Australian transport planners and people with disabilities to co-create new knowledge and practice tools, and will be freely available on public website, public information hubs, professional bodies magazines, and through free professional seminars. Applying the new knowledge will inform better planning of transport for everyone, removal of barriers to social-economic participation, and creating fairer access and increased opportunities to work, education, health, recreation, and family/friends critical to everyday life.

    An inclusive fit-for-purpose transport systems will reduce spending on expensive disability transport support for some due to improved access to public and active transport, as well as lowering emissions with mode shift and increase usage.

    Transport Equity for All – Project Summary
    Read more: https://dataportal.arc.gov.au/NCGP/Web/Grant/Grant/FT240100262

    More information

    inclusivefutures@griffith.edu.au

    lisa.stafford@griffith.edu.au




  • National Pain Week: Making our best guess of the world - how personal narratives help and hinder the chronic pain experience

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    The Hopkins Centre and Griffith Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability invite all members, subscribers, individuals with lived experience of pain, practitioners and anyone with an interest in chronic pain management to join us for this very special Hopkins Hour for National Pain Week, 2024.

    Originally created by Chronic Pain Australia, National Pain Week is Australia’s annual awareness event for chronic pain and aims to draw attention to the experience of people living with chronic pain. National Pain Week is a significant awareness campaign for many people who have experienced brain and spinal cord injury, who experience persistent pain, as well as those living with other disability. It’s equally important for pain researchers, clinicians, allied-health industry professionals and all others working in the field to comprehend the pain experience for our clients, collaborators and cohorts.

    This National Pain Week, The Hopkins Centre and Griffith Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability are inviting "painchangers', clinicians and pain researchers Dr Nicholas Aitcheson and Kim Talaber to host this Hopkins Hour, where they will share the latest research into the chronic pain experience, including strategies for management and the latest therapeutic models.

    Dr Nick Aitcheson is a rehabilitation and pain medicine specialist at Metro South Health Pain Rehabilitation Service. He has a particular interest in spinal injury rehabilitation, social prescribing, and the management of polypharmacy. Nick's current areas of research are pressure injuries in spinal cord injury, chronic chest pain, social education groups for social integration, and low dose naltrexone in the treatment of chronic pain.

    Kim Talaber, is a trained Physiotherapist and current PhD candidate with The Hopkins Centre and Griffith University. Her research investigates brain mechanisms to treat chronic neuropathic pain following spinal cord injury. Kim is completing her research with the Musculoskeletal Health & Persistent Pain Research Group, with support from a Seed Grant from The Hopkins Centre.

    During the session, Dr Aitcheson and Ms Talaber will be joined by special guest and Inclusive Futures Engagement Council member, Mark Berridge, to explore how individual experiences of pain can be influenced by personal perceptions and beliefs.

    Mark Berridge is an experienced business leader, TEDx speaker and multi-award-winning author. Mark’s extensive corporate expertise combined with the life changing lessons he gained overcoming a severe spinal injury provides a unique lens to inspire people and organisations to pursue their potential, undaunted by the uncertainty of their circumstances.

    We hope you can join us for this fascinating discussion.

    Head to our website to join this online event, live on Wednesday 24 July, 2024, at 12:30pm: https://lnkd.in/gBDvUKQm

    Hopkins Hour flyer containing information about this event and the link to access: https://tinyurl.com/zthbccv4

  • Queensland Disability Research Network (QDRN) Disability Research Strategy and Co-Design Workshop Series

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    Left to right: Attendees of the Brisbane Workshop and Dr. Talitha Kingsmill.


    The Queensland Disability Research Network (QDRN) recently hosted the Disability Research Strategy Engagement and Co-Design Workshop Series, bringing together individuals with disability, citizen scientists, researchers, government agencies, and key disability advocacy organisations across Queensland. These invitation-only, fully accessible workshops aimed to collaboratively shape the research agenda for the Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services’ Disability Research Strategy 2025-2030.

    Facilitated by Dr. Talitha Kingsmill (GU), Professor Kate Ames (CQU), Dr. Corey Bloomfield (CQU), and Professor Charlotte Brownlow (USQ), the workshops were held both in-person at Brisbane and Toowoomba, and online. The focus was on identifying research priorities and projects to support Queensland’s Disability Plan, the Disability Royal Commission, NDIS Review recommendations, Elevate 2042 Legacy Strategy, and the Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.

    Key stakeholders gathered at Griffith University’s Southbank campus, University of Southern Queensland’s Toowoomba campus and online to discuss a wide range of topics, including employment and financial security, safety rights and justice, education and learning, community attitudes, and departmental regulatory functions. The discussions generated valuable insights and recommendations, which will inform policy and decision-making for the upcoming Disability Research Strategy.

    The engagement and co-design workshops are an ongoing effort, with multiple sessions held across Queensland and online. These workshops are crucial for ensuring that diverse voices contribute to shaping the research priorities that will guide future policies. The QDRN invites interested parties to connect and participate in this important work.

    We extend our sincere gratitude to the Queensland Government Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services for their unwavering support of this research. We also wish to thank Griffith University's Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability team members, Rebekah Barker, Joe-Anne Kek-Pamenter, Dr Kelsey Chapman, Dr Maretta Mann and Professor Elizabeth Kendall AM, for their invaluable assistance in organising these events, and the wider QDRN team for their continuous dedication and support.


    For more information or to become involved, please contact:
    Dr. Talitha Kingsmill, Research Fellow and QDRN Lead

    Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability, Griffith University

    Email: qdrn@griffith.edu.au


    Dr Talitha Kingsmill addresses the Brisbane workshop.