Category Inclusion Show all
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Voice of Queenslanders with Disability 2025
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Help Amplify the Voices of Queenslanders with DisabilityWe are excited to announce that the Voice of Queenslanders with Disability Survey 2025 is now live! This vital research, led by The Dignity Project at Griffith University, provides an opportunity for Queenslanders with disability, their families, carers, and organisations to share their experiences, helping to shape a more inclusive and accessible future.
We are proud to collaborate with Queenslanders with Disability Network (QDN) and the Queensland Government’s Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services, and Child Safety to ensure that lived experiences are heard and inform future policies and programs.
We would greatly appreciate your support in promoting this survey through your networks. You can help by:
- Taking the survey: https://inclusivefutures.griffith.edu.au/hub-page/vqd
- Sharing the survey via email, newsletters, or your social media channels
- Sharing our social media: https://shorturl.at/0oFD6
- Forwarding this information to any citizen researchers, colleagues, or community members who may be interested
- Encouraging participation in alternate formats or through phone/virtual interviews
Survey closes: Wednesday, 30 April 2025
Accessible and alternate formats are available to ensure everyone has the opportunity to participate.
We appreciate your help in spreading the word so we can reach as many voices as possible. Together, we can work towards a more inclusive Queensland.
For more information, please contact us at inclusivefutures@griffith.edu.au.
Thank you for your support!
Dr Kelsey Chapman
Research Fellow
The Dignity Project
Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability -
Moving Beyond Awareness: A Strengths-Based Approach to Autism Support
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April is Autism Awareness Month, a time to celebrate the diversity and contributions of Australia’s autistic community. With over 290,900 autistic individuals across the country, the conversation is evolving—moving beyond awareness toward understanding, inclusion, and meaningful action.
On 2 April, World Autism Understanding Day (#WAUD2025), we are reminded that true inclusion starts with how we see, support, and empower autistic individuals. A growing body of research is challenging traditional models of autism assessment and support, advocating for a strengths-based approach.
WHY THIS MATTERS NOW:
The National Autism Strategy (2025-2031)As Australia prepares to implement the National Autism Strategy (2025-2031), integrating research-backed, person-centered approaches like this framework is crucial. By shifting towards strengths-based assessments, we can create a more inclusive society—one where autistic individuals are supported to live the lives they choose.
HOW YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE:
Learn & Share – Amplify research that promotes strengths-based, individualised support.
Listen to Autistic Voices – Inclusion starts with understanding lived experience.
Advocate for Change – Support workplaces, schools, and communities in adopting strengths-based approaches.
Autism Awareness Month is about more than recognition—it’s about real change. By embracing research-driven, strengths-based approaches, we can build a future where every autistic person is valued and empowered.
👉 Please share this research to help shift the conversation beyond awareness to action!
MORE INFORMATION:
The Hopkins Centre
hopkinscentre@griffith.edu.au -
Empowering Health Communication: Co-Designing with People with Disability
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📚 Authors: Dr Kelsey Chapman, Dr Connie Allen, Prof. Elizabeth Kendall AM GAICD
📅 Published: 9 February 2025
📖 Journal: Journal of Health Communication
🔗 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10810730.2025.2462679How can we make health communication truly inclusive? A recent scoping review by Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability researchers explores the power of co-designing health initiatives with people with disability—not just for them.
Key Insights:
Inclusive Participation: Engaging people with disabilities from the outset ensures their voices shape accessible, effective health communications.
Diverse Methods: From workshops and focus groups to participatory action research, different co-design approaches foster genuine collaboration.
Enhanced Outcomes: Inclusive approaches improve the quality of health information, empower participants, and build trust in health initiatives.
This research reinforces that co-design isn’t just best practice—it’s essential. When health communication is built with the community, it becomes more impactful, equitable, and transformative.
More Information:
Dr Kelsey Chapman
Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability
Griffith University
k.chapman@griffith.edu.auProf. Elizabeth Kendall AM GAICD
e.kendall@griffith.edu.au
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New publication: Tech-Enabled Inclusion – Leveraging Social Media to Empower Neurodivergent Employees in the Workplace
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Can social media help make workplaces more inclusive for neurodivergent employees?
A new study by the Centre for Work, Organisation and Wellbeing (WOW) at Griffith University, explores how social media can help create workplaces where everyone's unique way of thinking is valued. The researchers, Dr Maria Khan, Dr Carys W Chan, Dr Hongmin (Jess) Yan and Dr Sudong Shang, present a new framework that clarifies how technology could make a real difference for neurodivergent employees.
The study explores how digital communication tools can empower neurodivergent employees (NDEs) by providing:
- Psychological safety – A space where employees feel comfortable being their authentic selves.
- Accessible communication – Social media allows for asynchronous interactions, reducing the pressure of real-time conversations.
- Representation and visibility – NDEs can share their experiences, connect with peers, and advocate for workplace changes.
- Empowered participation – Digital platforms offer new ways to engage in decision-making and collaboration.
However, challenges remain—privacy concerns, inconsistent support, and workplace barriers still exist. Organisations must take intentional steps to leverage technology effectively, foster inclusive leadership, and understand the specific needs of neurodivergent employees.
When inclusion is done right, everyone benefits. 🌍✨
Read more: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hrm.22290
More information:
Dr Maria Khan, Research Fellow
Centre for Work, Organisation and Wellbeing (WOW)
Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability
Griffith University
maria.khan@griffith.edu.auhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-a-khan/
Citation:
Khan, M., Wen Chan, X., Yan, H., & Shang, S. (2025). Tech-Enabled Inclusion: Leveraging Social Media to Empower Neurodivergent Employees in the Workplace. Human Resource Management, https://doi.org/10.1002/hrm.22290
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Exciting Start to 2025 with QDRN!
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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.
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Winning Medals with Equity and Diversity: A symposium championing equity and diversity in Paralympic sports
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Madi de Rozario OAM PLY - Paralympic Athlete, Inclusive Futures Engagement Council Member and Griffith alumnus EVENT OVERVIEW
Hosted online on Friday, 8 November 2024, this symposium, hosted by Griffith University’s Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability, as a member of the Queensland Para Sport Network, brought together interdisciplinary researchers, community partners, and athletes to amplify the vital role equity and diversity can play in improving the performance of Paralympic teams and enabling athletes to compete at the highest possible standard.
The symposium explored equity and diversity in elite paralympic sport through the lens of exercise and sport science, social justice, tourism and leisure, sport management, disability rehabilitation and inclusion. Building toward the Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032, this was a key opportunity for participants to incorporate the pillars of equity and diversity into their performance programs and research to drive performance.SYMPOSIUM SUMMARY
by Dr Georgia Munro-CookKeynote: Winning Medals with Equity and Diversity
Our keynote address for Winning Medals with Equity and Diversity was provided by Natalie Charlton. Natalie is the current Pathway Specialist for Paralympics Australia, with a legacy of building and delivering a variety of sports programs from grassroots community development through to performance pathways.
Natalie discussed the importance of thinking inclusively to ensure we meet our medal targets for Brisbane 2032. At the moment, we do not have enough athletes at the bottom of the talent pipeline or the sporting environments for athletes to grow and developments. By accessing a broader demographic of people and opening our sport system to everyone, we can grow our talent pool, but it is essential to create environments that centre athletes and their needs. Natalie provided her experience with the Northern Territory Sports Academy: Para Futures Program as an example of good practice.
Gender Inequity and Paralympic Sport
Dr Georgia Munro-Cook presented on the importance of gender equity and Paralympic Sport. Georgia has successfully represented Australia in Wheelchair Basketball and is now a champion of promoting intersectional approaches to create positive experiences for women in disability sport.
Georgia pointed out the gender disparities on the Australian Paralympic team, which only comprised of 44% women, much lower than the Olympic team which had 55.9% women athletes. She discussed some of what makes para-sport more difficult for women, including poor pathways, fast-tracked development, mixed-gender training and games, challenges with coaches, and the role of the media.
Optimising Performance and Participation for Indigenous and CALD athletes
Dr Kerry Hall gave us an insight into how Indigenous ways of learning can created culturally safe spaces in para-sport. Dr Hall offered a way of transforming sport cultures to centre athlete voice and ensure cultural safety. Dr Hall is a proud descendant of the Kuku Thaypan, Kuku Warra and Lama Lama Peoples from Cape York Peninsula, whose work aims to address access, engagement and inequity issues specific to First Nations Peoples through collaboration and prioritising community voices and perspectives.
Dr Diti Bhattachyarya revealed some of the issues that face Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) people in sport. She challenged the taken-for-granted assumptions organisations have about CALD diverse people, for example, the notion that CALD athletes are expected to be role models. Instead, she stressed the importance of cultural safety. Dr Bhattachyarya’s research relates to how sporting practices and fitness cultures can be used as a social conduit through which marginalised communities experience a sense of belonging and community.
Paradox of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Paralympic Classification
Professor Sean Tweedy is the Principal Investigator for the International Paralympic Committee’s Classification Research and Development Centre. He works to develop best practice and evidence-based methods for allocating athletes to classed. Professor Tweedy gave an excellent overview of why classification is important to enable para-sport, even if it is sometimes exclusive.
Equity and Design Thinking in Technology
Laurent Frossard is a bionic limb specialist passionate about developing ground-breaking prosthetic solutions. Laurent discussed how technology like bionic limbs can be both inclusive—allowing people with disability to engage with sport—and exclusive, as their incredible expense benefits high-income countries.
Matt McShane is an Australian Paralympian and an Industrial Designer with a passion for co-designing technologies to improve the lives of individuals with a disability. Matt again emphasised the inequities in access to technology, while also stressing the importance of centreing the athlete voice in technology design.
Panel Discussion
We had a fantastic panel discussion in which Michael Dobbie-Bridges, Robyn Smith, and Ben Newton had an illuminating debate centred around the following questions:
- How can we create a cohesive sport system and strong pathways for para-athletes by centring inclusion?
- How do inclusion and equity factor into our legacy planning?
- What is the role of policy in driving inclusion and equity?
- Brisbane 2032 – quality or quantity?
Michael Dobbie-Bridges is a celebrated Paralympian, representing Australia in wheelchair tennis. In addition to Michael’s considerable sporting achievements, he is an advocate for promoting inclusion and support for individuals with a disability, across multiple sectors including health care and employment opportunities and wheelchair sports. His expertise includes high-level policy development and driving meaningful change within the government administration industry.
Robyn Smith has worked at the National level in Sports Administration for the past 3 decades as Chief Executive Officer of Sport Inclusion Australia. Her role includes working closely with Government Agencies, Paralympics Australia and National Sporting Organisations, including School Sport Australia to develop appropriate inclusive services and opportunities for athletes with an impairment into the mainstream community. In 2022, Robyn was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to people with disability through sport.
Ben Newton is a respected Paralympian, coach, and accessibility advocate. He represented Australia in wheelchair rugby for two decades. In 2014 Ben was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for services to sport and is now Head Coach of the Queensland Academy of Sport High Performance Program and Assistant Coach for the Australian Steelers Development Program. Prior to his coaching roles Ben worked at Queensland Rail for ten years as the Principal Accessibility Adviser.
Wrap Up
In the last session of the day, to provide concluding remarks we invited Simone Fullagar on behalf of Griffith Inclusive Futures and Brendan Burkett on behalf of Queensland Para Sport Network for Performance Enhancement and Applied Research.
More information: Please contact inclusivefutures@griffith.edu.au
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ARMS: Strategies for Accessible and Inclusive Research Development Workshops
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Dr Maretta Mann (Griffith University) and Dr Noni Creasey (University of Queensland) at the ARMS Annual Convention.Last week, Inclusive Futures team member Dr Maretta Mann, together with Dr Noni Creasey from the University of Queensland (UQ), presented “Disability Inclusive Research Management” at the Australasian Research Management Society (ARMS) annual convention in Darwin (#ARMS24).
The presentation gave an overview of disability in Australia, and introduced the terms accessibility, inclusion and belonging in the context of a research organisation.
The presenters shared some practical strategies for including people with disability in research development activities. The benefits for inclusive research management range from supporting pathways for academics in your own research institution to contributions to a more equitable and just society. Why wouldn’t anyone want to do that?!
The talk was well received by research managers from other universities being inspired to adopt disability inclusive practice in their own settings. If you would like to know more, please contact our team!
Find out more about hosting Inclusive and Accessible Events and access our Inclusive Events Checklist: https://inclusivefutures.griffith.edu.au/inclusive-and-accessible-events
Email us:
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Disability Reform Summit: Moving from recommendations to evidence-based solutions
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The Disability Reform Summit was hosted by the Dignity Project and funded by an Engaging Science Grant from the Department of Environment and Science.
The Summit brought together a diverse group of citizen scientists, Queensland disability researchers and academics, and key disability persons and advocacy organisations for a collaborative agenda-setting workshop.
The workshop sought to co-create priorities for research based on the NDIS Review recommendations, Disability Royal Commission recommendations, and the Voice of Queenslanders with Disability report recommendations, while moving towards evidence-based solutions that will directly contribute to government and service responses.
Twenty-one attendees worked collaboratively over a 4-hour workshop and identified key priorities, much of which was focused on improving disability data collection, better implementation of consistent disability flags across mainstream services, and increasing sustainable long-term partnerships and funding.
Workshop attendees wanted to prioritise projects that focus on building evidence for knowledge and evidence gaps, although 50% of participants also wanted to examine existing interventions to evaluate and improve them.
L-R: Dr Kelsey Chapman; Dr Talitha Kingsmill and Sharon White; and Nerine Williams.TOPICS AND INSIGHTS
Health and Wellbeing:
- Promoting health consumerism principles and access for all.
- Shifting from reactive to pre-emptive health strategies.
- Addressing disparities in health equity and access.
- Campaigns like 'Hear Me, See Me, Understand Me' and involving lived experiences in decisions.
- Potential research includes integrating health awareness into education and enhancing professional understanding of diverse needs.
Employment and Financial Security:
- Psychological safety and accommodations in the workplace.
- Inclusive recruitment, onboarding, and raising employment expectations.
- Examining current inclusive policies and staff training in unconscious bias.
- Potential research includes building inclusive research teams and understanding confidence in disability-related conversations.
Top: Panelists Prof. Elizabeth Kendall AM, Dr Talitha Kingsmill, Sharon White and Prof. David Trembath. Bottom: Dr Kelsey Chapman leads the summit workshop activities. Inclusive Education and Learning:- Need for inclusive school rules and evolving educational practices.
- Redesigning assessment methods and promoting reasonable adjustments.
- Potential research focuses on leadership attitudes and diverse perspectives in education, reassessing student success metrics.
Inclusive and Accessible Communities:
- Evaluating compliance vs. actual accessibility and inclusion.
- Measuring community inclusion and the impact of co-design.
- Opportunities like Brisbane 2032 for updating infrastructure and promoting universal accessibility.
Disability Data:
- Enhancing researcher capability and implementing consistent disability data flags.
- Prioritising projects to build evidence and evaluate existing interventions.
- Balancing academic interest with immediate social needs through co-design and sustainable partnerships.
Top L-R: Sharon White and Prof. David Trembath; Julia Robertson.
Bottom L-R: Dr Eloise Hummell and Nerine Williams; Geoff Trappett; Dr Maretta Mann. We extend our gratitude to the Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science for their support of this research. Our deepest thanks also go to Dr. Kelsey Chapman, Lead Researcher, and the Griffith University's Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability team, including Rebekah Barker, Joe-Anne Kek-Pamenter, Dr. Maretta Mann, and Professor Elizabeth Kendall AM, for their invaluable assistance in organising this event. Additionally, we appreciate the continuous dedication and support of our Summit participants and the wider Dignity Project team.Special thanks to Eric Tram, our videographer, illustrators Holly Bryant & Cate Withers and the team at Griffith University Live Worm (Libbi Reed, Jacqui Hancox and Sharon Searle) for their engaging Sketch Notes that beautifully captured the topics and insights of the Summit.
Top L-R: Prof David Trembath; Dr Kelsey Chapman; Dr Eloise Hummell.
Bottom L-R: Summit Participants; Prof. Elizabeth Kendall AM.
Top L-R: Dr Talitha Kingsmill and Karin Swift.
Bottom: Dr Maretta Mann and Dr Kelsey Chapman lead discussion amongst their group.Acknowledgement
The Disability Reform Summit was funded by an Engaging Science Grant from the Queensland Department of Environment and Science and the Office of the Chief Scientist.
Watch the Disability Reform Summit highlights on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Wz2UJ08xOP0?si=xIu1T75BSAVJTm58 (Videographer: Eric Tram).
Join us in moving from recommendations to real change!
More information: Dr Kelsey Chapman, Research Fellow and Citizen Science Manager k.chapman@griffith.edu.au
SKETCH NOTES
For an accessible / alternate format of our sketch notes, please email inclusivefutures@griffith.edu.au
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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 LeadInclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability, Griffith University
Email: qdrn@griffith.edu.au
Dr Talitha Kingsmill addresses the Brisbane workshop. -
Meaningful Employment for People with Disability in Queensland
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Meaningful Employment for People with Disability in Queensland (Final Report)
Project Aims
The Department of Seniors, Disability Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships (DSDSATSIP) requested a high-level proposal to examine employment experiences of people with disability in Queensland.
The project aimed to identify insights unique to Queensland and provide evidence that could improve experiences of people with disability (both with and without NDIS funding) in relation to employment. Specifically, the project:
- Investigated employment experiences of people with disability in Queensland (formal, unpaid and supported);
- Explored the nature of financial security for Queenslanders with disability;
- Examined the drivers for satisfaction or dissatisfaction for those who have, or have previously had, employment and the challenges to success in employment; and
- Explored employment and work aspirations, including preferred career pathways, hours of work and locations.
This project was conducted in three phases:
- Phase 1: Literature review and statistical analysis;
- Phase 2: Project Co-development;
- Phase 3: Data collection and analysis by Citizen Scientists.
Visit the Project page on the Inclusive Futures Hub.
The Final Report contains the findings from the qualitative and quantitative data collection with citizen scientists, including strategies on how to improve meaningful employment for people with disability.
Summary of the findings
Meaningful employment for people with disability necessitates workplaces that foster growth, autonomy, flexibility, support, safety, and dignity. However, current practices often fall short of meeting these essential criteria, as highlighted in our study on disability employment in Queensland. Barriers to employment persist throughout individuals' lives, particularly for those with developmental disability or acquired disability later in life. These barriers encompass various stages of the employment process and require tailored interventions, including improved training and support during education, enhanced transition programs, and better accessibility in recruitment and workplace accommodations. Moreover, there's a pressing need to address misconceptions and stigma surrounding disability, foster inclusive workplaces, and provide education and resources for both employers and employees.Efforts to improve disability employment outcomes must prioritise meaningful work and acknowledge the diverse needs and abilities of individuals with disability. This involves empowering individuals through self-employment opportunities, promoting inclusive practices in the workforce, and advocating for policy changes to address financial disincentives and support mechanisms. Collaboration among stakeholders, including citizen scientists and diverse disability groups, is essential for developing comprehensive strategies that address systemic challenges and harness the strengths and contributions of people with disability in the workforce. Ultimately, a concerted effort to reshape attitudes, practices, and policies is vital to creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for disability employment in Queensland and beyond.
The Final Report can be found on this link: https://doi.org/10.25904/1912/5090
Authors
Mowbray, Paula K
Kendall, Elizabeth
Chapman, Kelsey
Khan, Maria
Allen, Connie
Berridge, MarkPublished by
Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability, Griffith UniversityPlease contact Dr. Paula Mowbray for further information:
Phone: (07) 3735 4708
Email: p.mowbray@griffith.edu.auGriffith University Ethics Approval: 2022/894