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  • Inclusive Transport Futures: A National Invitation to Partner in Research and Innovation

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    Why Inclusive Transport Matters

    Transport is essential for independence, health and wellbeing, and social and economic participation. Yet, it remains one of the most reported forms of disability discrimination in Australia. Despite decades of reform, 35% of people with disability still face barriers to public transport.


    With the rise of digital technologies (including AI, smart glasses and autonomous vehicles); growing expectations for inclusive infrastructure (e.g. Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games), and the push for more sustainable urban planning in our cities and regions - now is the time to radically transform transport systems through inclusive innovation.


    We invite industry, government, and community organisations to join us in shaping a national research agenda that delivers real-world impact for inclusive transport.

    Our Collaborative Strength

    This initiative brings together leading researchers from three universities with deep expertise in inclusive design, transport equity, digital innovation, and lived experience research.

    Professor Elizabeth Kendall – Griffith University

    Director of Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability. A national leader in disability and rehabilitation research, citizen science and consumer-led research. Elizabeth established and was the founding Director of The Hopkins Centre, a partnership between Griffith University, Queensland Health and the National Injury Insurance Scheme, Queensland, leading translational research in disability inclusion and rehabilitation.

    Dr Lisa Stafford – Griffith University

    Australian Research Council Future Fellow and recognised leader in planning inclusive communities. Lisa leads research across disability participation, planning and transport equity including trips not made, whole-of-journey mapping, planning strategies and co-creation with lived experience.

    Professor Kim Marriott – Monash University

    Expert in digital assistive technologies, Kim’s research focuses on emerging technologies, such as AI and smart glasses for accessible information access and wayfinding.

    Professor Graham Currie – Monash University

    Internationally recognised leader in public transport planning and policy. Graham brings deep expertise in transport equity, infrastructure reform, and strategic planning.

    Professor Simon Darcy – University of Technology Sydney

    Global leader in inclusive tourism and transport. Simon’s work spans universal design, accessibility innovation, and lived experience research, with a focus on systems change.


    Potential Project Areas

    We are seeking partners to co-design and pilot research in areas such as:

    • Inclusive Journey Mapping: Understanding the full travel experience for people with disability, from planning to arrival.
    • Trips Not Made: Investigating the impact of inaccessible travel on tourism, wellbeing, and social and economic participation.
    • Navigation within transport hubs: Addressing signage, navigation in complex, stressful environments, and unexpected hazards.
    • Handling Disruptions: Creating accessible communication systems for real-time updates and alternative routing.
    • Accessible journey planning: Developing an AI-powered travel assistant for whole of journey support starting with pre-journey planning.
    • Passenger Assistance Mechanisms: Designing scalable support systems for regional and remote travel.
    • Consumer-Led Innovation: Engaging people with lived experience to identify priorities and test new service models.
    • Workforce Development: Training transport staff in inclusive service delivery and accessibility awareness.
    • Policy and Standards Engagement: Supporting implementation of disability standards and creating user-friendly guides.

    Funding Pathways

    We are actively preparing proposals under two major Australian Research Council grant schemes:

    ARC Linkage Project

    Proposed focus on supporting navigation and information access in transport hubs.[MM5] [LS6]

    • Deadline: 18 March 2026
    • Funding: $300,000–$400,000 over 2-3 years
    • Partner Contributions: Cash and/or in-kind
    • Optional: Co-fund PhDs via the National Industry PhD Program

    ARC Collaborate Centre

    A large-scale national consortium grant to drive long-term transformation in inclusive transport.

    • Expected Deadline: Late 2026
    • Funding: Up to $5 million over 5 years
    • Focus: Whole-of-journey accessibility, inclusive technologies, systems reform, and workforce development


    Contact Us

    To express interest or explore partnership opportunities, please contact the team at:
    inclusivefutures@griffith.edu.au


    Professor Elizabeth Kendall

    Director, Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability

    e.kendall@griffith.edu.au


    Professor Kimbal Marriott

    Director, Monash Assistive Technology and Society (MATS) Centre

    k.marriott@monash.edu


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  • Towards Inclusive Digital Futures

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    Ethical Data and AI-Enabled Decisions in the Context of Accessibility and Urban Living, hosted by Professor Dian Tjondronegoro

    A montage of colour images from the Towards Inclusive Digital Futures Conference. From left to Right: 1 - Professor Dian Tjondronegoro addresses the attendees; 2 - Keynote speaker Dr Bahita "Bobby" Rifai, an Economic Researcher for the Indonesian National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN); 3 - Attendees from Griffith University and beyond.On Thursday, 9 November, Professor Dian Tjondronegoro (“LIVE” theme leader) and Professor Elizabeth Kendall (Director) of Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability hosted Toward Inclusive Digital Futures, a bilateral workshop to foster dialogue to advance collaboration between Australia and Indonesia in the area of ethical AI and inclusive urban environments.

    We heard from keynote speaker Dr Bahtia ("Bobby") Rifai (Economic Researcher for the Indonesian National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN)) about the roles of and interplay between different actors generating, collecting and using data, in complex regulatory and institutional environments. Overlaid on this are the social inequalities that lead to people being underrepresented or having poor access to the digital world.

    A montage of colour images from the Towards Inclusive Digital Futures Conference. From left to Right: 1 - Moderator DR Amber Marshall from Griffith University; 2 - Panelists Dr Amber Marshall, Dr Nagesh Shukla, Tim Marshall and Fiona Gaske; 3 - Breakout group engaging in discussion and brainstorming ideas on butchers paper.

    A panel moderated by Dr Amber Marshall (Griffith), and including Liz Antoine (Microsoft), Dr Nagesh Shukla (QUT), Tim Mitchell (RACQ) and Fiona Gaske (RDA) discussed data, AI and digital inclusion and ethics in different contexts including transport, supply chains, regions and education.

    We broke out into groups for in-depth discussions exploring issues including data transparency and governance, smart and accessible cities, and opportunities for bilateral collaboration.

    It was a very thought-provoking session, and we are looking forward to progressing ideas in future research collaboration.

    A montage of colour images from the Towards Inclusive Digital Futures Conference. From left to Right: 1 - Professor Elizabeth Kendall, Director of Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability addresses the audience; 2 - Attendees engage in discussion in one of the breakout rooms; 3 - Attendees with disability stand chatting with their walkers and companion dog; 4 - Panellists Dr Amber Marshall, Dr Nagesh Shukla, Tim Mitchell and Fiona Gaske.

    For more information please contact us at:

    Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability
    inclusivefutures@griffith.edu.au

    Visit our Inclusive Futures Hub to find out more about our research:

    https://inclusivefutures.griffith.edu.au