Melbourne Disability Institute
Welcome to the Melbourne Disability Institute (MDI) at the University of Melbourne. We facilitate collaborative, interdisciplinary research to build the evidence-base needed to guide social and disability policy reforms and to advance opportunity and equity for people with disability, their families and carers.
We are committed to co-producing collaborative research, where people with disability are involved not just as participants, but as co-creators of knowledge. Throughout our work, we strive to promote the inclusion and well-being of people with disability, explore issues that are or are likely to become important to people with disability and recognise, foster and communicate the contributions people with disability make to research.
The work of the MDI is building on established programs and partnerships, including the Brotherhood of St Laurence-University of Melbourne partnership, the Scope-University of Melbourne partnership, the Hallmark Disability Research Initiative and the NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Disability and Health.
New Podcast! Let Us In
Produced with the support of MDI, Let Us In takes a look at the many barriers people with disability face trying to access places and spaces the community generally takes for granted. The podcast features people with disability, advocates and researchers from all across Australia looking at such diverse topics as employment, housing and transport.
ABOUT US
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Our People
The Melbourne Disability Institute has a small team who coordinate our research and engagement activities.
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Executive Committee
The Committee is the key governing body for the Institute and consists of academics from law, public health, economics, education and the arts.
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Disability Hallmark Research Initiative
The Hallmark Disability Research Initiative was an interdisciplinary disability research hub at the University of Melbourne.
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Strategic Plan
The MDI Strategic Plan 2019-2021 is now available for download.
Disability Research APO Collection
Established in November 2020, the Disability Research APO Collection supports the work of the National Disability Research Partnership to facilitate a collaborative and inclusive disability research program that builds the evidence for successful innovation in policy and practice. Wherever possible, accessible versions of documents such as plain language summaries, Easy English or audio versions have been included in the Collection.
Connect with other researchers in a supportive environment to share ideas and receive assistance to develop your research capabilities.
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Disability Research Community of Practice
The Melbourne Disability Institute invites researchers from across the University of Melbourne to join a Community of Practice focused on Disability Research.
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Research Translation Tools
Conducting high-quality research is important, but it's also important to make that research accessible and relevant to those who can use it. Research translation is about bridging the gap between knowledge and action.
Funding and support
MDI is committed to supporting disability research at the University of Melbourne and in the broader sector. Researchers and community organisations can apply for funding to support pilot projects, community-led projects, events and research translation.
Researchers applying for Fellowships or large grants are encouraged to get in touch to discuss ways in which MDI can contribute to help strengthen applications. Contact us at md-i@unimelb.edu.au for more information.
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Seed funding
Seed funding to support research ideas and pilot projects that are likely to lead to direct outcomes or further funding.
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Community-based research
Community-based Research Scheme supports the evaluation and research of innovative ideas in the broader disability community.
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Healthy Trajectories Disability Research Hub Seed Funding
Projects must progress the hub’s vision - which is that all children and young people, including those with disability, have the best chance of reaching their full potential for health and participation across the life span.
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Disability Research Seed Funding
The Melbourne Disability Institute (MDI) is committed to facilitating disability research that is interdisciplinary and can demonstrate significant impact on the well-being of people with disability, their families and carers. By providing seed funding, the MDI seeks to encourage and support innovative ideas and interdisciplinary research collaborations.
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Community-Based Research Program
Through the Community-based Research Program, MDI seeks to encourage and support the evaluation and research of innovative ideas in the broader disability community, by linking community organisations to researchers or students who can help do the research or evaluation.
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Commissioned Research
The Melbourne Disability Institute conducts disability-related research in partnership with universities in Australia and internationally, governments, community sector organisations, the private sector, advocacy groups, and people with disability and their families and carers, drawing on a range of funding sources, to inform policy and practice.
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PhD Research Projects
Each year the Melbourne Disability Institute gives scholarships to students with an interest in disability and truly collaborative and inclusive research.
The Melbourne Disability Institute (MDI) is a regular contributor to public policy development in areas that impact on people with disability and their families and carers more broadly. MDI engages in policy discussion and analysis at global, national, and regional levels through submissions to governments and multilateral organisations in response to inquiries, consultation papers, thematic studies, reviews, and Royal Commissions, underpinned by rigorous research.
This section provides access to statements and policy submissions made by MDI on key public policy issues and in many cases have been prepared in collaboration with the relevant faculties and functional units across the University.
Media
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ONEINFIVE Podcast
The podcast gives voice to people with disability and asks about their experiences with employment, housing, the law, supporting families and early intervention.
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In the News
The latest news and happenings from the Melbourne Disability Institute.
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MDI Newsletters
Access the archive of newsletters from the Melbourne Disability Institute