Melbourne Disability Institute
The Melbourne Disability Institute (MDI) is an interdisciplinary research institute that was established by the University of Melbourne in 2018 to build a collaborative, interdisciplinary and translational research program to improve the lives of people with disability.
Ultimately, the MDI research program aims to capitalise on national reforms and active partnerships with the disability sector to deliver evidence for transformation. The MDI research program is centred around providing much-needed evidence for the disability sector and broader community to address the complex problems facing people with disability, their families and carers.
The MDI research program is underpinned by four foundation principles: data; interdisciplinarity; experience-based co-production with people with lived experience of disability; and active partnerships. The MDI will facilitate research through seed funding, research translation funding and community-based research, in addition to leading several flagship projects in response to priority issues raised by the disability sector.
Vision
To transform the social and economic wellbeing and the health of people with disability through high-quality research, teaching and training, and knowledge translation.
ABOUT US
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MDI Staff
The Melbourne Disability Institute has a small team who coordinate our research and engagement activities.
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Establishment 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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Hallmark Disability 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.
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The MDI draws on the breadth of research activity at the University of Melbourne and is the principal body for the promotion of inter-disciplinary research in disability at the University of Melbourne.
Research Themes
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Opportunity and equity
All people with disability should have equal opportunity to access what they need to enjoy meaningful lives. This theme seeks to ensure equitable access to justice, education, meaningful employment, intervention and support, and mainstream services. Research will aim to improve outcomes for disadvantaged groups including Indigenous Australians, people living in remote and rural communities, and people with complex needs including those with co-morbidities, mental health problems, and those not eligible for the NDIS.
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Inclusive communities
All people with disability should have the opportunity to be involved in their community and participate in society. This theme focuses on the structures and practices that increase the inclusion of people with disability into everyday activities; including broader contexts such as home, education, workplaces and cities. Research supported under this theme will explore the role of services, families, relationships, advocates and volunteers in making communities more inclusive. Projects will aim to build capacity of communities to enable social inclusion and participation of people with disability.
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Health and wellbeing
Themes one and two focus on equity and inclusion, which underpin a meaningful and fulfilling life. This third theme focuses on other aspects that contribute to a person’s health and well-being, such as social determinants, lifestyle, unique health needs, child health, mental health, sexual and reproductive health, biomechanics and rehabilitation. The role of music and creative arts in enabling well-being also fall within this theme. Research will focus on the intersection between disability and health, reducing health disparities and addressing gaps that leave people with disability underserviced by the National Disability Strategy, the NDIS and the health system.
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Markets and sustainability
The introduction of the NDIS is creating opportunities for research into smart and ethical technology, effective market design, new models of service delivery, best practice approaches to consumer-directed models of technological and service development, and niche industries. Research will include economic modelling, commissioning by governments and individuals, exploration of disability services markets including the identification of ‘thin markets’ and new market opportunities, evaluation of innovative services including start-ups, and good policies and regulations for safeguarding people with disability and those who care for them.
Other projects will focus on the promotion and sustainability of a high-quality disability service workforce and innovative approaches to data collection.
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Policy and practice
All research auspiced and promoted by the MDI will seek to optimise policy and practice. This theme focuses on the best approaches to incorporating evidence into policy and practice so that we can transform the lives of people with disability, families and carers for the better. This will include promoting research approaches where key stakeholders, particularly people with disability, play a crucial role in identifying questions, interpreting results and driving change through innovative approaches to dissemination.
The MDI will incorporate a range of innovative approaches including media, leveraging partnerships, making submissions to inquiries and participating in public debate, to support academics and the sector to advocate for change and build the sector’s research capacity. The MDI is committed to bridging the gap between what is known and what is implemented.
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Democratising Disability Data
A coalition of Australian researchers and stakeholders committed to achieving safe and secure access to disability data and statistics
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Current Projects
Current research projects in disability across the University (please note this is in progress and is by no means a comprehensive overview of disability research at the University of Melbourne)
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Doctoral/PhD Research
Coming soon
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NDIS Housing Pathways Project
Providing practical resources for individuals and communities to build pathways to access and maintain housing for National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants.
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Inclusive City of Melbourne
The City of Melbourne and University of Melbourne are teaming up to help make Melbourne a ‘city for people’ – one that is accessible and inclusive for all.
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Accessing the Home
Collecting, analyzing and creating a centralized record of the Home Renovation scheme reports - which represent a comprehensive record of Victoria's housing stock for people with a disability or age-related restrictions.
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Smoking Behaviours among People with Intellectual Disability
A programmatic approach to understanding the smoking behaviours of people with intellectual disability and potential interventions for reducing smoking rates.
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Violence against People with Disability
This project will provide the most up-to-date population-based estimates on the prevalence of violence among people with disability in Australia to inform the upcoming Royal Commission into Violence and Abuse against people with disability. In addition, we will identify existing Australian data sources and make recommendations for improvements including the potential for data linkages.
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Community Disability Inclusion in India
The project, occurring over four phases, will produce, trial and evaluate a best-practice Community Disability Inclusion (CDI) Diploma course for CDI workers in India.
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Co-research Training Program
Melbourne Disability Institute and Melbourne Graduate School of Education are in the process of collaborating to develop a subject that is designed to teach the fundamentals of co-research methods.
The MDI is committed to building the capacity of researchers with an interest in disability, people with a disability who wish to be involved in research, and students. Opportunities for jobs, PhD scholarships and capacity building programs will be listed here as they arise. Sign up to our newsletter to stay up to date.
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Program Coordinator
The Melbourne Disability Institute within the Melbourne Graduate School of Education is seeking a motivated, independent and creative Program Coordinator to work with MDI’s leadership team to coordinate the program of work, including our research support schemes, flagship programs, research development and strategic opportunities.
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Research Fellow
An exciting opportunity is available for a talented early career social science researcher to play a lead role in developing a new conceptual approach to commissioning in disability services, at a macro level in Australia and internationally, and at a micro level focusing on choice and control for people with disability within individualised budgets.
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Funding and support
The 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 the MDI can contribute to help strengthen applications. Contact Tessa de Vries at tessa.devries@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 grants
Community Grants are intended to support projects run by community-based organisations that build social capital.
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Event funding
The MDI can support events disseminating research on disability or shedding light on a contemporary issue related to disability.
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Research Translation
Funding intended to augment existing projects to enable the effective translation of findings into policy or practice.
Coming soon
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Be in our documentary!
We are looking for people with disabilities to be part of our documentary on work and disability.
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Brain Injury Australia's 7th National Brain Injury Conference
Brain Injury Australia's 7th National Brain Injury Conference will be held in partnership with the Melbourne Disability Institute on 28-29 October 2019 at the University of Melbourne.
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Diversity of Disability Image Competition
Melbourne Disability Institute is looking for high quality photographs that depict the diversity of disability, to be featured on our website, on our event listings, invitations, presentations and social media channels. Winning submissions will be paid a fee for use of their image.
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2018 Year in Review
The MDI is now officially nine months old, having been launched on 28 May 2018 to a full house. As we start to think about the year coming up, we wanted to share with our community a review of our first year, and some of the plans for 2019.
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CRE-CP Symposium: Making a Difference
This two-day event will feature a series of short workshops with practical applications for health professionals and a special community forum on engaging consumers in technology development. Day 2 features a full-day seminar with an exciting line up of multidisciplinary speakers.
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Podcast - Intellectual disabilities and the fight for justice
Prominent UK campaigners George Julian and Chris Hatton on why there are still so many preventable deaths among people with learning difficulties, and what needs to change
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India and Australia agree to promote cooperation in the field of disability
An opportunity for Australia and India to bat for the same team arose last week at the University of Melbourne when a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed during a visit from Mr Ram Nath Kovind, President of the Republic of India.
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Podcast: Dying for Change
Improving the health and lives of Australians with intellectual disability was the topic for discussion at the Dying for Change public seminar and roundtable hosted by the Melbourne Disability Institute on Monday 12 November.
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Southgate Oration 2018
Professor Anne Kavanagh presented the 10th Southgate Institute Oration in Adelaide on 25 October 2018.
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Increasing Participant Voices in Creative Therapy Programs
Self-assessment in creative therapy programs by participants with intellectual disability.
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Dying for Change - A recent event hosted by MDI
Dying for Change - What will it take to improve the health and lives of Australians with intellectual disability?
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Strengthening Disability Advocacy - Interview with Anne Kavanagh and Vasiliky Kasidis
Professor Anne Kavanagh and consumer researcher Vasiliky Kasidis talk about research on discrimination, bullying and community attitudes.
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Unfair NDIS rollout holding back billions from Australians in dire need
Underspending could reach $5bn by end of financial year, economist Bruce Bonyhady says
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Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences
Professor Anne Kavanagh has been appointed to the Academy of the Social Sciences (ASSA) in recognition of her distinguished achievements in the social sciences.
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MDI Submission to the Productivity Commission Study of the National Disability Agreement
This submission is in response to the Productivity Commission Issues Paper on the National Disability Agreement (NDA). The primary focus of this submission is on the architecture of the new NDA, and its relationship to the other Intergovernmental Agreements on Federal Financial Relations, rather than its very detailed contents and performance indicators.
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Tom Shakespeare in Melbourne
We were honoured to host leading disability expert Professor Tom Shakespeare in July 2018.
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Community Attitudes towards Disability
Professor Anne Kavanagh presented the keynote at DARU's Strengthening Disability Advocacy Conference in Melbourne on 14 September 2018.
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Disabled teens suffering the mental health effects of bullying
Half of the poorer mental health we see in teenagers with a disability is due to bullying, our new research shows.
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Willing and Able - Australian Financial Review
Disability doesn’t discriminate, and some of the best support services were created by business leaders with a strong personal reason to get involved. Now the National Disability Insurance Scheme is following their lead.
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The Role of Personal Assistants in Disability Support
The course is designed for people with disabilities, current or prospective support workers, and anyone else who’s interested in disability support and how the support worker role has evolved in the UK and other parts of the world.
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Australia Lags Behind UK in Disability Access
Australia can do better for people with disability as poor access to housing, education and transport prevents them from flourishing, says a visiting UK disability expert.
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Watch the video of the MDI Launch
The Melbourne Disability Institute (MDI) was launched on 28 May 2018 at the University of Melbourne.
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Ministerial appointment to NDIS Independent Advisory Council
Professor Anne Kavanagh has been appointed to the National Disability Insurance Scheme Independent Advisory Council.
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Vox Pops
Perspectives from the sector on what the Melbourne Disability Institute could do.
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Hosting of Secretary Shakuntala Doley Gamlin
The Melbourne Disability Institute was pleased to support a visit to Melbourne by Ms Shakuntala Doley Gamlin, Secretary of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) in the Indian Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
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Bruce Bonyhady calls on bipartisan support for funding overhaul
The former chair of the agency running the National Disability Insurance Scheme has urged the Government and Opposition to legislate a designated fund that fully finances the NDIS, rather than relying on yearly allocations.
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Vice-Chancellor launches MDI
The University of Melbourne is pleased to announce the establishment of the Melbourne Disability Institute, a major investment in disability research and engagement with the ultimate goal of improving the lives of people with disability, their families and carers.
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Making disability support work across the life course
The National Disability Insurance Scheme is a game changer, but the challenge is to make it work across people’s life course, from education and housing, to social participation and employment
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Building Consensus on NDIS Funding
Australia urgently needs consensus on the funding of the NDIS which builds trust in the disability sector, confidence in the Australian community and sustainability of the NDIS, writes Bruce Bonyhady.
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Podcast: Taking the Pulse of the NDIS
Half a million Australians will benefit from the National Disability Insurance Scheme, but how are teething problems being managed, and is the pace of rollout sustainable?
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New Chair in Disability and Health
Professor Anne Kavanagh has been appointed to the position of Chair in Disability and Health, the first for an Australian university.
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