PhD Scholars
Each year, MDI allocates three Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarships to support outstanding PhD candidates committed to advancing disability research. Scholars are selected for their ability to demonstrate interdisciplinary approaches and the potential for meaningful, real‑world impact through their projects.
Once selected, they join our MDI PhD Scholar Program, where we provide tailored support, mentorship, and a collaborative community to help them thrive throughout their research journey.
Grace Gooding
Project: Reducing gender inequalities for women with psychosocial disability
Supervisors: Dr Yi Yang, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, Associate Professor Tania King, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, and Associate Professor Sue Olney, Faculty of Arts
Commenced in 2026.
Emily Shepard
Project: Educational supports and complex sensory disability: evaluating identification, support pathways and equity for children with blindness, low vision and Usher syndrome
Supervisors: Professor Lauren Ayton, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences and Dr Emily White, Faculty of Education, Sue Carden, RVEEH and Dr Kate Kiburg, Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences
Commenced in 2026.
Paul Baker
Project: Nature and Inclusion: An examination of the accessibility of National Parks in Australia
Supervisors: Dr Andrew Martel, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning and Associate Professor Margaret Grose, Faculty of Education
This research will improve our understanding of how to make Australian National Parks inclusive and accessible for people with disability.
Commenced in 2026.
Ally Drinkwater
Project: A different kind of ‘present’: The gift of perspective and insight from children and young people with disability who are absent from school
Supervisors: Associate Professor Lisa McKay Brown, Faculty of Education and Dr Sharon Klieve, Faculty of Education, Dr Bronwyn Donaghy, Association of Independent Schools of South Australia and Natalie Jonas, Association of Independent Schools of South Australia
Commenced in 2025.
Mara Erhardt-Rumpe
Project: Power with Care: A Dual Perspective Qualitative Study of How People with Intellectual Disability and Support Workers Experience and Negotiate Autonomy
Supervisors: Dr Kathryn Sellick, Department of Social Work, Dr Jennifer Davidson, Department of Social Work and Janie O'Connor, Onemda
This project explores how disability support workers navigate the balance between care and control while supporting the independence and autonomy of adults with intellectual disability. It also examines how those adults experience care and control, comparing perspectives to understand how both groups negotiate this complex space.
Commenced in 2025.
Brianna Lee
Project: Rethinking independence in the transition to adulthood for young adults with neurodevelopmental disorders: a co-designed study
Supervisors: Dr Lyndal Hickey, Department of Social Work, Professor Louise Harms, Department of Social Work, Associate Professor Anna Arstein-Kerslake, Melbourne Law School
This project aims to gain a better understanding of how young adults with disability experience independence and support during the transition to independence, with a focus on the role of relationships, support networks and structural factors that impact on this process.
Commenced in 2025.
Ella Parkinson
Project: The influence of perceptual processing on timing ability in Autistic people and people with ADHD
Supervisors: Associate Professor Simon Cropper, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, Associate Professor Sam Baron, Faculty of Arts, Dr Jessica Riordan, Faculty of Education
This research aims to explore whether ones’ sensory environment has an impact on time perception ability, specifically for Autistic people and people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Time perception difficulties have been expressed within these communities and is reflective in prior psychological research. This work hopes to deepen upstanding about Autism, ADHD and time perception, as well as provide support for time based intervention strategies.
Commenced in 2025.
Sarah Walmsley
Project: Exploring inequities in cervical screening, HPV vaccination and cervical cancer incidence and mortality for people with disability using data from Australia’s Person Level Integrated Data Asset (PLIDA)
Supervisors: Associate Professor Zoe Aitken, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, Professor Claire Vajdic, Integrated Data for Health Equity Group, Kirby Institute, Dr Glenda Bishop, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, Mr Robert Long, Labour Statistics Branch, Australian Bureau of Statistics
This research aims to use linked data methods to examine disparities in cervical cancer-related outcomes for people with disability in Australia at the population level. This work is part of the MRFF-funded INCLUDE project; a population-based cohort study focused on improving cervical cancer prevention services in primary care for priority populations in Australia.
Commenced in 2024.
Aleta Moriarty
Project: Post-school transition to decent work for young people with disability in Australia: what works?
Supervisors: Professor Keith McVilly, Faculty of Arts, Associate Professor Sue Olney, Faculty of Arts, Dr Rae West, Melbourne Disability Institute
This study seeks to understand what helps young Autistic adults (aged 24–40) achieve successful employment outcomes after leaving school.
Commenced in 2024.
Jess Rowlings
Project: Experiences of agency and empowerment of neurodivergent women in online gaming spaces
Supervisors: Associate Professor Jenny Waycott, School of Computing and Information Systems, Professor Keith McVilly, Faculty of Arts
Commenced in 2023.
Joanna Butchart
Project: Adult health outcomes for people with childhood disability
Supervisor: Dr George Disney, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences
Project description:
Joanna's research will use linked health and administrative data to look at adult health outcomes for people with childhood disability.
Commenced in 2022.
Marlies Wanasili
Project: Gaming devices to increase occupational engagement in adults with upper limb impairment
Supervisors: Dr Cathy Said, Department of Physiotherapy, Dr. Marlena Klaic, Melbourne School of Health Sciences, Dr. Vincent Crocher, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Dr. Danielle Hitch, Deakin University
This project is exploring the use of gaming devices for upper limb rehabilitation from an occupational perspective. The research will look at whether gaming is a meaningful occupation for clients and clinicians, and whether gaming impacts on participation in meaningful occupation in daily life for clients with upper limb impairment.
Commenced in 2021.
Kerry Britt
Project: ENVISAGE for Service Providers: Creating opportunity to change how service providers think, talk about, and approach childhood disability
Supervisor: Professor Christine Imms, Department of Paediatrics
This project looked at the effectiveness of a five-week online workshop for service providers who work with families of children with neuro-developmental disability (NDD).
Completed 2025.
Heidi Peart
Project: Access to social media platforms during emergencies: An analysis of human rights considerations for people with intellectual disability navigating the digital divide
Supervisor: Dr Piers Gooding, La Trobe University
This research aims to better understand how and if social media can be better utilised as a tool to support people with intellectual disability during widespread emergencies, such as natural disasters. The study will also examine whether the Australian government is meeting its obligations under the CRPD to provide communications online that are inclusive of people with intellectual disability.
Commenced in 2021.
Ludmila Fleitas Alfonzo
Project: Mental Health of Young Carers
Supervisor: Dr Tania King, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences
This project aims to identify the causal pathways that contribute to poorer life outcomes among young carers. It will inform the implementation of programs and policies to support young carers, and in doing so, will reduce disparities and improve the economic, social, health and educational outcomes of this vulnerable group.
Completed 2025.
John Carey
Project: CycLink, Linking children and young people with disability to community participation in cycling
Supervisors: Professor Alicia Spittle, Department of Physiotherapy, Dr Rachel Toovey, Department of Physiotherapy, Professor Christine Imms. Department of Paediatrics
This research will develop and support inclusive cycling opportunities for children and young people with disability in the community.
Commenced in 2020.
Johanna Taylor
Project: School Refusal, Disability and Early intervention: Validation of a School Refusal Screening Tool to Promote Access to Intervention
Supervisors: Dr Lisa McKay-Brown, Faculty of Education
This research aims to increase the capacity of teachers in Victoria to meet the needs of students who are at-risk of disengaging from school through the development of a screening tool for at risk students and professional learning for teachers to assist in the development of strategies for students at-risk of school refusal.
Commenced in 2019.
Marissa Shields
Project: Employment for young Australians with a disability
Supervisors: Dr Allison Milner, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences
This project aims to create much-needed evidence about the individual, service-related, workplace and contextual factors that contribute to successful employment and health outcomes for young people who either have a disability or who come from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Completed 2023.