Commissioned research
The Melbourne Disability Institute brings together researchers, practitioners, and people with lived experience to collaborate on projects that address real-world challenges, fostering interdisciplinary work that drives inclusive innovation and meaningful change.
We support research that tackles real challenges and delivers real-world impact across areas like housing, jobs, education, the NDIS, and health helping to ensure that policy decisions are based on good evidence.
Successful projects address issues that matter to people with disability, and are designed in genuine partnership with the communities they serve. Priority is given to projects that are driven by people with disability, involve community partnerships, and have practical outcomes with the potential to attract future funding.
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Standards for Accessible Housing: Advocacy and Submissions
MDI and the Summer Foundation initiated three important pieces of research to help ensure the Australian Building Codes Board considers the personal stories of people whose lives have been improved by accessible housing.
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Access to support for working-age Australians with disability without individual NDIS funding
This research, conducted by The Melbourne Disability Institute in partnership with the Brotherhood of St. Laurence and Baptcare in 2021, examined if and how working-age Australians with disability who are not NDIS participants are finding and using any support and services they need to participate in society and the economy.
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NDIS Plan Utilisation
This project has two aims: A) to quantify inequalities in NDIS utilisation and B) assess whether exemplar scenarios can close these inequalities.
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Victorian NDIS Plan Utilisation
This mixed-methods project aimed to better understand how and why NDIS plan utilisation rates may vary amongst Victorian NDIS participants. what helps, and, what makes it hard for Victorian NDIS participants to use their NDIS funds to meet their needs and aspirations.
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The public and private benefits of inclusive community sport
This research examines how being involved in local sport as a player, volunteer or employee can promote social and economic inclusion for people with disability, and how disability-inclusive sport can strengthen local sports clubs and change perceptions of disability.
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Accessible trams
The purpose of this study is to produce evidence on the improvements necessary to make our trams more inclusive for everyone.
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ICF and its potential uses in the NDIS
This paper looks at the ICF and its potential uses in the NDIS.