Machine Learning for Fracture Risk Assessment from Simple Radiography. This project aims to develop a novel, reliable, low-cost system to detect poor bone health and assess fracture risk to help to prevent and manage osteoporosis-related fractures. Currently, osteoporosis-related fractures cost our health system millions of dollars annually and costs are increasing with our ageing population. Early detection of poor bone health will improve the effectiveness of preventive measures and ease this ....Machine Learning for Fracture Risk Assessment from Simple Radiography. This project aims to develop a novel, reliable, low-cost system to detect poor bone health and assess fracture risk to help to prevent and manage osteoporosis-related fractures. Currently, osteoporosis-related fractures cost our health system millions of dollars annually and costs are increasing with our ageing population. Early detection of poor bone health will improve the effectiveness of preventive measures and ease this burden. Current methods include unreliable, crude clinical and visual guides that suggest osteoporosis screening. The project plans to develop a novel system by applying machine learning algorithms to radiology data which is commonly captured for diagnosing other conditions.Read moreRead less
Greater inclusion of people with disability in Australian workplaces. This project aims to develop a model of successful employment for people with a disability, identify sources of employer diversity that explain willingness to hire, and develop social marketing messages that improve employer attitudes and achieve greater inclusion in Australian workplaces. Workforce participation of people with a disability remains low. The outcome of this study will be more people with a disability and their ....Greater inclusion of people with disability in Australian workplaces. This project aims to develop a model of successful employment for people with a disability, identify sources of employer diversity that explain willingness to hire, and develop social marketing messages that improve employer attitudes and achieve greater inclusion in Australian workplaces. Workforce participation of people with a disability remains low. The outcome of this study will be more people with a disability and their carers gaining meaningful employment, with benefits including improved physical and mental health, social connections and economic security. It will benefit employers by creating more diverse workplaces and a broader talent pool, resulting in greater innovation and productivity.Read moreRead less
Doubly disadvantaged: harnessing elements of resilience and establishing information for systems change. Aboriginal children with a disability who receive insufficient support when young are likely to experience a lifetime of disadvantage. This project will provide these children, their families and their carers with a culturally appropriate, holistic pathway enabling easier access to health, social, and educational services.
3D Printed Food for People with Swallowing Disability. This project aims to identify ways that 3D food printing (additive manufacturing using real food in a device like a ink-jet printer) could be used to improve the visual appeal of puree meals for people with swallowing difficulty, who make up ~8% of the world's population. This study will be the first to include people with swallowing disability (e.g., related to cerebral palsy, stroke, older age) and their supporters in examining the views a ....3D Printed Food for People with Swallowing Disability. This project aims to identify ways that 3D food printing (additive manufacturing using real food in a device like a ink-jet printer) could be used to improve the visual appeal of puree meals for people with swallowing difficulty, who make up ~8% of the world's population. This study will be the first to include people with swallowing disability (e.g., related to cerebral palsy, stroke, older age) and their supporters in examining the views and experiences of stakeholders on the impact of 3D food printing on quality of life, enjoyment, participation, and safety. Outcomes include new knowledge on factors affecting the implementation of 3D food printing in disability and aged care services, to inform policy, practice, and future research.Read moreRead less
Social outcomes, behaviour and emotional well-being of adults with autism. It is recognised that autism results in substantial life-long disability. Severe emotional and behavioural problems are likely to be a key factor in precluding adults with autism from work, independent living, social contact, and undermine their quality of life, thus increasing support needs. This project aims to address a major gap in our current knowledge - the association between severe emotional and behavioural proble ....Social outcomes, behaviour and emotional well-being of adults with autism. It is recognised that autism results in substantial life-long disability. Severe emotional and behavioural problems are likely to be a key factor in precluding adults with autism from work, independent living, social contact, and undermine their quality of life, thus increasing support needs. This project aims to address a major gap in our current knowledge - the association between severe emotional and behavioural problems in adults with autism and social outcomes. Identification of markers of adult outcomes aims to lead to an improved understanding of the pathways to better social outcomes, facilitating the development of specific interventions to provide much needed improvements in outcomes for adults with autism.Read moreRead less
Improving academic outcomes by moderating anxiety in children with autism. The project aims to investigate links between anxiety and academic enablers for children with autism. As a group, these children are currently achieving at lower rates than their peers, with implications for their future social and economic wellbeing. Effective interventions to improve educational outcomes are lacking. This project will investigate how anxiety, a commonly occurring condition in autism, impacts attitudes a ....Improving academic outcomes by moderating anxiety in children with autism. The project aims to investigate links between anxiety and academic enablers for children with autism. As a group, these children are currently achieving at lower rates than their peers, with implications for their future social and economic wellbeing. Effective interventions to improve educational outcomes are lacking. This project will investigate how anxiety, a commonly occurring condition in autism, impacts attitudes and behaviours that facilitate students’ participation in and ability to benefit from academic instruction in the classroom. Findings are intended to provide an evidence base for the development of an intervention suitable for use by service providers to increase academic achievement in children with autism.Read moreRead less
Using 3D printing to improve access to graphics by vision-impaired people. This project aims to investigate the possible benefits of 3D printing for production of accessible materials for vision-impaired people. Currently tactile graphics are used to provide severely vision-impaired adults and children with access to graphical content used in education and in orientation and mobility training. This project is expected to clarify the kinds of graphics for which 3D prints are better suited than ta ....Using 3D printing to improve access to graphics by vision-impaired people. This project aims to investigate the possible benefits of 3D printing for production of accessible materials for vision-impaired people. Currently tactile graphics are used to provide severely vision-impaired adults and children with access to graphical content used in education and in orientation and mobility training. This project is expected to clarify the kinds of graphics for which 3D prints are better suited than tactile graphics, and to build capacity within the national accessible format provision sector for the production and use of 3D prints. Benefits will include increased educational opportunities and quality of life for Australians with severe vision impairment, through improved access to graphic materials used in education and orientation and mobility training.
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Improving employment outcomes for Australians with disability. This project aims to provide evidence about how to improve employment outcomes for people with disability. Nearly one in five adult Australians have a disability and just over half of these are in the labour force; a modest increase in employment rates will have significant social and economic benefits for people with disability and society. By collecting longitudinal quantitative (survey) and qualitative (interview) data at three ti ....Improving employment outcomes for Australians with disability. This project aims to provide evidence about how to improve employment outcomes for people with disability. Nearly one in five adult Australians have a disability and just over half of these are in the labour force; a modest increase in employment rates will have significant social and economic benefits for people with disability and society. By collecting longitudinal quantitative (survey) and qualitative (interview) data at three time points from over 1500 jobseekers with disability, critical information should be gained about how the characteristics of employment services, workplaces and jobseekers contribute to sustainable, meaningful employment for people with disability.Read moreRead less
NDIS: Rhetoric versus Reality? This project aims to explore the realities of living with intellectual disability in Australia, and the impact of individualised funding arising from the introduction of the NDIS. The study will examine, within this era of disability reform, how people with intellectual disability are having their needs met, and the extent to which they are involved in decision-making about their lives. The study will be conducted over three years using a mixed method design. It wi ....NDIS: Rhetoric versus Reality? This project aims to explore the realities of living with intellectual disability in Australia, and the impact of individualised funding arising from the introduction of the NDIS. The study will examine, within this era of disability reform, how people with intellectual disability are having their needs met, and the extent to which they are involved in decision-making about their lives. The study will be conducted over three years using a mixed method design. It will specifically examine the relationship between self-directed individualised funding and its effect on personal well-being, self-esteem and voice, choice and control. People with intellectual disability will act as co-researchers within the study.Read moreRead less
Learning to Talk, Talking to Learn: Effects of an early childhood language program in remote Northern Territory indigenous communities. Both the quality and quantity of language children hear, and adult understandings of child development, drive children's future outcomes. Understanding how to improve both is critical to the lifelong education, employment and social potential of children from low socioeconomic families, especially with hearing loss. This project aims to examine to what extent a ....Learning to Talk, Talking to Learn: Effects of an early childhood language program in remote Northern Territory indigenous communities. Both the quality and quantity of language children hear, and adult understandings of child development, drive children's future outcomes. Understanding how to improve both is critical to the lifelong education, employment and social potential of children from low socioeconomic families, especially with hearing loss. This project aims to examine to what extent a parent-implemented early childhood language program designed to buffer against effects of childhood otitis media can support indigenous children in remote northern Australia. Outcomes aim to be data on effects on children's language, attention, and school readiness, plus uptake of strategies and knowledge by parents and other adults, and evidence regarding best practice in such contexts.Read moreRead less