Increasing organisational capacity of community residential units to facilitate ageing in place for people with intellectual disability. Unique challenges face the disability, aged care and health sectors because of the increased life expectancy of people with life-long intellectual disability (ID) and the likelihood of their premature ageing. Although this group is recognised by Federal and State governments as requiring specific and special service arrangements, little is known about adapting ....Increasing organisational capacity of community residential units to facilitate ageing in place for people with intellectual disability. Unique challenges face the disability, aged care and health sectors because of the increased life expectancy of people with life-long intellectual disability (ID) and the likelihood of their premature ageing. Although this group is recognised by Federal and State governments as requiring specific and special service arrangements, little is known about adapting disability and aged care services to their needs. This research will inform the development of policy and programs in the disability, aged care, and health sectors. The research aims to improve the capacity of disability group homes to respond to the health and ageing issues of older people with ID,to improve their quality of life.Read moreRead less
Constructing futures: an investigation of the aspirations of young adults with an intellectual disability and their parents. This project aims to develop a better understanding of the aspirations for adult life held by young adults with an intellectual disability and their parents. Organisations that provide services to this vulnerable group will use the results to examine current, and guide future, service provision.
Understanding 'encounter' as a dimension of social inclusion for people with intellectual disability. People with intellectual disability are among the most socially excluded. This study will help to understand the meaning of social inclusion for this group and how local communities can support it. The findings will help urban designers, local governments and disability staff to facilitate social inclusion of people with intellectual disability.
Enabling engagement and inclusion: organisational factors that embed active support in accommodation services for people with intellectual disability. The study will investigate the processes and structures necessary to ensure frontline staff deliver high quality support to people with intellectual disability, which enables them to engage in meaningful activity. This knowledge will inform disability service organisation processes and provide indicators of structures necessary for effective servi ....Enabling engagement and inclusion: organisational factors that embed active support in accommodation services for people with intellectual disability. The study will investigate the processes and structures necessary to ensure frontline staff deliver high quality support to people with intellectual disability, which enables them to engage in meaningful activity. This knowledge will inform disability service organisation processes and provide indicators of structures necessary for effective services.Read moreRead less
Developing an Integrative Active Ageing Model for Policy Makers and Service Providers to Support Older People with Lifelong Intellectual Disability. 'Active ageing' is increasingly gaining international currency and it underpins Australia's national focus on healthy ageing. However, its meaning for older people with intellectual disability, who represent about 0.13% of Australia's older population, is unclear, as little is known about the impact of ageing upon this group. This exciting resear ....Developing an Integrative Active Ageing Model for Policy Makers and Service Providers to Support Older People with Lifelong Intellectual Disability. 'Active ageing' is increasingly gaining international currency and it underpins Australia's national focus on healthy ageing. However, its meaning for older people with intellectual disability, who represent about 0.13% of Australia's older population, is unclear, as little is known about the impact of ageing upon this group. This exciting research project aims to address these knowledge gaps through a series of case studies comprising key stakeholder groups in rural and urban Victoria and Queensland. An Integrative Model of Active Ageing for policy makers and service providers will be developed to facilitate the planning and appropriate distribution of resources for this population. Read moreRead less
Experiences of Families with Children with Disabilities in China. The project contributes to safeguarding Australia by understanding our region through the opportunity to demonstrate Australia's engagement in research to benefit China, with which it is establishing strong links in social, economic and cultural interests. Research expertise about Australia's child disability policies is relevant to China's social policy development. It contributes to national understanding of East Asian child dis ....Experiences of Families with Children with Disabilities in China. The project contributes to safeguarding Australia by understanding our region through the opportunity to demonstrate Australia's engagement in research to benefit China, with which it is establishing strong links in social, economic and cultural interests. Research expertise about Australia's child disability policies is relevant to China's social policy development. It contributes to national understanding of East Asian child disability policies, including partnership approaches to social support between government, nongovernment and communities, also developing in Australia. The project strengthens connections between Australian researchers and policy-makers, Plan International (China and Australia) and China Disabled Persons Federation.Read moreRead less
Transition to adulthood of young people with disabilities from state care in China. The project has implications for the national priority of safeguarding Australia through supporting the government strategy of engaging in our region. Disability is an AusAid priority in the Asia Pacific. The project demonstrates Australia's commitment to using our research and policy to improve social inclusion in China and to generalise to other developing countries. It contributes to developing Australian soci ....Transition to adulthood of young people with disabilities from state care in China. The project has implications for the national priority of safeguarding Australia through supporting the government strategy of engaging in our region. Disability is an AusAid priority in the Asia Pacific. The project demonstrates Australia's commitment to using our research and policy to improve social inclusion in China and to generalise to other developing countries. It contributes to developing Australian social policy, research and training in a way that is relevant to child and disability state care practices in Australia and China. The project facilitates future connections between researchers and policy officials in Australia and China, the Chinese Social Welfare Centre and the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs.Read moreRead less
Post-parental care planning for rural people with intellectual disabilities. This project addresses the urgent issue of post-parental care plans for people with an intellectual disability and their older parental carers in rural areas. The project aims to co-design a post-parental care planning approach and resources in collaboration with people with an intellectual disability, older parental carers and disability services. The results will be used by the researchers to generate new knowledge on ....Post-parental care planning for rural people with intellectual disabilities. This project addresses the urgent issue of post-parental care plans for people with an intellectual disability and their older parental carers in rural areas. The project aims to co-design a post-parental care planning approach and resources in collaboration with people with an intellectual disability, older parental carers and disability services. The results will be used by the researchers to generate new knowledge on post-parental care transitions and how to construct post-parental care plans within the context of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. The planning approach and resources will assist families and services to avert crisis transitions through improved coordination, preparation and support for post-parental care. Read moreRead less
Self Advocacy and Inclusion: What Can be Learned from Speaking Up. Despite substantial effort and the closure of large institutions, research shows that people with intellectual disabilities in Australia remain marginalised in the community. Developments internationally indicate that much can be learned about the links between self advocacy and accomplishing national policy priorities for social inclusion. An independent voice, developing confidence and securing rights, all features of self advo ....Self Advocacy and Inclusion: What Can be Learned from Speaking Up. Despite substantial effort and the closure of large institutions, research shows that people with intellectual disabilities in Australia remain marginalised in the community. Developments internationally indicate that much can be learned about the links between self advocacy and accomplishing national policy priorities for social inclusion. An independent voice, developing confidence and securing rights, all features of self advocacy, have proven potential in securing policy that is 'fit-for-purpose' and building social capital, thus strengthening the social and economic fabric of our communities. Additionally, this project tests the benefit of inclusive research, placing Australia at the forefront of innovative research approaches.Read moreRead less
Effective Decision Making Support for People with Cognitive Disability. This project aims to produce and test evidence-based education resources that boost the ability of supporters of people with cognitive disability to put the supported person’s own desires and values at the centre of decisions, as required by treaty obligations and best practice. The project aims to develop innovative education resources, and to then investigate the impact of the resources on the practices of decision-making ....Effective Decision Making Support for People with Cognitive Disability. This project aims to produce and test evidence-based education resources that boost the ability of supporters of people with cognitive disability to put the supported person’s own desires and values at the centre of decisions, as required by treaty obligations and best practice. The project aims to develop innovative education resources, and to then investigate the impact of the resources on the practices of decision-making supporters and the person being supported in a randomised control trial in three jurisdictions. The anticipated outcome is a demonstrably effective capacity-building tool, able to cater for all types of cognitive disabilities and the full spectrum of support contexts from guardianship to informal support.Read moreRead less