Reflections on undertaking information systems research inclusive of people with intellectual disability Australasian Conference on Information Systems (ACIS) 2024

Designing Information Systems (IS) research that focuses on people with intellectual disability should be collaborative. Working in partnership with people with intellectual disability has several practical benefits as well as being an important part of ethical research. However, undertaking this work requires careful planning, resources and cooperation with community partners such as self advocacy groups. In the context of my own research, I reflect on the practicalities of how this collaborative approach could be undertaken by incorporating principles of inclusive research to address accessibility challenges, promote greater engagement from participants and utilise the skills of people with intellectual disability as members of a research team.

Strengthening Connection for People with Intellectual Disability in Emergencies; Social Media and Access to Essential Australasian Conference on Information Systems (ACIS) 2022

Climate change is increasing the rate and severity of emergency events globally which is having disproportionate impacts on the most marginalised community members, including people with intellectual disability. In an emergency many people with intellectual disability do not have access to the information they need, in formats they understand, to utilise vital services and survive. Concurrently social media has become a vital tool for sharing information and building connections for people with
and without disability. This research aims to build a better understanding of how people with intellectual disability engage with social media in an emergency to identify gaps in response efforts and improve
emergency messaging.

Access to social media platforms during emergencies: An analysis of human rights considerations for people with intellectual disability navigating the digital divide

University of Melbourne, 2022

Climate change is increasing the rate and severity of emergency events, impacting significantly on marginalised community members, including people with intellectual disability.

In an emergency many people with intellectual disability do not have access to the information they need, in formats they understand, to utilise vital services and survive. Concurrently social media has become a vital tool for sharing information and building connections for people with and without disability.

This study aims to build a better understanding of how people with intellectual disability engage with social media in an emergency to identify gaps in response efforts and improve emergency messaging.

Younger people in residential aged care: Towards living a better life

Scope and University of Melbourne (2022)

Research assistant

Funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health this research aims to better understand barriers and enablers for young people wishing to move into the community from Residential Aged Care.

As a research assistant I was responsible for undertaking interviews and focus groups with key community stakeholders, people with disability and their families.

Impact of NDIS on Victorian Disability Advocacy Sector Project

Future Social Service Institute (RMIT), Victorian Council of Social Services (VCOSS), Disability Advocacy Resource Unit (DARU) and the Self Advocacy Resource Unit (SARU) (2020)

Project group member and contract manager

This research, commissioned by the Victorian Office for Disability, aimed to better understand the impact of the NDIS on disability advocacy agencies and self-advocacy groups.

As a project group member and contact manager I was responsible for monitoring the progress of the research and reporting back to the Office for Disability. I was also involved in drafting the scope of the project, gathering qualitative data from Victorian government databases, and reviewing drafts of the final report.

The impact of extreme weather events in Samoa and Kiribati on women with disability

University of Newcastle (2019)

Lead Researcher, Master of Social Change and Development (student thesis)

While my masters was predominantly coursework, I spent six months designing and delivering a research project exploring how women with disability in Micronesia experience extreme weather events.

This research involved undertaking qualitative exploration of the issues from the perspective of community development workers in each country. I designed the research questions, undertook semi-structured interviews and analysed the data formulating a number of themes from the findings.

Living Safer Sexual Lives: Respectful Relationships (LSSL:RR) Metropolitan West Evaluation

Cohealth, Maribrynong, Brimbank, Hobsons Bay and Moonee Valley City Councils (2018)

Member of Research Team

LSSL:RR is a peer-led primary prevention sexuality and relationship project that trains people with intellectual disability as peer educators to deliver training about sexual health and prevention of violence against women in their community.

As a co-facilitator and project management group member, I was responsible for advising on the scope of the evaluation, reviewing draft methodology, conducting interviews and providing feedback on the draft report.