About us
Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability brings together leading academic experts from diverse fields. Their expertise includes neurobiology and stem cell research, rehabilitation engineering, business analytics, decision support and health information management, occupational health psychology, sociology and gender equity, industrial design, citizen science and co-design, social marketing, policy and governance, creative arts, innovation and entrepreneurship.
OUR VISION
Our vision is an inclusive future for all Australians. We will work together to find fresh ideas and deliver bold life-changing innovations, driven by people with disability.
OUR MISSION
- A collective and creative vision for the future built by uniting experts from diverse sectors and disciplines in a collaborative solution-focused community.
- Sustainable solutions designed with stakeholders, through genuine, authentic relationships among individuals with disability, world-class industry leaders, and the community.
- Ambitious, ethical solutions to the most important and long-standing challenges faced by people with disability.
- Equitable, transparent and open access to life-changing innovations, knowledge and evidence.
HOW WE WORK
Our work is guided by the following principles:
- Universal design principles to ensure solutions that are accessible for most people most of the time.
- Good user-experience design processes to produce solutions that respond to needs.
- Solving the challenge of most importance in the most inclusive and accessible way.
- Promoting the capacity of citizens to participate at the highest level possible.
- Non-wasteful science with commitment to sustainable translation.
RESEARCH THEMES
We have three major themes – live, work and play, informed by critical topics in our current public and political arenas and an audit of our own expertise. These themes will provide a structure within which integrated interdisciplinary innovations can be created.
Directors message
“Disability could happen to any one of us at any time. It does not discriminate. But our society is not designed with disability in mind. By working together across boundaries that artificially divide us, we can create an inclusive future. We are working towards a future where passionate skilled people, incredible ideas, advanced technologies, cutting-edge innovations and life-changing opportunities are available for everyone and embedded in our health, business and social systems – a future where disability is no longer seen as a problem."
Professor Elizabeth Kendall
Director
OUR TEAM
Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability unites and refocuses the expertise within Griffith's world class centres and institutes to create a coherent and exciting approach to disability and rehabilitation research that will take us into the future.
ENGAGEMENT COUNCIL
Community leaders with disability who are ambassadors and advocates and guide our research towards meaningful positive impact for people with disability.
Dr Dinesh Palipana OAM
Engagement Council chair, doctor, lawyer and 2021 Queensland Australian of the Year.
Mark Berridge
Keynote speaker, author, lived experience expert and negotiation consultant.
Michael Dobbie-Bridges PLY
Paralympian, Sports Hall of Fame and strategic advisor (disability) APM.
Nick Marshall OAM
2020 Australian of the Year and Queensland Local Hero.
Janine Shepherd AM
Keynote speaker, author and resilience expert.
ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM
- Professor Elizabeth Kendall – Director
- Dr Maretta Mann – Strategic Development Manager
- Rebekah Barker – Project Support Officer
- Jo Kek-Pamenter – Graphic Design and Communications Officer
- Kelsey Chapman – Citizen Engagement Manager
LEADERSHIP TEAM
- Professor Paula Brough – Team Leader: Work
- Professor Simone Fullagar – Strategic Development Team Leader: Play
- Professor Dian Tjondronegoro – Team Leader: Live
- A/Professor David Trembath
- Professor Brydie-Leigh Bartleet
- Professor James St John
- Professor Tamara Ownsworth
Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability draws on dozens of research experts who specialise in disability across the lifespan, and at all levels of society. Our experts specialise in all types of disabilities and chronic conditions and have expertise in the full range of research methods and practices.
FOUNDATION PARTNERS
We are proud to welcome Queenslanders with Disability Network as the foundation partner of Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability.
Contact us
Please contact us if you have any questions about Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability.