The Albanese Labor Government is committed to better supporting people with disability to develop and lead research through the establishment of the National Disability Research Partnership (NDRP) as an independent entity.
More than $13.6 million has been committed over the next two years to formalise and establish the NDRP as an Australian-first entity, co-led by people with disability. The NDRP will conduct research by and for people with disability to improve policy and practice.
Clare Gibellini, a respected disability advocate, experienced leader and Autistic Australian has been appointed as Chair and Mary Sayers, the former CEO of Children and Young People with Disability Australia, who has extensive experience in policy, research, advocacy and service delivery across the public and community sectors has been appointed as the first CEO.
The NDRP research agenda was co-designed with people with disability and supports the policy priorities under Australia's Disability Strategy 2021-2031. It will help build a stronger evidence base to measure and report the implementation of the Strategy and assist with translating research finding into policy and practice.
Research commissioned by the NDRP could include projects focused on how to make communities more accessible, how to keep people with disability safe across a range of settings, and how to increase university and TAFE completion rates for people with disability.
Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth said the investment in the NDRP is another way the Government is breaking down barriers for people with disability.
"The NDRP will support research that includes a wide range of people with disability, including those who are often left out or not well represented and Ms Gilbellini will lead a Board made up of a majority of people with disability," Minister Rishworth said.
"I am so pleased Ms Gibellini has accepted my offer to Chair the NDRP and I am confident she has the expertise to realise its vision.
"We want to ensure people with disability are at the centre of the policies and programs that affect them, which makes this appointment so vital.
"The NDRP will improve policy and practice research for people with disability and build disability research capacity across Australia"
Ms Gibellini said it was a huge honour to be appointed as Chair.
"It's an important time for Australians with disabilities," Ms Gibellini said.
"With so much reform occurring across the sector it's important that policy and practice decisions of the future are informed by inclusive research and evidence, and that we are heard when it comes to decisions that impact our lives."
The NDRP is expected to commence funding disability research later in the 2024-25 financial year. All research will be shared with the disability and wider community.
