Recipients announced for the inaugural Disability Research Leadership Program
Australia's first national cohort of emerging disability research leaders was announced today, with 14 researchers selected.
The NDRP’s Disability Research Leadership Program supports emerging researchers with disability to build their research careers and leadership capability. In the first intake each researcher receives $30,000 in flexible, accessible support over 12 months.
The program supports Master's by Research or PhD students with disability, enrolled at an Australian university, whose research aligns with the NDRP’s Research Agenda.
While the program was intended to provide support for 8 students, due to the volume of high-quality applications, the NDRP has funded 14 researchers.
Each successful applicant receives:
- A one-year program to join a national community connecting them with peer researchers, disability leaders, and sector experts who share their commitment to driving change.
- $15,000 financial support to help focus on your research and career development, plus
- Up to $15,000 flexible funding to support their research and professional development including activities like conference travel, collaborations with disability organisations, accessible research methods and knowledge mobilisation.
This program is funded by the NDRP through a grant from the Australian Government as an initiative under Australia's Disability Strategy 2021-2031.
Meet the 2026 Leadership cohort
The 14 researchers selected for the inaugural Disability Research Leadership Program are:
- Matthew Jackman, PhD candidate understanding the contemporary international Mad movements (University of Sydney, NSW)
- Mikala Sedgwick, Gamilaraay PhD candidate researching health, wellbeing & experiences of discrimination among Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Peoples with Disability (Yardhura Walani, ANU, Canberra ACT)
- Alison Devitt, Researcher designing chronic disease supports with people with intellectual disability (Charles Sturt University, Orange, NSW)
- Tara Pattenden, Artist-researcher creating accessible, tactile musical instruments (Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, Brisbane QLD)
- Stephen Murnane, Researcher examining neurodiversity-affirming behaviour support practices (Flinders University, Brisbane QLD)
- Sarah Poiner, Researcher improving intimate partner violence screening for autistic women (Griffith University, Brisbane QLD)
- Kim Andreassen, PhD candidate co-designing trauma-informed consent education for young people with disability (Curtin University, Perth WA)
- Samantha Lilly, Researcher exploring obesity and intellectual disability lived experience using co-design (Deakin University, Melbourne VIC)
- Aaron Saint-James, Researcher examining inclusive teaching, accessibility, and learning design to improve university experiences for students with disability (UNSW Sydney, NSW)
- Katie Price, PhD candidate researching possible reconciliation of disability rights and mental health detention in preventing suicide (UTS, Sydney NSW)
- Claire Dorling, Legally blind researcher developing strengths-based vision assessment tools (Monash University VIC)
- Tania Rose, Researcher studying wellbeing of disability arts practitioners (University of Sydney, NSW)
- Hannah Vogel, Archaeologist, challenging ableism by reinterpreting disability in ancient history (Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW)
- Mark Hanson, PhD candidate and wheelchair user investigating wheelchair accessibility within air travel (Swinburne University, Melbourne VIC).
