Do you live with disability? Do you want research to be more inclusive?
Expressions of Interest are now open for the Empowering Disabled Voices research project at the University of Melbourne.
Researchers at the University of Melbourne want to develop an inclusive and intersectional research toolkit to support research done with and by disabled people.
To do this, we need to hear from disabled people. We want people with diverse experiences and backgrounds. We are asking people to participate in two online workshops.
The first workshop will be on November 11th 2026. The second will be in January or February 2027.
What will happen at the workshops?
Each workshop will be 2.5 hours long. It will have two 1 hour sessions and a 30 minute break. There will be up to 15 people in each.
You will be paid for your time and expertise.
The workshops will discuss inclusive and accessible research in practice. We want to hear your perspectives on what researchers are doing well and what they need to do better.
We will send information before the workshops. We will also send some questions to help you prepare and reflect.
Who can join?
We are looking for people who:
Have lived experience of disability
Are interested in improving how research is conducted with and by disabled people
Bring diverse perspectives. You might be:
a First Nations Australian
someone from a culturally and linguistically diverse background
a member of the LGBTQIA+ community
someone from a regional, rural, or remote area.
Will the workshops be accessible?
This project is led by people with lived experience of disability. Two people living with disability will run the workshops. We are committed to accessible and safe workshops that are genuinely shaped by the people who participate in them. We welcome and will accommodate a range of access needs.
How to express your interest
If you are interested, we would like to arrange a time to speak with you over Zoom. Please email rosie.bogumil@unimelb.edu.au with your name, age, pronouns and the state you live in. Tell us if you prefer to speak on a certain day or time (morning or afternoon).
If you have any questions or would like help, please contact Dr Tessa Saunders on Tess.Saunders@unimelb.edu.au