Researching what’s important to people with disability

As we near the end of 2022, we are pleased to publish our preliminary research agenda.

Read the preliminary research agenda here:

Along with the recently-published Learnings and Recommendations report and Building Disability Research Capacity reports, this is one of the final outcomes of our two-year Establishment Phase.

The preliminary research agenda is currently in draft and will be completed by June 2023. Once complete, the NDRP research agenda will be the foundation for the NDRP to deliver on its vision. It will guide NDRP funding for collaborative and inclusive disability research led by and with people with disability. This research will build evidence for disability policy and practice in Australia.

Thanks to the University of Sydney-led consortium for their work on the three-phase agenda setting project and everyone who provided input to this. We will be seeking feedback on the preliminary agenda and our overarching research framework in 2023.

In the media

Improving the lives of Australians living with disability through research

Minister for Social Services, The Hon Amanda Rishworth, and Minister for the NDIS, the Hon Bill Shorten have confirmed the Australian Government’s support for the NDRP.

Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth said creating a more inclusive society for all people living with disability was a key goal of the Albanese Labor Government.

“Using research to help design evidence-based policy solutions will help us move towards achieving that vision,” Minister Rishworth said. “The NDRP is an Australian-first entity that will build knowledge through partnerships it will also recognise and value the lived experiences of people with disability and prioritise co-design and collaboration.”

Read the full media release here: Improving the lives of Australians living with disability through research

Some questions and answers

What’s in the preliminary research agenda?

The preliminary research agenda sets out broad areas for research topics that people with disability and other stakeholders told us are important. Initial consultations identified these four focus areas where research is needed:

Research about making services better
Research about different experiences of people with disability in Australia
Research about how systems can support people better
Research about mental health and wellbeing.

The preliminary research agenda complements the outcome areas of Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-31, building on years of disability research and policy work that has already been and is being done across Australia.

How was the preliminary research agenda developed?

It was developed in two steps. First, an agenda setting research project was contracted to a group of academic and non-government partners – known as a consortium – led by the University of Sydney.

They went through a three-stage process to develop a list of areas important to people with disability and other stakeholders. The phases were:

Mapping disability research published between 2018 and 2020, since the previous audit of disability research
A survey and consultations led by organisations to ask people about the areas of research they thought most important
Bringing together the responses from phases 1 and 2 into four key areas for research.

In the second step, the NDRP Working Party mapped the research topics identified in the agenda setting research project to the outcome areas in Australia’s Disability Strategy to offer a preliminary research agenda.

What’s next?

There are some groups who have not yet had the opportunity to provide input to the broad research areas and range of research topics. We also want to organise the research agenda into short-, medium- and long-term priorities.

In early 2023 we will hold workshops and a survey to help shape the final NDRP Research Agenda and overarching research framework.

Once finalised, the agenda will provide the foundation for the NDRP to deliver research led by and with people with disability and build evidence for successful policy and practice.