COURSE DEVELOPED FOR PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY TO LEARN ABOUT RESEARCH Inclusive research used by Scope Australia to support advocacy for change through lived experience
With
Dr Caroline Hart,
Senior Research Officer
Scope Australia
Nell Buchanan,
Research Assistant
Scope Australia
PEOPLE IN HEALTH CARE SEGMENT
Filmed in Melbourne | March 2026
Scope Australia is one of the largest not-for-profit disability service providers in Australia, supporting thousands of people with complex intellectual, physical, and multiple disabilities.
They operate across Victoria and New South Wales across more than 425 service locations.
Scope’s research team developed a course about what research is and how to do research. Eight people with intellectual disability did the course. Five people took part in interviews to help Scope learn about the course and how to make it better.
In November 2025, A/Professor Stella Koritsas, Scope’s Head of Research, Dr Caroline Hart, Senior Research Officer, and Mimari Hartono, Research Assistant, presented findings from their research into co-research as part of this week’s Australasian Society for Intellectual Disability 2025 conference — research carried out “with” or “by” people with disability rather than “to”, “about” or “for” them, which is important because it helps the sector uphold the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities principles of dignity, autonomy, and full participation.
The research found that the course had a positive impact on people that extended beyond their ability to do and lead research. People who participated said that they felt more confident after the course and learned new skills. They also said that they made friends. They told Scope’s researchers that the course could be better if more easy English was used. They also wanted to be able to get to know people before the course started.
Australian Health Journal spoke with Dr Caroline Hart and Research Assistant Nell Buchanan, who explained what the courses means for the sector, plus the knowledge and experiences gained.
Source: Supplied and adapted
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Enhancing occupational therapy service provision with military veterans
Almost half a million Australians have served with the Australian Defence Force. Given the high prevalence of physical and mental health conditions and complexity of civilian life adjustment after military service, high-quality occupational therapy services are critical. However, there is limited description of occupational therapy service provision to individuals funded by the Australian Department of Veterans’ Affairs to inform government policy.
A cross-sectional study, led by Professor Carol McKinstry, Professor of Occupational Therapy and Deputy Dean with La Trobe University’s Rural Health School at the Bendigo campus has used an online survey to collect information from occupational therapists providing services to Department of Veterans’ Affairs clients.
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LIVED EXPERIENCE: Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
Lachlan Thorpe has shared his experience of living with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), highlighting the profound impact the condition had on his life and the difference medical technology has made to his recovery.
In an interview with the Australian Health Journal, Thorpe explained that his CRPS developed following an ankle injury sustained while playing rugby for Sydney University Rugby Club in late 2024. After undergoing surgery and rehabilitation for the injury, he began experiencing severe pain, swelling and sensitivity despite there being no further orthopaedic damage.
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Avoiding lung complications after surgery by reversing muscle relaxant drugs more effectively
Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend enjoying a wide variety of nutritious foods every day, including plenty of vegetables of different types and colours, and fruit.1 Yet recently released National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (NNPAS) data show fewer than one in four people (23.1 per cent) met the recommendation for fruit intake on a usual basis, and just 4.3 per cent met the recommendation for vegetables, legumes and beans.
