Join our preventative healthcare research project!

The University of New South Wales (UNSW) and Aruma are making important strides in vital research aimed at strengthening preventative healthcare for people with intellectual disabilities. However, we need your support to gain deeper insights and better identify key challenges and opportunities.

The UNSW research team are keen to hear about your experiences in engaging in health action planning or following advice from your healthcare professional.

By participating in an interview, you’ll receive a $50 gift card as a token of appreciation for sharing your experiences. So why wait? If you have an intellectual disability, support someone who does, or work as a healthcare professional, reach out to Jack Cooper at jack.r.cooper@unsw.edu.au or 0434 182 259 to find out how you can take part.

Why are we doing this research?

Good preventative healthcare is important in lowering our risk of serious illness and in helping us to enjoy good health across our lifetime.

Unfortunately, people with intellectual disability often face a range of barriers in accessing the healthcare system. Improving our understanding of the barriers and enablers in accessing preventative healthcare is a key step in improving the health outcomes of people with intellectual disability.

That is why we have partnered with the University of New South Wales (UNSW) on the NHMRC Partnership Project: Preventative Healthcare for People with Intellectual Disability aimed at improving access to, and the quality of preventative healthcare across the lifespan for people with intellectual disability.

What is the research looking to find out?

• How the preventative healthcare needs of people with intellectual disability are being represented at a state, national and international level;
• How accessible preventative health strategies are for people with intellectual disability;
• Determine how preventative health strategies are currently impacting health service usage for people with intellectual disability; and
• How change can be implemented to enable people with intellectual disability to better access and participate in preventative healthcare.

Who can take part?

The UNSW research team are seeking people with intellectual disability, their paid and unpaid support networks, and health professionals to take part in 1:1 and group interviews to hear about their experiences in engaging in health action planning or following advice from their healthcare professional.

The interviews will take between 1-2 hours with a second participant interview conducted so researchers can confirm their understanding of responses.

Contact Jack Cooper at jack.r.cooper@unsw.edu.au or 0434 182 259 to find out more.