Research & Innovation

Innovation is the key to better futures. Onemda is committed to research and innovation within the disability services sector to increase our impact and improve the lives of people with disability.

That’s why we work with universities and other research partners to build knowledge, co-design and trial innovative technologies, and drive best practice in everything we do.

OUR CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS

Breaking Out of Silos

Project Partner: Australian Catholic University (ACU)

Onemda is working in partnership with Australian Catholic University to create early access to employment activities for students with disabilities in their final 3-years of school.

Early access to work opportunities and paid employment has been shown to help young people with disabilities transition successfully from school to employment. Working closely with young people and their networks this project is linking students into the world of work and creating opportunities for students to gain employment.

This model has been rolled out at 7 schools across northern, western and eastern metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. 82 students have participated so far and of the 58 who proceeded with exploring work opportunities, 62.5% have achieved a desired employment outcome.

Quality of Life Outcome Measurement

Project Partner: University of Technology, Sydney, and University of Ghent, Belgium

Implementing a validated Quality of Life (QoL) assessment tool at Onemda. Aim will to be to identify whether current Group Services and Therapy Services interventions have a direct impact on participants’ quality of life. This is a 3-year project.

Posture Support for Wheelchair Users

Project Partner: Swinburne MedTech

Exploring new approaches that enable enhanced postural support for wheelchair users. This project is now in its second phase.

Posture Program

Project Partner: Onemda's Therapy Team

People with limited mobility can over time develop severe distortions to the symmetry of the shape of their body, which can have significant consequences for the person’s health and well-being. This initiative is seeking to improve the physical wellbeing of our participants through posture care - which is a gentle intervention that helps protect body shape.

As part of this program, we will be developing a posture program for people with limited mobility which includes pressure mapping to enable enhanced postural support for participants throughout the day.

Project TEAM

Project Partner: Australian Catholic University (ACU)

Adapting the Project TEAM intervention designed in the US to help people with intellectual disability identify and work towards meeting their goals. This project is now in its second phase being trialled with an additional two groups of participants.

Person-Centred Active Support (PCAS)

Project Partner: Onemda's Research & Innovation Centre

Implementing Person-Centred Active Support, an evidenced-based practice approach at Onemda.

Learn more about Person-Centre Active Support (PCAS) here (pdf)

OUR RESEARCH & INNOVATION CENTRE

At Onemda, we believe that:

Every person has the ability to keep learning
Technology advances independence
Therapy enhances capacity

Our dedicated Research & Innovation Centre, established in 2019, brings those principles together to build knowledge, explore new possibilities and deliver real and measurable outcomes for those who attend Onemda programs and for the wider sector.

With a vision to ‘Open up worlds through innovation’, we have established relationships and partnerships with universities, research institutes, innovative developers and engineering companies, bringing our extensive service delivery experience and the lived experience of people with disabilities, their families and carers, together to innovate for the future.

Already, we have worked with our partners to co-design, develop, trial and expose their cutting-edge technologies and products which allow Onemda program participants to be engaged and exposed to the latest advances in therapy, assistive technology and evidence-based practice, all within a state-of-the-art facility.

For more information, please contact us on 03 9842 1955 and ask to speak to our Research & Innovation Manager.

OUR RESEARCH & INNOVATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE

At Onemda, our Research & Innovation Advisory Committee has been created provide guidance and oversight on research and innovation initiatives that support Onemda’s strategy and enhance the quality and effectiveness of Onemda’s services for participants and staff.

Click here to view our current Research & Innovation Advisory Committee members.