A newly established UNSW Chair in Intellectual Disability and Behaviour Support has been announced by the NSW Minister for Disability Services Andrew Constance.
The research undertaken by the Chair will help build the capacity of the sector to work with people with an intellectual disability and challenging behaviours. An appointment to the Chair will be made later this year.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Fred Hilmer has welcomed the collaborative partnership with the NSW Government, who will provide funding of $1.75 million over the next three years.
“UNSW offers a cross-disciplinary team of researchers from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, with minor partners being Psychology and Law. Together they demonstrate a rich engagement with intellectual disability teaching, research, policy and practice, and clinical work,” said Professor Hilmer.
Practice in a broad range of disciplines such as special education, psychology, medicine, social work, health and law will benefit from the work of the University Chair.
The Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care has identified the need to improve the capacity of the disability services sector including specialist practitioners that can deliver more effective services and support to people with an intellectual disability and complex and challenging behaviour.
The Chair will work closely with the existing University Chair in Intellectual Disability/Mental Health, Associate Professor Julian Trollor.
“I look forward to working with the Chair in Intellectual Disability and Behaviour Support to build capacity in this much needed area,” said Associate Professor Trollor.
“UNSW’s team has a collaborative and enduring commitment to improving the mental health and wellbeing of people with intellectual disability”.
The two University Chairs are one of the key initiatives under Stronger Together 2, the NSW Government’s $2 billion growth funding program for disability services.
Media contact: Fran Strachan | 9385 8732