Our Purpose

Our purpose is to create new knowledge that supports people with developmental, intellectual or cognitive disability to live engaged, connected and valued lives. Recognition and protection of the rights of persons with disabilities is integral to all our work.

Building on the base of existing evidence we produce excellent, innovative research that influences policy, effects positive social change, guides decision-making and improves practices throughout the sector and the community.

The central goal of the Applied Research Centre for Disability and Wellbeing is to conduct research that will help create a better life for those with an intellectual or cognitive disability. This necessarily requires translation of research into policy and/or practice and our partnership with service providers will ensure that this critical step is taken.

We also aim to build capacity within the sector to develop, evaluate and disseminate practice excellence and innovation through collaborations among researchers, practitioners, and service providers. Our partnership with UTAS is pivotal to this endeavour.

Our long-term aim is to be a research organisation with credibility as an innovative, reliable research partner at a national and international level while delivering research that is aligned to our purpose, influences policy, effects positive social change, guides decision-making, and improves practices throughout the sector and the community. These goals align with the aims and values of the establishing partners, Possability and UTAS.