Michelle Bellon

People with intellectual disabilities have the right to the same range, quality, and standard of health care as others (United Nations, 2006), yet inequities exist across the cancer continuum, from...

Developmental Education is an emerging allied health profession in Australia. Developmental Educators (DEs) are disability specialists whose practice is informed by human-rights-based, holistic, and person-centred frameworks. This qualitative descriptive study explores how DEs perceive and articulate their professional identity and scope of practice within the broader allied health sector. Building on prior survey research, two focus groups involving 15 practising DEs were conducted to examine their reflections on previously published findings. Thematic analysis revealed three key themes: professional identity, the breadth and distinctiveness of DEs’ scope of practice, and the perceived need for greater visibility and recognition. Participants described their work as multidisciplinary yet distinct from established professions, emphasising their role in disability practice and interdisciplinary collaboration. This study contributes to the literature on emerging professions by analysing how DEs construct and defend professional boundaries within a historically under-defined domain of disability practice.

Objectives: This study aims to develop and evaluate an Australian training program for disability support workers about psychotropic medicines, with a focus on supporting people with intellectual disability in safe and person-centred ways. Methods: A co-design approach will be utilised, underscored by a participatory action framework. The training program developed will follow Universal Design for Learning and person-centred focuses. Co-design will include people with intellectual disabilities, family members, members of the disability workforce, healthcare professionals, and educational designers. Conclusions: The development of the training program will include a learning needs analysis, rapid review, the development of a consumer advisory committee, expert panel group, focus groups, co-design events, pilot testing, feasibility testing, implementation of the training program, and evaluation of the training program. This training program will aim to improve the knowledge and confidence of psychotropic medicines for disability support workers, provide education on supportive decision-making, and reduce inappropriate use of psychotropic medicines.

Background: People with intellectual disability face numerous barriers to accessing basic preventative health care. This study documents the protocol, process and health outcomes of a multidisciplinary hospital‐based Health Care Access Service providing pre‐procedure sedation and general anaesthesia for adults with moderate to profound intellectual disability and complexity.Method: In this retrospective quality assurance study, development of the protocol, procedures and outcomes (demographic data, procedures performed and health outcomes) are presented for all patients from commencement of the service for the first 8 month period.Results: Ten people received the service over this time (8 males, 2 females; mean age 30.2 years). Investigation results identified a range of health conditions which are now being appropriately managed. A case study illustrates the process of implementing the protocol, procedures and outcomes, illustrating person‐centred and trauma‐informed approaches.Conclusions: Service design considerations are discussed from a human rights perspective for future implementation efforts.

Despite advancements in legal protections for people with disabilities in Vietnam, significant barriers to employment persist. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the employment experiences of people with physical disabilities in Vietnam. Semi-structured interviews with 15 participants employed across different sectors were thematically analysed, with the ecological systems theory applied as a guiding framework to interpret the findings and implications. Three primary themes were revealed: accessibility, vulnerability, and discrimination and ableism. The results also emphasised the importance of positive attitudes and interactions from co-workers and supervisors in fostering inclusive workplaces. Recommendations include policy reforms for attitudinal shifts, focus on equity to improve workplace culture, and the involvement of people with disabilities in organisational decision making. These actions are essential for creating more diverse and inclusive workplaces in Vietnam, where employees with physical disabilities feel included, valued, and empowered.

To examine current practices and recommendations regarding clinical supervision from the perspective of Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) practitioners in Australia. A qualitative study design consisting of semi-structured interviews with 14 PBS practitioners. Positive supervision experiences revealed the importance of "a supportive relationship", "supporting reflective practice", and "different supervisors fulfilling different needs." Challenges experienced included "a focus on operational matters', "lack of clinical PBS expertise" and "sourcing and funding own supervision". Recommendations included the need for supervision standards and trained supervisors with PBS expertise and knowledge of registration requirements and practice obligations. Questions were also raised to whether specific supervision training should be mandated. Clinical supervision provides critical oversight to ensure quality PBS practices, especially given research reporting inexperienced, unregulated, and untrained behaviour support practitioners in Australia. Results suggest, however, that some clinical supervisors have limited PBS expertise, and that further practice standards and guidance are required.

This study explored experiences of the management of challenging behaviours after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the acute hospital setting from the perspectives of family members. A qualitative, interpretive phenomenological approach was adopted involving semi-structured interviews with 10 family members. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis, with Ecological Systems Theory applied as a guiding framework to discuss findings and implications for practice. Four primary themes were identified: 1) The hospital environment; 2) Hospital staffing; 3) Identifying and preventing triggers, and 4) Family support and information. This qualitative study highlights the need for further information, education, and support to families of patients with TBI in the acute setting. Further research investigating the implementation of best practice approaches for managing challenging behaviours practice in acute settings is needed to overcome the barriers of the hospital environment, inexperienced and inconsistent staffing, and difficulties identifying triggers within the acute hospital setting, experienced by families. Approaches for family involvement in behaviour management strategies, and facilitation of communication for people with TBI in the acute setting requires exploration.

Clinical practice guideline (CPG) recommendations for the management of challenging behaviours after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in hospital and inpatient rehabilitation settings are sparse. This ... Two clinical practice guidelines appraised as high-quality outline recommendations for the management of challenging behaviours after traumatic brain injury in hospital and inpatient rehabilitation...

This study aimed to determine if implementing a clinically pragmatic behavior management approach for challenging behaviors during acute TBI reduces use of restraints, security incidences, acute le...

This study explored the experiences of people with acquired brain injury and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on how they maintained their communities and sense of belonging, t...