update to come

Over the past year I completed various courses and programs, such as Certificate II and III in Auslan, Cultural Competence, Integrating Mental Health info DEI, and an Entrepreneurial Female Founders program. These all added to my comprehensive repertoire of disability and diversity knowledge and training, and led to the launch of my cultural sector disability consultancy business - Creative Accessibility. Through my business, I have consulted with a local art gallery on accessibility projects - particularly on sensory inclusion, and co-facilitated disability business start-up workshops. My disability advocacy work within the University of Queensland Disability Inclusion Group led to sensory inclusion pilot programs such as an orientation day Social Story by the Business Economics & Law (BEL) faculty and a sensory mapping project.

In my lived experience and consumer representative consultancy work I have undertaken access report reviews, worked with Queensland Health on clinical guidelines reviews, joined the Zero Emission Bus accessibility reference group, and undertaken focus group and consultant work for Queenslanders with Disability Network (QDN) and People with Disability Australia (PWDA). My plans for this year include continuing my sensory inclusion research, advocacy, and resource development. I have also been accepted into the 2025 QDN Emerging Leaders Program. 

update to come

I recently undertook the Understanding Autism course through the Autism Centre of Excellence (ACE) at Griffith:

Understanding Autism, deepened my knowledge of the condition’s characteristics, evolving diagnostic frameworks, and the diverse ways autism is perceived across cultures and families. The course provided insights into historical and contemporary understandings of autism, highlighting the importance of involving autistic individuals and their families in research, as they are the primary stakeholders. It reinforced how necessary it is to listen to their voices to ensure that approaches to autism are inclusive and reflective of their real-world experiences. This learning experience has strengthened my ability to critically engage with neurodiversity models and advocate for environments that support autistic individuals in their daily lives.

This knowledge directly informs my Master’s dissertation, which focuses on developing a tool for parents of autistic children to help them navigate existing play spaces. By understanding the behavioural and sensory needs of autistic individuals, I aim to create a resource that empowers families to make informed decisions about play environments, ultimately enhancing their overall experience. My work bridges research and practical application, ensuring that public spaces become more accessible and enriching for neurodivergent children and their caregivers.

Now I am taking the Advanced Strategic Planning Studio, where my group and I are developing a Regional Disaster Resilience Plan. Individually, I’m focusing on disaster resilience for vulnerable people. 

Co-design Industrial Design Curriculum

Natalie in collaboration with Matthew McShane (Inclusive Futures Beacon) is currently running the second co-design with disability industrial design studio in 2025. The second-year studio involves students co-designing with and learning from peoples lived experiences of disability and their current hacks to accessibility challenges they face, to design personalised solutions with advanced manufacturing. Students work closely with the participants to co-design hack briefs, gain insights from user workshops testing their ideas, resulting in resolved customised products designed to be easily 3D printed by anyone. The co-design with disability hack projects enable students to learn early in their degree the value of inclusive design, and methods to design for everyone. To read about the course click here.

Co-designing Design Thinking Workshops

Natalie is a co-author on the recent publication Co-designing design thinking workshops: From observations to quality improvement insights for healthcare innovation, in Redesigning Healthcare: How Co-Design Partnerships Transform and Disrupt the Health System, 2024. The chapter discusses a study with the Clinical Skills Development Services (CSDS) from Metro North Hospital and Health Service (MNHHS). CSDS is one of the world’s largest healthcare simulation and training providers, which works towards healthcare improvement through training, collaboration, and innovation. This study tested a design thinking workshop protocol for healthcare innovation through co-design workshops with the CSDS team. To read the publication click here.

Online presentation at the Nineteenth International Conference on Design Principles & Practices, held from 25–27 February in Singapore

As part of Paula’s ongoing work in inclusive design and equity advocacy, she recently presented virtually at the Nineteenth International Conference on Design Principles & Practices, held from 25–27 February in Singapore and online. The conference theme, Thinking, Learning, Doing: Plural Ways of Design, emphasised diverse and collaborative approaches to shaping the built environment. 

Paula’s poster presentation explored how co-designed, culturally responsive architectural interventions can enhance access and inclusion for refugee women in Jordan. Her research examines the intersection of architecture, gender equity, and vocational education within Jordan’s Zaatari Refugee Camp, proposing a mixed-methods approach to assess the impact of spatial design on participation rates, well-being, and economic empowerment. By foregrounding architecture’s role in fostering inclusion, this work contributes to broader efforts in designing for all, reinforcing co.lab’s mission of creating equitable and just spaces. 

To read more information on the conference click here: 

The conference proceedings, including all presentations, are expected to be published in the coming weeks. Since the conference only just concluded, I’ll be happy to share the proceedings once they become available. 

Student Panellist at Griffith Senior Leaders Conference – Paula shared insights and collaborated in workshops with university leaders, emphasising the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in decision-making. 

National Committee for Gender Equity, Diversity & Impact (Australian Institute of Architects) – Paula led International Women’s Day promotion through national social media platforms while advocating for tangible action. 

I completed my Master’s degree in Museums and Galleries in Education at University College London (UCL). During this period, I worked on research related to inclusion and accessibility in museums and galleries, such as digital technology to promote inclusive learning for visually impaired visitors. I also conducted cultural heritage research on human rights, such as gender heritage, discussing the neglected gender markers in tangible heritage. 

Museum research and practices include: 

• Worked as an Evaluator for the Royal Opera House, collecting data from every weekend family workshops
• Participated in the long-term project "Six the Musical" from the Royal Collection Trust (UK) (responsible for the design and filming of RCT promotional videos). To read more about this project click here. 
• Worked in "Zimingzhong (凝时聚珍): Clockwork Treasures from China’s Forbidden City" from the Science Museum (UK) (responsible for expanding of the educational workshop "Yaji")
• Worked at The National Gallery (UK) as a research assistant for the audio description co-design project collaborating with VocalEyes.