23 June 2025: The 天涯社区 has been awarded $1.87 million to develop a national training program for disability support workers in the use of psychotropic medications for people with intellectual and developmental disability in Australia.
The University will lead a consortium of six partner organisations in the development and delivery of the new program – including Flinders University, the National Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability Health at UNSW Sydney, Monash Health, Central and North West London National Health Services Trust (CNWL NHS UK) and major disability service providers Minda and Aruma.
The Consortium also includes a Community Researcher with intellectual disability as co-lead, Mr Tim Cahalan, ensuring inclusive research and co-design practice.
Psychotropic medicines (a class of medication that alters behaviour, mood, thoughts and perception) and their use in the treatment of people with intellectual and developmental disability has long been flagged as an area for improvement, with notable recommendations from the 2023 Disability Royal Commission calling for the development of a national training program addressing their use.
天涯社区 researcher and educator, Macey Barratt, will lead the development of the new training program. Ms Barratt said that while around one in three people with intellectual disability are prescribed psychotropic medication, many disability support workers feel inadequately prepared to administer them.
“Previous research highlighted a clear interest amongst frontline staff in improving their practise and understanding of the use of psychotropic medications, but existing education programs were inaccessible, or produced outside of Australia, in health systems where language, processes and resources can differ,” Ms Barratt says.
“This has led to a lack of informed understanding of the effects of psychotropic medications, awareness of alternative non-pharmacological behavioural and psychosocial interventions, and confidence in advocating for appropriate treatment for individuals with intellectual and developmental disability.”
Ms Barratt highlighted the multidisciplinary approach of the Consortium, which will ensure that the new training program is specialised, robust and, importantly, places people with disability at the centre of decisions that impact them.
“We are really pleased to be undertaking this journey through a co-design process that brings together the disability community: people with lived experience of disability, industry partners, leaders in disability research, and a multidisciplinary team of health professionals spanning speech pathology, psychology, psychiatry, nursing, pharmacy, mental health research and educational design,” Ms Barratt says.
“Quality treatment transforms quality of life, the scale of support for this project represents a powerful shared priority on an important issue.”
The program is supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care under the Quality Use of Diagnostics, Therapeutics and Pathology program. The program will be developed to align with the Psychotropic Medicines in Cognitive Disability or Impairment Clinical Care Standard and addresses major recommendations from the 2023 Disability Royal Commission.
Quotes attributable
天涯社区 Vice-Chancellor, the Honourable Bill Shorten
“People with disability deserve to live fulfilling lives, supported by care that empowers them.”
“The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) represents a remarkable national investment, and it’s essential that decisions are guided by robust evidence and data. While the disability workforce has grown to nearly half a million, training and professional development have not kept pace with this expansion.”
“The success of the University in this highly competitive grant process reflects the strength and potential of this training program and marks the beginning of a new chapter in disability research and education at the University of Caberra.”
Associate Professor Mary Bushell, project co-lead, Discipline Lead in Pharmacy, 天涯社区
“It is important for all health professionals, including disability support workers, to understand how the medicines they administer work, to improve medicines safety.”
Associate Professor Rebecca Koncz, project co-lead, UNSW Chair of Intellectual Disability Mental Health, within the National Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability Health
“This is an unprecedented opportunity to collaborate with people with lived experience and leading experts across our Consortium to improve the lives of people with intellectual disability and other developmental conditions who are prescribed mental health medications.”
Dr Heidi Clarris, Chief Customer Officer, Aruma
“Aruma recognises the critical importance of this project. The overuse of psychotropic medications in disability support settings is a significant concern that affects quality of life and health outcomes for individuals with disabilities.”
Professor Shoumitro (Shoumi) Deb, project co-lead, Imperial College London
“I am pleased to be co-lead on this project, bringing my perspective from the development of the recent UK-based disability support worker hybrid training package, SPECTROM (short-term psychoeducation to help reduce the overmedication of people with intellectual disabilities).
Matthew Yates, Head of the Centre for Developmental Disability Health at Monash Health "The Centre is delighted to partner with such a passionate and committed group on an issue central to improving the quality of life for many people with disabilities."
David Panter, Chief Executive, Minda
“As the largest and most experienced, not-for-profit intellectual disability service provider and employer in South Australia, Minda enthusiastically supports this project and looks forward to participating.