Biography
Michelle is a sociologist, lawyer, and consumer advocate. Michelle’s research focuses on the transition to adulthood experiences of people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities, especially with government systems and decision-making. She explores decision-making and legal capacity in practice in a range of areas, including the NDIS, health and aged care, banking and finance, income support, and voting. She works at the Queensland Aphasia Research Centre on a project about Conversations about Care focused on aged care, communication, feedback and complainst, and decision-making. Michelle has lived experience with complex disability as a parent and supporter of her 24-year-old daughter, Daelle, who has profound intellectual and multiple disabilities. Michelle also serves in a range of roles as an advocate and consumer, including as board chair of the national research alliance, Child Unlimited, co-chair of the Consumer Panel and member of the National Guidelines Leadership Group for the Australian Living Evidence Collaboration (producing national living evidence clinical guidelines for Covid-19 and Monkeypox), and on Queensland Health's Adolescent and Young Adult SubNetwork.