Western receives $1.6 million to improve health outcomes for people with intellectual disability
Western Sydney University’s Professor Nathan Wilson from the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Translational Health Research Institute (THRI)) and the Australian Centre for Integration of Oral Health (ACIOH) has secured more than $1.6 million through the National Health and Medical Research Council’s (NHMRC) MRFF Improving the Health Outcomes of People with Intellectual Disability grant.
The grant aims to improves understanding and uptake of preventive health care by people with intellectual disability; support people with intellectual disability to access appropriate health care throughout their life; and improves the identification of health issues in people with intellectual disability.
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation), Professor Ian Anderson, congratulated Professor Wilson and all involved in this funding success.
“This funding success speaks to Western’s deep commitment to excellence and improving the lives of some of our most vulnerable communities. I look forward to seeing the outcomes, and lasting impacts, of this work,” said Professor Anderson.
Professor Nathan Wilson secured $1,647,091 through the grant to lead the project, ‘Australia’s first co-created workforce model to advance preventive oral healthcare for people with intellectual disability’. The project will work with people with intellectual disability and disability services to co-create a cutting-edge online oral health education resource for disability support workers. This will improve oral health care and outcomes for people with intellectual disability.
Professor Wilson will lead a multi-disciplinary research team which includes Western’s Professor Ajesh George from the School of Nursing and Midwifery, ACIOH and THRI, Dr Samuel Arnold from the School of Psychology and THRI, and Kylie Nicole Scott from the School of Psychology.
The research project will also be supported by a range of partners from across Australia. University partners include Sydney, Western Australia, Deakin, Australian National, LaTrobe, Notre Dame, Trinity College Dublin (Ireland), and Ghent (Belgium). Disability service partners include Northcott, Sylvanvale, Aruma, Greystanes, NADO, and NWDS. Other partners are Summer Hill Media, Seniors Dental Care Australia, Smilo.ai, and NSW Health.
ENDS
23 October 2025