Fiona Rillotta

Dr Fiona Rillotta is a Senior Lecturer in Disability and Community Inclusions at Flinders University's College of Nursing and Health Sciences. She holds a PhD in Psychology and a Bachelor of Social Science (Honours). Her research focuses on inclusive education for people with intellectual disability (ID), family quality of life, and community inclusion. Notably, she received the 2017 Vice-Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching and the 2007 Australasian Research Prize for innovative contributions to ID research.

Her work spans over 20 years, including mentoring adults with ID in university settings, evaluating disability programs, and promoting LGBTQ+ inclusion. She supervises three PhD students and collaborates internationally, serving on executive committees for the IASSIDD's Inclusive Education and Quality of Life research groups. Fiona's research also addresses ageing family carers of people with ID, particularly among Italian and Greek migrant communities in Australia.

• Key Research Themes: Inclusive higher education, social networks of adults with ID, disability awareness, and self-advocacy.
• Publications: Over 45 peer-reviewed articles, including studies on online learning during the pandemic and the impact of social media training for people with ID.
• Awards:
  • 2017 Vice-Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching
  • 2007 Australasian Research Prize

Her advocacy extends to policy development and inclusive research practices, co-authoring frameworks for collaborative research with people with ID. Fiona's work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 4 (Quality Education) and Goal 10 (Reduced Inequalities).