Johnny Bourke

Dr Johnny Bourke is a Research Fellow at the John Walsh Centre for Rehabilitation Research at The University of Sydney. He holds a PhD from the University of Canterbury (New Zealand), an MHealsSc (Rehabilitation) from the University of Otago, and a BA (Psychology) from Massey University. His work focuses on disability theory, rehabilitation practices, and co-design methodologies.

Education:

• BA (Psychology), Massey University, New Zealand
• MHealsSc (Rehabilitation), University of Otago, New Zealand
• PhD, University of Canterbury, New Zealand

Research Interests:

Johnny explores community participation post-injury, disability policy, and the lived experience of rehabilitation. His unique perspective combines academic rigor with his personal history of high-level spinal cord injury. He emphasizes co-design approaches to involve disabled individuals in research and service development.

Key Projects:

• "Telling Our Stories": Examining disabled medical students' experiences
• "Spinal Cord Injury Health Maintenance Tool": Digital health innovation
• Factors influencing positive relationships between disabled people and support workers

Awards:

• University of Sydney Research Excellence and Inclusion Prize (2025)
• Canterbury Medical Research Fund Fellowship (2022/23)
• Best Student Presentation (AFRM Conference 2015)

Advising & Grants:

Johnny has led projects funded by the Canterbury Medical Research Foundation, Otago Medical School, and iCare. His work often involves collaborative teams across universities and healthcare organizations.

Current projects address systemic barriers in healthcare access, Māori post-injury experiences, and vocational rehabilitation frameworks.