Katie Butler

Katie Butler is a Lecturer in Human Services at the University of Newcastle's School of Humanities, Creative Industries and Social Sciences. As a disabled academic and practitioner, she specializes in disability inclusion, organizational policy reform, and community development. Her work bridges academic research with grassroots empowerment initiatives.

• Doctor of Philosophy (2024), University of Sydney
• Bachelor of Social Science with Distinction (University of Newcastle)
• Master of Disability Studies (Flinders University)

Her research focuses on disability-inclusive practices, universal design for learning (UDL), and equity policy frameworks. Recent projects analyze barriers to UDL adoption in higher education and evaluate Disability Inclusion Action Plans (DIAPs) in Australian local governments. She advocates for lived-experience integration in disability workforce recruitment and policy design.

Katie's publications emphasize cross-sector collaboration, institutional reform, and measurable social impact. Her work spans educational innovation, local government policy, and disability rights advocacy. Current research examines gender equality in segregated industries through funded projects.

• Research and evaluation: advancing gender equality in gender segregated industries (2025, $233,397 funded by Unions NSW)

She serves as an AccessAbility Advisor within Newcastle's Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Unit and contributes to the Disability Leadership Institute. Her career spans human services roles in local government, not-for-profit organizations, and higher education since 2012.