Ana Mantilla Benitez

Dr Ana Mantilla Benitez is a Senior Lecturer at Monash University's School of Educational Psychology & Counselling. She served as Director of the AllPlay Research Programs (2021–2024), leading multidisciplinary efforts to advance inclusive practices in education and healthcare. Her work focuses on stakeholders' perspectives, early childhood wellbeing, and knowledge translation.

Education:

• PhD (2012): Practices in young children's foreign language classrooms: A Colombian-Australian comparison, Monash University
• Master of Education (2005): Monash University
• BBus (Honours) (2002): Universidad de los Andes, Colombia

Research Interests:

• Inclusive education and disability
• Early childhood development
• Qualitative and participatory research methods
• Cross-cultural collaboration in Latin America and Asia-Pacific

Key Projects:

• AllPlay Dance: Breaking Down Barriers to Inclusion (2023–2026)
• Sleeping Sound Autism Program Implementation (2024–2025)
• Self-Determination Digital Toolkit for Youth with Disability (2023–2025)

Engagement: Advised Early Childhood Australia, Beyond Blue, and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). Expert reviewer for Raising Children Network.