معرفی
Irene Belperio is a Postdoctoral Research Associate and Research Fellow at Flinders University's College of Nursing and Health Sciences, where she is also a Full Member of the Caring Futures Institute. With over 13 years of university teaching experience, she specializes in qualitative research focused on ageing and disability, particularly within culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
Dr. Belperio earned her PhD in Italian Studies from Flinders University in 2013, following a Bachelor (Honours) in International Studies in 2002 and a Diploma in Language in 2001. Her academic journey has been marked by prestigious recognitions including the University Medal for Social Sciences in 2002 and an Australian Postgraduate Award in 2005.
Her research expertise spans multiple critical areas in healthcare and social sciences. Dr. Belperio conducts in-depth qualitative investigations into the experiences of ageing family carers of adults with intellectual disability, particularly from Greek and Italian migrant backgrounds. She explores the linguistic and conceptual understanding of translated materials for older adults, investigates end-of-life care for adults with long-standing physical disabilities, and examines the challenges of post-parental housing transitions for adults with intellectual disability. Her methodological approach increasingly incorporates co-design and inclusive research practices, often collaborating directly with individuals who have intellectual disabilities.
Dr. Belperio's scholarly contributions have earned her significant research funding, including the Innovation Partnership Seed Grant in 2023, Impact Seed Funding for Early Career Researchers in 2022, and participation in an Australian Research Council Linkage Project in 2021. Her work aligns with multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those addressing health, wellbeing, and reduced inequalities.
- Innovation Partnership Seed Grant (2023)
- Impact Seed Funding for Early Career Researchers, Flinders University (2022)
- Australian Research Council Linkage Project (2021)
- Australian Postgraduate Award (2005)
- University Medal for Social Sciences, Flinders University (2002)
As an educator, Dr. Belperio has extensive experience teaching in enabling programs, providing learning support, and lecturing on academic literacies. She serves as Topic Coordinator for AGES1003 Ageing and Ethnicity and as Topic Lecturer for both AGES1003 and AGES2013 Roles, Relationships and Networks. Her teaching extends to ethnicity and ageing topics as well as Italian studies, reflecting her interdisciplinary background. She is also an editorial board member of the Journal of Nursing Practices and Research, contributing to scholarly discourse in her field.
Dr. Belperio is currently leading multiple significant research initiatives, including the Australian Research Council Linkage Project "Choosing the way forward: addressing post-parental housing transition needs of adults with intellectual disability and their older family carers" and the Positive Behaviour Support Capability Framework for the NDIS Commission. Her recent Chief Investigator role on the Flinders University Innovation Partnership Seed Grant project focuses on dementia healthcare advocacy experiences of adults with intellectual disabilities. These projects demonstrate her commitment to addressing critical gaps in disability and ageing research through collaborative, community-engaged approaches.
