معرفی
Professor Jennifer Smith-Merry is an ARC Laureate Fellow and Professor of Health and Social Policy at the University of Sydney, within the Sydney School of Health Sciences. She has held roles such as Director of the Centre for Disability Research and Policy (CDRP) and leads the Disability Inclusive Policy Development stream. Her work integrates research, policy, and practice to address systemic challenges in mental health and disability care, with a focus on equity and lived experience insights.
Education:
- PhD in Social Policy (University of Queensland)
- BA (Honours)
- Graduate Certificate in Applied Law
- Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies (Higher Education)
Research Interests: Jen’s research emphasizes disability-inclusive policy development, mental health service design, and the ethical inclusion of people with disability in research. She explores the intersection of policy implementation, lived experience expertise, and systemic reforms, particularly in the context of the NDIS and global health initiatives. Her work critiques ableism in academia and healthcare while advocating for participatory, equity-driven frameworks.
Grants and Collaboration: Jen has secured over 50 grants, including ARC and NHMRC funding, and leads projects evaluating policy and service delivery for disability and mental health. She collaborates with governments and NGOs, such as the National Disability Insurance Agency, and engages with service users to inform policy. Recent projects include a global workforce training framework for integrated care and exploring mechanisms of religious trauma in queer communities.
Awards:
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Industry Laureate Fellow (2023-2028)
Labs and Affiliations: She is affiliated with multiple interdisciplinary centers at the University of Sydney, including the Sydney Centre for Healthy Societies, Sydney Policy Lab, Sydney Southeast Asia Centre, Brain and Mind Centre, and Charles Perkins Centre. Her international collaborations span Malaysia, Singapore, and the UK, focusing on disability research capacity and mental health policy.
