Congratulation to Rebeka Carter (pictured, left) and Melanie Giugni (pictured, right) for receiving the inaugural OTARC PhD autistic scholarships.
With both candidates commencing on a part-time basis, their work aims to address critical gaps in the current healthcare and education sectors.
Rebeka’s research will investigate Autistic student experiences enrolled in pre-registration nursing programs. Rebeka’s recent publications from her Master of Philosophy degree provide evidence of well-rounded research skills and made her a standout candidate.
Many Autistic adults in higher education face challenges and barriers due to insufficient support and misconceptions about their abilities, leading to higher dropout rates. Despite this, there's limited research on the experiences of Autistic students in higher education, particularly in pre-registration nursing programs.
Rebeka’s research aims to address this gap by exploring firsthand experiences of Autistic students in nursing programs, identifying challenges, and assessing the effectiveness of support provided by educational institutions. By shedding light on the specific needs of Autistic students this project seeks to foster a more inclusive environment in nursing education, ensuring that all students can thrive and contribute effectively to the profession.
This research aligns with OTARC’s Supports and Practices Program Area, as well as the Educational and Vocational Engagement Program Area.
Melanie’s research will aim to explore autistic adults' experiences of diagnostic overshadowing in the context of physical health issues. Melanie was awarded the Deakin Scholarship for Excellence (Honours) and the Australian Unity Prize for the Best final year graduate from the Bachelor of Psychological Science at Deakin University.
While barriers to healthcare access for Autistic individuals are well-documented, there's a gap in understanding diagnostic overshadowing in Autistic adults. This proposed research aims to explore diagnostic overshadowing factors in Autistic adults, considering their unique health profiles. Understanding these dynamics can improve healthcare equity by expediting diagnosis and treatment of co-occurring physical health issues and inform interventions for equitable healthcare.
Melanie’s project aligns with OTARC’s Identification and Diagnosis Program Area and Health and Wellbeing Program Area.
We warmly welcome both candidates to OTARC and wish them all the best with their PhD journeys.
