My research explores the ways animals can enrich human lives through connection, participation, and inclusion. I am interested in understanding how relationships with animals can support health, wellbeing, and quality of life, particularly for people who may experience loneliness, social isolation, disability, or barriers to community participation.
I work closely with community organisations, service providers, and people with lived experience to co-design and evaluate programs that create meaningful opportunities for engagement, connection, and social participation. My research spans ageing, disability, rehabilitation, social prescribing, animal-assisted activities, and community-based approaches to health and wellbeing.
A key focus of my work is moving beyond the question of whether animal-assisted programs are beneficial to understanding how, why, and for whom they create meaningful outcomes. Through applied and translational research, I aim to generate evidence that informs practice, policy, and implementation, with a particular focus on creating meaningful opportunities for participation, connection, and inclusion through human-animal interactions.
Registered office Queensland.
ATL is an Australian health promotion charity registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC) and holds Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status.
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Animal Therapies Ltd (ATL) acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we live, and their continuing connection to land, animals, waters and community.
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