Research that aims to improve the lives of people living with the experience of disability is now one step closer to creating real, much-needed change right here in Christchurch.
The Canterbury Medical Research Foundation (CMRF) recently announced the recipient of their inaugural Emerging Researcher Fellowship, Dr Johnny Bourke from The Burwood Academy.
It is without a doubt a monumental opportunity for Dr Bourke and his team, as he explains.
“It is an incredible privilege to receive the CRMF Emerging Researcher Fellowship and a really exciting opportunity to conduct research that I believe will make a meaningful change to people’s lives.
“Many of the one in five people in Canterbury who report living with disability, require support workers to live their lives every day.
“As a person who lives with high-level paralysis, I’ll often ask people to imagine having a person in your life almost all day and having to ask them to complete almost every task you wish to do.
“Without good quality disability support workers, disabled people can’t live all aspects of their lives, from getting dressed to getting about the community and everything in between.
“However, the disability support workforce sector is under increasing pressure. Disability support workers are undervalued and finding good quality support workers is becoming harder and the number of people requiring them is increasing.”
