Research and Development

Research

For over 20 years, Novita’s Research and Development team have found innovative ways to support people with disability.
View latest research
Young female client wearing a pink tshirt playing Uno card game with a Novita therapist
Young girl with cerebral palsy laughs at the camera ask she adjusts her assistive technology support device
Young female in a pink shirt playing card games with a Novita therapist

About Research and Development

We undertake research to ensure the services we provide are high quality, effective and deliver what our clients and their families need and that we know provide positive impact. Our Research and Development (R&D) efforts drive innovation, and supports the development of safe, effective and efficient products and evidence-based services.

Collaboration and co-design are key to Novita’s success. We proudly partner with people living with disability, industry leaders, universities, allied health specialists and clinicians who share our vision for innovative and practical community, technology and living solutions for people with disability.

Research at a Glance

12 Publications

Sharing research findings that advance knowledge.

10 Academic presentations

Presenting our research and insights to academics.

85% of Projects

Involved individuals with lived experience.

50+ Students supervised

Supporting the next generation of researchers.

Making an Impact

Advancing knowledge

Research that expands understanding of disability, rehabilitation and assistive technology.
  • 12 publications
  • 1 Policy review
  • 4 international presentations
  • 10 academic presentations
  • 85% of projects involving individuals with lived experience
  • Over 50 students supervised
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Informing better decisions

Turning evidence into prectical improvements.
  • Shaping evidence-informed changes to disability policy, guidelines and practice
  • Partnerships with changemakers
  • Supporting clinical practice changes and new models of care
Young female with long brown hair in braids sitting with her orthotics on her legs

Translating research to ‘real world’ impacts

From research and discovery to products, tools and technology.
  • 7 new products developed
  • 1 clinical assessment tool
  • 3 patents (pending, provisional and granted)
10yearold boy wearing black hat and playing with robot built with bricks

Memberships

Collaborating across sectors to strengthen research, innovation and impact.
  • Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN), National Disability Telecommunications Information and Referral Service Advisory Committee
  • AutismC2C Research Academy
  • Medical Devices Partnership Program
  • Digital Enterprise & Disability Arts Projects (UniSA & Central Queensland University)
Older male in an electric mobility wheelchair wearing an orange tshirt looking up and smiling
From new assistive technology to better clinical practice

Current Research Projects

Explore some of the research projects currently underway at Novita and discover how we’re working with people with disability, clinicians, researchers, and partners to create better outcomes for our clients and the community we work in.

Switch Access Measure (SAM) tool

Developing a world-leading assessment tool to help clinicians identify the best switch access technology for children with physical disability.
Moare about SAM

Getting into the Game project

Improving the way clinicians assess movement skills so autistic children and young people can participate more confidently in sport and physical activity.
Get into the game now

Activity Boost Challenge project

Investigating how WalkAide technology can improve mobility, physical activity and independence for children with cerebral palsy.
See Activity Boost Challenge

Growing Up Well in a New Country project

Exploring how disability services can better support the mental health and wellbeing of migrant and refugee children with disability and their families.
Growing Up Well in a New Country

Everyday Steps to Prevent Everyday Harms

Working alongside people with disability to improve support worker relationships and reduce everyday harm across the disability sector.
Take Everyday Steps to Prevent Harms

Tailoring Chronic Pain Assessment

Creating more accessible pain assessment tools so children and young people with cerebral palsy receive better pain management and care.
About the Tailoring Chrinic Pain Assessment

Duchene Muscular Dystrophy

Developing evidence and clinical guidelines to improve the prescription of powered standing wheelchairs for young people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
More about the program

Upper Limb Casting

Improving occupational therapy practice by developing evidence-based guidelines for upper limb casting in children with neurological conditions.
More about the research

iWHO Trial

Contributing to a national study investigating whether overnight wrist splints help prevent muscle shortening in young children with cerebral palsy.
Learn about the iWHO trial

ENVISAGE

Supporting parents of young children with developmental delay or disability through an evidence-based program that builds confidence, knowledge and connections.
Get the ENVISAGE

CP Movetime

Developing wearable technology to better measure physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour in children with cerebral palsy.
Read about CP Movetime
Clinical knowledge into practical outcomes

Research that makes a difference

Involvement in R&D projects reinvigorates clinicians and technical staff and provides career progression opportunities, providing research and clinical skill development and the confidence that ‘we are really providing the best service we can for this client.’

Every Novita research project must meet one or more of the following criteria: 

  • Enhance the lives of Novita clients and families 
  • Provide an innovative and/or effective product 
  • Strive to enhance client and family satisfaction with Novita’s services 
  • Inform evidence-based practice 
  • Provide a significant time or cost saving outcome for clients, families and Novita staff 

Novita’s R&D program has always prioritised research that will directly benefit our clients, staff and the broader disability community through: 

  • The development of real, evidence-based data which informs strong clinical governance and guidelines, minimises business risk and provides a robust approach to developing new services
  • Ensuring the needs and voices of Novita clients, families and staff are represented in service improvements, technology development and innovation
  • Building staff capacity to advance knowledge, grow professional networks and provide effective, evidence-based services that optimise client outcomes
  • Providing clients and families with early access to new technology and innovative services to improve clinical outcomes, independence and quality of life
  • Growing Novita’s reputation as a thought-leader and provider of innovative, high-quality, evidence-based services and technology

Work with us on research

Great research happens through collaboration. If you’re a researcher, organisation, clinician, or industry partner interested in working with Novita, we’d love to hear from you.

Talk to our Research team
A group of people gathered around a table doing paperwork and smiling
Research proudly supported by or partnering with
University of Western Australia
University of Sydney
University of Queensland
University of Melbourne
Telethon Kids Institute
Perth Childrens Hospital
NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission
Murdoch Childrens Research Institute
Flinders University
Curtin University
Cerebral Palsy Alliance
Adelaide University