Associate Professor Michelle Bellon
Associate Professor
College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Michelle Bellon is an Associate Professor in the Disability and Community Inclusion Unit, and Course Coordinator of the Bachelor of Disability and Developmental Education in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. She also leads research collaborations with the South Australian Intellectual Disability Health Service (SAIDHS) and Cancer Council SA. Michelle began her career working as a Developmental Educator providing education, community integration and counselling support to adults with acquired brain injury (ABI) within community-based and private consultancy services. Her research, teaching and professional involvement combine interests in epilepsy, acquired brain injury, family/care-giver supports and access to health care for people with disability. She has held a range of management roles including President of the Epilepsy Association of SA and NT, Director of Epilepsy Australia, and Board member of the Community Re-entry Program. Michelle is currently a member of the Editorial Board of Brain Impairment, Vice President on the Board of Developmental Educators Australia Inc (DEAI), Expert Review Panel member for Lifetime Support Authority (LSA), Intellectual Disability Health Education and Training Expert Advisory Group, and on the Advisory Reference Group for Brain Injury SA.
PhD Flinders University (2005)
Management of posttraumatic epilepsy in people with acquired brain injury: a psychoeducational perspective.
Honours Degree - Flinders University (2000)
An examination of the effects of changing contexts on the language and communication of people with acquired brain injury.
Bachelor of Applied Science (Disability Studies) - Flinders University (1998)
2024-2026 Lifetime Support Authority: $227,837
Development of an intervention to enhance community transition and successful return to community participation post TBI. van den Berg, Gough, George, Barr, Bellon, Simpson, McDonnell, Forsyth & Spear.
2024-2026 Lifetime Support Authority: $180,468
Co-designing an integrated model for coordinated primary care for people with disability and trauma injuries in Adelaide. Block, George, Bellon, Hunter, & Dymmott.
2021-2023 NACBO Evaluation: $100,000
Evaluation of NACBO Capacity Building Activities. Fisher, Gendera, Robinson & Bellon.
2021-2023 Our Voice SA Evaluation: $45,000
Evaluation of OVSA's Reaching Out Project. Fisher, Robinson, Bellon, Gendera, Calahan.
2022-2023 Lifetime Support Authority: $76,611
Implementing best practice approaches for managing agitation and aggression following traumatic brain injury (TBI) in hospital and rehabilitation settings. George, Block, Bellon & Hunter.
2020-2021 CNHS Covid Grant: $49,935
Alone together: A research project about getting through Covid: Experiences from people with disability and their families. Robinson, Xiao, Cochrane, Bickford, Bellon, Lante, Idle, Willis, Siverston.
2017-2019 Lifetime Support Authority Research Grant: $155,000.
Positive Behaviour Support following Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): A Family-Directed Approach. M Bellon, A Fisher, S Lawn, M Sohlberg, J Douglas.
2015 Flinders University Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences Seeding Grant: $17,000
Supporting Upper limb reCovery through Exercise for Stroke Survivors (SUCCESS): group constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT). Lennon & Bellon.
2015 Flinders University Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences Seeding Grant: $13,500
Experience of disability-related stigma in African communities in South Australia. Crocker, Mwanri, Carey, & Bellon.
2014-2015 Julia Farr MS McLeod Benevolent Fund Research Grant: $100,000
Building sustainable capacity in Families4Families Inc: a peer support network for families following acquired brain injury. Bellon, Crocker, Farnden.
2012-2014 Julia Farr MS McLeod Benevolent Fund Research Grant: $162,502.
Families4Families: Exploring the experiences and needs of families following acquried brain injury in South Australia. Bellon, Crocker, Farnden.
2014 Flinders University Overseas Conference Fund: $1,350
2007-2008 Community Benefit SA, Government of SA: $10,900
Strengthening communities: Construction and evaluation of a mentoring program for adults with acquired brain injury. Bellon, Gardner.
2010 International Bureau of Epilepsy's Outstanding Person with Epilepsy Award, Australian Winner
2003 Epilepsy Association Research Scholarship, $38,000
Course Coordinator, Bachelor of Disability & Developmental Education, College of Nursing and Health Science
Research Lead, South Australian Intellectual Disability Health Service (SAIDHS), SA Health
- Disability
- Developmental Education
- Professional practice
- Access to healthcare
Deputy Chair, Developmental Educators Australia Inc (DEAI)
Epilepsy Ambassador (Epilepsy Centre)
Life member, Epilepsy Association of SA & NT (Vice-President 2004-2010; President 2010-2012)
Lifetime Support Authority (LSA) Expert Review Panel
Brain Injury SA (BISA) Advisory Reference Group
Design and delivery of educational workshops for families, volunteers, staff training and visiting international professionals on brain injury and epilepsy related topics.
- Disability
- Access to health care for people with intellectual disability
- Acquired brain injury: community integration and learning
- Epilepsy and seizure disorders: psychosocial issues
Sturt Rd, Bedford Park
South Australia 5042
South Australia | Northern Territory
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