ACC scholarship: Improving injury outcomes for people with disabilities
Researching how people with pre-existing disabilities recover from injury, Merrick Rodrigues has received a boost with funding through an ACC scholarship. He’s aiming to use his research to improve injury recovery outcomes for disabled people.
On your pathway to recovery from injury you will likely encounter many challenges. For a person with a disability, those barriers are even greater.
Merrick Rodrigues has received an ACC Scholarship to research how pre-existing disabilities affect both the severity of injuries and the recovery process, as part of a Master in Public Health at the University of Otago.
“There’s a high prevalence of disability and a high incidence of injury in New Zealand,” Merrick says.
“At present, there’s a lack of data surrounding disabled people, their lives and their needs. I’m committed to understanding and improving outcomes for those facing challenges relating to injury and recovery, particularly compounded by pre-injury disabilities.”
As part of his research, Merrick will leverage data from two New Zealand injury studies that followed participants over 12 years. These studies collected socio-demographic factors, including disability, with post-injury data.
The data will help Merrick identify optimal recovery strategies for people with pre-injury disabilities who experience injury.
The findings could also inform the development of tailored rehabilitation programmes for individuals with pre-injury disabilities, he says.
“With one in four New Zealanders reporting some form of disability, this research will address an important knowledge gap.”
Using research to bring about change
Merrick is currently undertaking a Student Summership to gain research experience to prepare him for his Master’s project.
“This has pointed to the unfavourable outcomes for people with a disability compared to their counterparts, along with the barriers they face on their pathway to recovery,” he says.
“Research focused on people with disabilities is important in ensuring they receive equitable care.”
Currently, little is known about the severity of injury and recovery from injury for disabled New Zealanders, Merrick says.
This is evidenced by people with disabilities often not being included in large-scale research studies, and the National Ethics Advisory Committee (NEAC), he says.
Merrick’s research will also include the largest cohort of Māori who’ve suffered physical injuries ever studied.
“The ACC scholarship will assist me by specialising and expanding my knowledge in the field of injury and hopefully to continue to do a PhD with a focus on injury or find future employment in this area.”
ACC provides scholarship boost
In addition to funding the research Merrick is doing, ACC has also awarded scholarships, ranging from $7,500 to $15,000, to University of Otago students Reghan Laurie and Merope Griffin, Massey University student Adrian Pretorius, Auckland University of Technology student Hana Sikma and Victoria University of Wellington student Luke Hollis.
The 2024 scholarship has been awarded to six master’s students whose studies relate to ACC’s research priorities, says ACC Strategy, Engagement and Prevention Deputy Chief Executive Andy Milne.
“These priorities are informed by ACC’s 10-year strategy, Huakina Te Rā,” Andy says.
“ACC is committed to addressing complex challenges and understanding emerging trends in injury prevention and sustained recovery. The postgraduate scholarship is a fantastic opportunity to fill gaps in our knowledge about these challenges and trends.
“The findings will inform operational and investment decisions and actions.”
ACC’s research priorities for 2025 include ways to keep people at higher risk of injury safe, how to enable groups who most need additional support to access the ACC scheme, and what helps people to recover well from injury and stay safe from re-injury.
The 2025 scholarship will be available through Te Pōkai Tara Universities New Zealand later in the year.
