Irene is a qualitative researcher with a background in humanities and social sciences. She conducts research in disability and ageing, and ageing in culturally and linguistically diverse communities. She is an associate member of the Caring Futures Institute and she is currently the research associate and project manager of the Australian Research Council Linkage Project, Choosing the way forward: addressing post-parental housing transition needs of adults with intellectual disability and their older family and other carers.

Irene gained her PhD in Italian Studies from Flinders University in 2013 while working as a researcher on a number of projects on migration and intergenerationl caregiving dynamics among older Italian Australians and their families in South Australia. She has developed her expertise in ageing and disability through work on various projects at Flinders University, including investigating future planning needs of families of older adults with intellectual disability, and examining the end-of-life needs of adults with long-standing physical disability. Through research work on an Australian Research Council Linkage Project at Flinders University investigating the experiences of older adults in relation to activity programs, Irene has been able to further cement her knowledge in ageing more broadly and her expertise as a qualitative researcher working on larger projects.

In her current role, Irene is collaborating closely with a co-researcher with intellectual disability and further developing her interests and capabilities in co-design, and inclusive and alternative research methodologies.

Irene's research interests are:

• Ageing and intellectual disability
• Ageing in culturally and linguistically diverse communities
• Ageing and migration
• Ageing and intergenerational caregiving dynamics
• Alternative research methodologies