Dr Manjula Marella
Senior Research Fellow
Research Focus: Disability Inclusive Development; Disability Data; Health Equity and Inclusion
Dr Manjula Marella is a researcher in disability-inclusive development, with expertise in strengthening health systems and service delivery for people with disabilities. Her work focuses on developing and validating measurement tools for disability data collection and program evaluation, ensuring that evidence informs inclusive policy and practice.
Originally trained in Optometry with a specialisation in low vision rehabilitation, Manjula has led major research initiatives, including large-scale population-based surveys across Asia and the Pacific. These projects have guided disability-inclusive approaches in public health, rehabilitation, education, and post-disaster response and recovery. She has also played a key role in designing systems to monitor and evaluate community-based rehabilitation programs and inclusive education initiatives.
Manjula also led and contributed to qualitative studies examining the participation of people with disabilities in health, rehabilitation, and education systems. Her work has directly supported governments, NGOs, and international agencies in planning, implementing, and evaluating disability inclusion within development programs.
Manjula is the coordinator for the Maters of Public Health subject - Disability in Policy and Practice (POPH90088). Manjula also supervises graduate research students.