Associate ProfessorJo Watson

Associate Professor Joanne (Jo) Watson is Associate Head of School (International) for the School of Health and Social Development in the Faculty of Health at Deakin University. She is the co-founding course director of Deakin University’s Post graduate disability and inclusion program in Melbourne, Australia. She is an active researcher in the field of disability and inclusion.

Jo’s teaching and research is informed by a career of thirty-five years as a practicing Speech Pathologist working alongside people with complex communication and support needs and their supporters. Her research is centred around the impact of the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) on signatory nations’ capacity to support and protect the human rights of people with complex communication and support needs, including people who intellectual and multiple disability. Her current research focus includes supporting these people to live self-determined lives through supported decision-making mechanisms and individualised supports. 

Jo has an extensive national and international profile, having practiced, taught and led research across the world.  She is frequently asked to present her work as an invited keynote and plenary speaker both nationally and internationally. In 2016 she was selected and mentored by TEDx Melbourne to deliver a keynote address for Australia's financial counselling congress. This address now has over 12000 views across the YouTube and Vimeo platforms.