Personal profile

Biography

Dr Ana Mantilla is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Educational Psychology and Counselling, with extensive expertise in education and health research. From 2021 to 2024, she served as Director of the AllPlay Research Programs, where she led a multidisciplinary team, contributing significantly to advancing inclusive practices and capacity-building in education and community settings.

Her research focuses on exploring stakeholders' perspectives and experiences, aiming to inform policy, practice, and evidence-based programmes. Currently, she is building international partnerships, particularly in Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region, to foster cross-cultural dialogue and collaboration.

Dr Mantilla is deeply committed to engaging with community, industry, non-profit, and peak body organisations. Her work has informed the Early Childhood Australia Statement on Young Children and Digital Technologies and Beyond Blue's Be You Disability Inclusion Guide. She provides expert reviews for the Raising Children Network and has been a guest speaker for the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).

Research interests

- Early learning and wellbeing

- Stakeholders' perspectives and experiences

- Inclusion in education and sports

- Qualitative research

- Community-based participatory research 

- Knowledge translation 

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
  • SDG 4 - Quality Education

Education/Academic qualification

Education, PhD, Practices in young children's foreign language classrooms: A Colombian-Australian comparison, MONASH UNIVERSITY

Award Date: 26 Apr 2012

Education, Master of Education (Early Childhood), MONASH UNIVERSITY

Award Date: 14 Apr 2005

Business, BBus (Honours), Universidad de los Andes (Columbia) (University of the Andes)

Award Date: 1 Jun 2002

Research area keywords

  • Inclusive education
  • Disability
  • Early Childhood
  • Wellbeing
  • Culture
  • Knowledge Translation
  • Inclusion

Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years

Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or