Projects per year
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):
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
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Exploring the use of haptic music technology to support autistic young people with complex support needs at school
Rinehart, N. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Mantilla Benitez, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Papadopoulos, N. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Moseley, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Howells, K. (Project Manager)
2/02/24 → 31/05/25
Project: Research
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IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SLEEPING SOUND AUTISM PROGRAM
Papadopoulos, N. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Rinehart, N. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Mantilla Benitez, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Hiscock, H. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Marks, D. (Associate Investigator (AI))
29/06/23 → 28/06/25
Project: Research
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AllPlay Dance Breaking Down the Barriers to Inclusion
Rinehart, N. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Mantilla Benitez, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Millard, O. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Lewis, S. (Project Manager)
Trustee for The Grace and Emilio Foundation
24/03/23 → 24/03/26
Project: Research
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Mecca M-Power Funding for the AllPlay Footy and AllPlay Dance research programs
Rinehart, N. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Mantilla Benitez, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Moseley, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Papadopoulos, N. (Associate Investigator (AI))
1/01/23 → 31/12/25
Project: Research
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Self-determination in community settings: co-creating a digital toolkit with and for young people with disability
Devenish, B. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Mantilla Benitez, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Chan, E. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Rinehart, N. (Chief Investigator (CI))
Project: Research
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A pilot randomised controlled trial of a telehealth-delivered brief ‘Sleeping Sound Autism’ intervention for autistic children
Lewis, S., Rinehart, N., Mantilla, A., Alvares, G., Hiscock, H., Marks, D. & Papadopoulos, N., Dec 2024, In: Sleep Medicine. 124, p. 162-173 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus) -
Building self-determination to foster better outcomes for young people with disability
Devenish, B., Mantilla, A. & Rinehart, N. J., May 2024, Melbourne Vic Australia: Monash University, p. 19-20, 2 p. (Education Into the 2030s: The Big Education Challenges of Our Times; vol. 2, no. 3).Research output: Working paper › Working Paper › Other
Open Access -
Parents’ perspectives on inclusive practices in early childhood education and care: facilitators and barriers for children with Cerebral Palsy
Mantilla, A., Bussey, K., Chan, E., Gerner, B. & Rinehart, N., 2024, In: Early Years. 44, 1, p. 128-144 17 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
4 Citations (Scopus) -
Moving beyond the one-size-fits-all approach to the education of autistic students
Rinehart, N. J., Mantilla, A., Devenish, B., Emonson, C., Whelan, M. & Papadopoulos, N., Jun 2023, Melbourne Vic Australia: Monash University, p. 19-22, 4 p. (Education Into the 2030s: The Big Education Challenges of Our Times; no. 2).Research output: Working paper › Working Paper › Other
Open Access -
Preliminary effectiveness of professional learning about disability-specific evidence-based classroom practices for education support staff
Devenish, B. D., Mantilla, A., Bussey, K., McGillivray, J. & Rinehart, N. J., Sept 2023, In: Education Sciences. 13, 9, 13 p., 911.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile
Activities
- 1 Editorial responsibility
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Australian Research in Early Childhood Education (Journal)
Power, K. (Guest editor), Rivalland, C. (Guest editor), Mantilla Benitez, A. (Guest editor), Quiñones, G. (Guest editor) & Dethick, B. (Guest editor)
2007Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Editorial responsibility