Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Dr Natasha Layton is an occupational therapist practicing, researching and teaching in the areas of assistive technology (AT), disability, and outcomes. She researches and presents locally and nationally in Australia with a range of consumer groups, government and the non-profit sector. Dr Layton is a member of the World Health Organisation (WHO) AT Roster of Consultants, and has represented Australian Standards as the Australian expert to the ISO TC173/SC2 on Assistive Products, for the last decade. She is a founding member of the Global Alliance of Assistive Technology Organisations (GAATO) on behalf of Australia’s peak body for AT, ARATA.
Dr Layton's PhD study concerned the costs and outcomes of disability supports in Australia. Her research interests include the relationship between practice-based evidence and evidence-based practice, and the nexus between research, policy and practice. Experienced in mixed methods, inclusive and co-designed research, she re-developed several research tools to access hard-to-reach populations. Over the last decade Dr Layton has worked on research grants worth over $4 million and published over 50 peer reviewed publications including a dozen book chapters, many in collaboration with consumers.
Education/Academic qualification
PhD, Assistive Technology Solutions as Mediators of Equal Outcomes, Deakin University
Award Date: 9 Oct 2014
External positions
Adjunct Industry Fellow, Swinburne University of Technology
2020 → 2023
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):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 4 Quality Education -
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth -
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
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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Disability and Digital Citizenship
Goggin, G. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Ellis, K. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Smith-Merry, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Darcy, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Harpur, P. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Hadley, B. J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Kent, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Wadiwel, D. J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Layton, N. (Chief Investigator (CI)), O'Donovan, M.-A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Avery, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Soldatic, K. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Dalvit, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Zhuang, K. V. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Alper, M. (Chief Investigator (CI))
ARC - Australian Research Council
7/07/26 → 6/07/30
Project: Research
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“The Sock Project”: do the Far Infra-red (FIR) socks help maintain blood flow and keep your feet warm?
Ho, M. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Layton, N. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Susigan, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Williams, C. (Chief Investigator (CI))
Mornington Peninsula Post Polio Support Group
Project: Research
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Early Evaluation of the National Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability Health (RFx20482)
Bould, E. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Cadby, J. M. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Forster, A. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Callaway, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Brusco, N. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Hill, K. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Hayward, B. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Morgan, P. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Taylor-Hall, A. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Williams, C. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Layton, N. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Barclay, L. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Bourke-Taylor, H. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Bhopti, A. (Associate Investigator (AI)), Simpson, A. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Templeton, M. (Partner Investigator (PI)) & Stewart, M. (Partner Investigator (PI))
15/11/24 → 31/01/26
Project: Research
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Exploration of barriers and enablers to participation in a falls prevention program for high-risk, community-dwelling older adults, and development of a model of care.
Hill, K. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Brusco, N. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Layton, N. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Crabtree, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), de Santos, K. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Dalla Santa, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Vo, T. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/07/24 → 30/06/25
Project: Research
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Use and effectiveness of assistive technology for older Australians within the National GEAT
Layton, N. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Hill, K. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Callaway, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Brusco, N. (Chief Investigator (CI))
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (Australia)
1/07/23 → 15/05/26
Project: Research
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Giving voice to the Deaf community: co-designing a Bangla Mental Health Sign Language Bank in Bangladesh
Hasan, M. T., Hossain, M. K., Watterson, J., Saha, M., Layton, N., Islam, M. J., Ahmed, H. U., Varghese, D. & McNaney, R., Apr 2026, In: The Lancet Psychiatry. 13, 4, p. 336-345 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review Article › Research › peer-review
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Selecting assistive products–The power of the who International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (who ICF) to support decision making
Andrich, R., von Prondzinski, S., Weisman, G., Contepomi, S. & Layton, N., 2026, (Accepted/In press) In: Assistive Technology. 2 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment / Debate › Other › peer-review
Open Access -
A review of international clinical guidelines that inform the use of assistive technology to support adults living with progressive or complex conditions
Callaway, L., Bragge, P., Cong-Lem, N., Delafosse, V., Lennox, A., Hill, K. & Layton, N., 2025, In: Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology. 20, 5, p. 1247–1256 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access2 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus) -
A study protocol for a pragmatic pre-post trial to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of a novel co-designed service to support health and wellbeing of older carers of older people
Lalor, A. (Leading Author), Slatyer, S., Burton, E., Bryant, C., Oliveira, D., Khushu, A., Brusco, N., Layton, N., Lee, D. C. A., Cash, B., Allen, J., Licciardi, L. & Hill, K. D., Jun 2025, In: PLoS ONE. 20, 6, 18 p., e0326363.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Other › peer-review
Open Access1 Link opens in a new tab Citation (Scopus) -
Collaborative consensus on assistive technology impacts and outcomes: the GAATO Grand Challenges
Smith, E., Layton, N. & Smith, R., 2025, In: Assistive Technology. 37, S1, p. S131-S138 8 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access1 Link opens in a new tab Citation (Scopus)
Prizes
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FMNHS Dean's Award for Excellence in Industry Education Programs (team)
Callaway, E. (Recipient), Bould, E. (Recipient), Brusco, N. (Recipient), Williams, C. (Recipient), Layton, N. (Recipient), Sloan, S. (Recipient), Morgan, P. (Recipient), Fossey, E. (Recipient), Ekegren, C. (Recipient), Shlonsky, A. (Recipient), Tregloan, K. (Recipient), Bangerter, M. (Recipient) & Martin, D. (Recipient), 6 Oct 2021
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
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Australian Podiatry Conference 2025
Ho, M. (Speaker), Nasendran, T. (Speaker), Susigan, D. (Speaker), Williams, C. (Speaker), Layton, N. (Speaker), Yoong Tok, A. I. (Speaker) & Lipik, V. (Speaker)
25 Jun 2025 → 28 Jun 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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Swinburne University Occupational Therapy Course Advisory Committee
Layton, N. (Fellow)
1 Jul 2024 → …Activity: External Academic Engagement › Submissions to industry or govt committees, commissions and inquiries
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International Seminar of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (Japan)
Layton, N. (Keynote/plenary speaker)
24 Feb 2024Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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Australian Association of Gerontology (AAG) Conference 2024
Layton, N. (Speaker)
12 Nov 2024 → 15 Nov 2024Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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Conference of the Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences
Layton, N. (Keynote/plenary speaker) & Puli, L. (Invited speaker)
4 Apr 2024Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
Press/Media
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Access to assistive technology shapes future Paralympic champions, and equity
Puli, L., Ekegren, C., Callaway, L., Layton, N. & Chaffey, L.
27/08/24
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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Government plans to use NDIS purchasing power to help save billions – but they shouldn’t put products before people
15/05/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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Exploring the impact of assistive technology for people with deafblindness in Southern Africa: a Delphi study
Prain, M. I., Bell, D. & Layton, N.
1/05/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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Meeting Asia’s rising demand for disability devices
31/08/22
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Profile/Interview
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From glasses to mobility scooters, ‘assistive technology’ isn’t always high-tech. A WHO roadmap could help 2 million Australians get theirs.
Layton, N., Callaway, L. & Puli, L.
26/05/22
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature