Study level

  • Master of Philosophy

Faculty/School

Faculty of Science

School of Computer Science

Topic status

We're looking for students to study this topic.

Research centre

Supervisors

Dr Jessica Korte
Position
Senior Lecturer in Computer Science (Software Development)
Division / Faculty
Faculty of Science
Associate Professor Laurianne Sitbon
Position
Associate Professor
Division / Faculty
Faculty of Science

External supervisors

  • Dr Layla Soroush, Chapter1

Overview

This project will explore how blind and visually impaired (VI) peer workers use digital platforms in their day to day practice, with the aim of identifying or co-designing a platform that is accessible, JAWS compatible and aligned with the requirements of industry partner Chapter1’s peer-led employment services.

Research activities

The methodology consists of five interconnected qualitative stages designed to build a comprehensive understanding of how VI peer workers engage with digital platforms:

  1. A scoping review will examine digital platforms used in employment support, informed by multisensory and haptic interaction research.
  2. An observation study will explore how VI peer workers interact with digital platforms in real time, to identify difficulties, workarounds, interruptions to task flow, navigation strategies and cognitive load.
  3. Semi-structured interviews and contextual inquiry will gather detailed insights into peer workers' lived experiences, workflows and accessibility challenges, deepening interpretations of observational findings.
  4. Task-based usability testing with JAWS will assess navigation processes, points of breakdown and structural accessibility issues. This will provide systematic, scenario-based evidence grounded in established methods used in studies of VI users' digital interaction.
  5. Co-design workshops will bring VI peer workers together to interpret findings and collaboratively develop recommendations for platform selection, interface improvements and accessibility requirements. These workshops will centre lived experience as core design expertise and ensure that the resulting recommendations are realistic and contextually grounded.

Together, these methods will generate a multi-layered understanding of how VI peer workers interact with digital platforms and what features are essential for supporting inclusive and effective employment support services.

Outcomes

  • Evaluation of existing digital platforms used in employment support.
  • Identification of user perspectives on digital platforms.
  • Identification of requirements and/or proof of concept prototype for more accessible digital platform.

Skills and experience

Applicants should have a background in a relevant field, such as:

  • information systems
  • computer science
  • human-computer interaction.

Students with relevant lived experience are encouraged to apply.

A non-articulating MPhil scholarship is available for one student to commence before July 2026. Students applying for the scholarship must meet QUT’s eligibility requirements.

Scholarships

You may be eligible to apply for a research scholarship.

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Keywords

Contact

Contact the supervisor for more information.