
Overview
Background
Professor Paul Harpur OAM is a leading international and comparative disability rights legal academic, current Australian Research Council Future Fellow, leader in higher education reforms, an Associate with the Harvard Law School Project on Disability, and duel Paralympian. He competed in the Sydney 2000 Paralympics and the Athens 2004 Paralympics and has the Paralympics Australia Pin #614. Professor Harpur is a TEDx speaker (“Universities as Disability Champions of Change”).
Professor Harpur is a leader in disability research and directs the University of Queensland’s The Disability Collaboratory. The Disability Collaboratory is a university-wide University of Queensland initiative which galvanises the university’s significant but currently distributed research expertise in order to maximise research impact and output. The Collaboratory is the primary means by which UQ enacts its commitment to research excellence in the fields of disability inclusion and was established following the University’s adoption of the Champions of Change Disability Inclusion Research and Innovation Plan. In addition to including a commitment to forming a high-impact disability research network, the Plan will further UQ’s leadership in disability inclusion research, ensuring that people with lived experience of disability play a central role in shaping research outcomes.
Beyond the UQ, he holds international posts, including as an Associate with the Harvard Law School's Harvard Project on Disability, an International Distinguished Fellow, with the Burton Blatt Institute, Syracuse University, Berkeley Center on Comparative Equality and Anti-Discrimination Law, and is a former Fulbright Future Scholar.
Professor Harpur is active in university-wide and sector-wide higher education change. Illustratively he has chairred the UQ Disability Inclusion Group since 2016 and sits on a range of university-wide committees. At the sector-wide level, during 2023 Dr Harpur served on the Ministerial Reference Group for the Universities Accord. He also serves on the Higher Education Standards Panel (HESP), which is a statutory body under Part 9 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (Cth). The HESP is charged to advise and make recommendations to the Minister and to the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) on the Higher Education Standards Framework and to TEQSA on matters including TEQSA’ strategic objectives, corporate plan, performance against that plan, reform agenda, streamlining of activities and resourcing requirements and its regulatory approaches. He also serves on the Advisory Board for the Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success, formerly the National Center for Student Equity in Higher Education. In April the Univertas 21 (U21) Senior Leaders Group adopted the U21 Framework for Equitable and Inclusive Global Engagement to guide EDI across the 30 university Network. This Framework as a committee, the U21 EDI Management Committee, to which Professor Harpur was appointed in 2025. His transformational work and service has been recognised with numerous diversity and inclusion, human resources and leadership citations and awards. In the 2024 Australia Day Honours, Professor Harpur was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia by the Governor General of Australia (OAM). The citation for his OAM is “for service to people with disability”.
Availability
- Professor Paul Harpur is:
- Not available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Law, Queensland University of Technology
- Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice, Queensland University of Technology
- Masters (Coursework) of Law, Queensland University of Technology
- Doctor of Philosophy, Queensland University of Technology
Research interests
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International and Comparative Disability Law
I have 4 major projects extending over the next few years around the topics of: 1. Ablism at Work and Hierarchies of Impairments 2. The Relevance of International Disability Human Rights Laws to the Developing World 3. Universally Designed for Whom? Disability, the Law and Practice of Expanding the “Normal” User 4. Equality and Disability Assistance Animals
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Labour and Work Health and Safety Laws
Works
Search Professor Paul Harpur’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Book Chapter
Leveraging universal design and work health and safety laws to promote and progress SDG 11.7: access to public spaces for people with disabilities
Harpur, Paul and Stafford, Lisa (2025). Leveraging universal design and work health and safety laws to promote and progress SDG 11.7: access to public spaces for people with disabilities. Public space and the sustainable development goals. (pp. 30-44) edited by Joanne Dolley, Keiran Hardy and Tony Matthews. Cheltenham, Glos, United Kingdom: Edward Elgar Publishing. doi: 10.4337/9781035322411.00008
2025
Book
Young people with cognitive disability in transition to adulthood: stories of survival, aspiration, and systemic failures
Ellem, Kathy, Harpur, Paul, Hardy, Fotina, Stein, Michael Ashley and Schormans, Ann Fudge (2025). Young people with cognitive disability in transition to adulthood: stories of survival, aspiration, and systemic failures. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/9781009408721
2025
Other Outputs
Imagine an age-inclusive university sector
Harpur, Paul, Szücs, Brooke and Pachana, Nancy A. (2025, 01 23). Imagine an age-inclusive university sector Times Higher Education (THE Campus)
2025
Book Chapter
The power of university-wide research plans to champion disability inclusion
Harpur, Paul, Connick, Helen, Brown, Sarah, McBain, Jean and King, Michelle (2025). The power of university-wide research plans to champion disability inclusion. The Universitas 21 Disability Inclusion Policy Mapping Report: Partnering globally to champion change. (pp. 71-74) edited by Paul Harpur. Brisbane, Qld, Australia: Universitas 21.
2025
Book Chapter
Awareness raising and Disability Inclusion
Liu, Gloria, Gallego, Gisselle, Ma, Bernie, Burgess, Danielle and Harpur, Paul (2025). Awareness raising and Disability Inclusion. The Universitas 21 Disability Inclusion Policy Mapping Report: Partnering globally to champion change. (pp. 111-116) edited by Paul Harpur. Brisbane, Qld, Australia: Universitas 21.
2025
Journal Article
Insights from the chancellery: considerations for a university lead on equity, diversity, and inclusion
Harpur, Paul, Szucs, Brooke, Fisher, Jenny and Pachana, Nancy A. (2025). Insights from the chancellery: considerations for a university lead on equity, diversity, and inclusion. Higher Education Research and Development, 44 (2), 402-416. doi: 10.1080/07294360.2024.2399078
2025
Book Chapter
Disability and mobilization work
Harpur, Paul David and Szucs, Brooke (2025). Disability and mobilization work. The Routledge companion to disability and work. (pp. 297-309) edited by Oana Branzei and Anica Zeyen. New York, United States: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003350781-27
2025
Book Chapter
Supporting students with disabilities to transition to work
Campbell, Matthew, Liu, Gloria, Marston, Greg and Harpur, Paul (2025). Supporting students with disabilities to transition to work. The Universitas 21 Disability Inclusion Policy Mapping Report: Partnering globally to champion change. (pp. 96-100) edited by Paul Harpur. Brisbane, Qld, Australia: Universitas 21.
2025
Book Chapter
Universities acting collectively to champion disability inclusion
Harpur, Paul and Handayani, Wuri (2025). Universities acting collectively to champion disability inclusion. The Universitas 21 Disability Inclusion Policy Mapping Report: Partnering globally to champion change. (pp. 29-34) edited by Paul Harpur. Brisbane, Qld, Australia: Universitas 21.
2025
Book Chapter
Introduction to the U21 Disability Inclusion Policy Mapping Report
Harpur, Paul (2025). Introduction to the U21 Disability Inclusion Policy Mapping Report. The Universitas 21 Disability Inclusion Policy Mapping Report: Partnering globally to champion change. (pp. 3-5) edited by Paul Harpur. Brisbane, Qld, Australia: Universitas 21.
2025
Book Chapter
Universities support for staff with a disability
Harpur, Paul and Povey, Jenny (2025). Universities support for staff with a disability. The Universitas 21 Disability Inclusion Policy Mapping Report: Partnering globally to champion change. (pp. 102-107) edited by Paul Harpur. Brisbane, Qld, Australia: Universitas 21.
2025
Book Chapter
Method and approach
Harpur, Paul and Szucs, Brooke (2025). Method and approach. The Universitas 21 Disability Inclusion Policy Mapping Report: Partnering globally to champion change. (pp. 22-24) edited by Paul Harpur. Brisbane, Qld, Australia: Universitas 21.
2025
Book Chapter
Systems change: From reasonable adjustments to universal design
Harpur, Paul, Mylonas, Aliisa, Hitches, Elizabeth, Handayani, Wuri, Lucio, Emily Singer and Shannon, Claire (2025). Systems change: From reasonable adjustments to universal design. The Universitas 21 Disability Inclusion Policy Mapping Report: Partnering globally to champion change. (pp. 76-83) edited by Paul Harpur. Brisbane, Qld, Australia: Universitas 21.
2025
Book Chapter
The application of disability norms on representation in higher education
Harpur, Paul (2025). The application of disability norms on representation in higher education. The Universitas 21 Disability Inclusion Policy Mapping Report: Partnering globally to champion change. (pp. 26-28) edited by Paul Harpur. Brisbane, Qld, Australia: Universitas 21.
2025
Book Chapter
Understanding when university research and innovation is and is not compliant with disability human rights norm
Harpur, Paul (2025). Understanding when university research and innovation is and is not compliant with disability human rights norm. The Universitas 21 Disability Inclusion Policy Mapping Report: Partnering globally to champion change. (pp. 60-64) edited by Paul Harpur. Brisbane, Qld, Australia: Universitas 21.
2025
Book Chapter
Support provided to students with disabilities transitioning to university
Ellem, Kathy, Harpur, Paul and Chan, Sophelia (2025). Support provided to students with disabilities transitioning to university. The Universitas 21 Disability Inclusion Policy Mapping Report: Partnering globally to champion change. (pp. 84-87) edited by Paul Harpur. Brisbane, Qld, Australia: Universitas 21.
2025
Book Chapter
Disability and Intersectionality
Szucs, Brooke, Harpur, Paul, Willox, Dino and Pachana, Nancy (2025). Disability and Intersectionality. The Universitas 21 Disability Inclusion Policy Mapping Report: Partnering globally to champion change. (pp. 49-58) edited by Paul Harpur. Brisbane, Qld, Australia: Universitas 21.
2025
Book Chapter
Disability hate speech and hate crimes: assessing the role of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in tackling disability-based animus
Lord, Janet E., Pons, William I., Stein, Michael Ashley, Ellem, Kathy and Harpur, Paul (2025). Disability hate speech and hate crimes: assessing the role of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in tackling disability-based animus. Disability hate crime: perspectives for change. (pp. 148-165) edited by Leah Burch and David Wilkin. Abingdon, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003442004-11
2025
Conference Publication
Disability as an Issue in the University Sector - Insights from U21 Partners
O’Connor, Deirdre and Harpur, Paul (2025). Disability as an Issue in the University Sector - Insights from U21 Partners. UCD and Universitas 21- UN SDG Workshop 2025: One Health for Global Health, University College Dublin, College of Health and Agricultural Science, 12-13 June 2025.
2025
Book Chapter
University research groupings as champions of disability inclusion
Smith-Merry, Jennifer and Harpur, Paul (2025). University research groupings as champions of disability inclusion. The Universitas 21 Disability Inclusion Policy Mapping Report: Partnering globally to champion change. (pp. 65-70) edited by Paul Harpur. Brisbane, Qld, Australia: Universitas 21.
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Paul Harpur is:
- Not available for supervision
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Proposed PhD - Disability within the judiciary: An analysis of the barriers for lawyers with visual disabilities to be appointed to the judicial branch of government in New Zealand and Australia.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Graeme Orr
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Doctor Philosophy
Language rights and minority language publishing in Australia.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Samantha Disbray, Associate Professor Pradip Thomas
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Doctor Philosophy
Two steps forward, one step back - the benefits and challenges of service dogs
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Martie-Louise Verreynne, Professor Nancy Pachana
Completed supervision
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
The right choice? An interpretive policy analysis of assistive technology in Australian disability services
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Francesca Bartlett
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Assistance Dog Ownership for Older Adults: Exploring the Benefits and Barriers to Acquisition, Potential Aged Care Policy Reforms, and Planning for the Future
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Nancy Pachana
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
A right to breastfeed at work? A feminist human rights account of the legal entitlement to breastfeed in the Australian workplace.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Francesca Bartlett
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Paul Harpur directly for media enquiries about:
- Anti-discrimination
- Assistance animals
- copyright law
- Corporate law
- corporate social responsibility
- digital equality and rights to access information
- Disability discrimination
- Disability law and policy
- employment law
- Human rights law
- industrial relations
- international human and civil rights
- Labour law
- UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- work health and safety laws
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