Dr. Di Winkler AM

Dr. Di Winkler AM is an occupational therapist who has worked with people with severe brain injury for more than twenty years. Di was the Chief Occupational Therapist at Ivanhoe Manor Private Rehabilitation Hospital prior to developing a private practice working with people with brain injury in the community.
 
Di established the Summer Foundation in January 2006 after becoming frustrated by the lack of appropriate housing and support for young people with disability who were being admitted to nursing homes for the aged. Her goal was to provide an evidence base to change policy and practice related to the issue of young people in nursing homes. After realising that research alone would not solve the issue of young people in nursing homes, in January 2006, Di founded the Summer Foundation Ltd, was CEO from the organisation’s inception until early 2018 and was reappointed to the role in October 2019.
 
In 2012, Di completed her PhD at Monash University, which involved a series of studies that focused on young people in nursing homes. Di is a director of Summer Foundation. She is also an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Living with Disability Research Centre at La Trobe University and has authored more than 40 peer reviewed journal articles.
 
In 2013, Di was awarded the 2014 Stanford Australia Foundation Dyson Bequest Scholarship. In 2018 Di was conferred with a Doctor of Laws honoris causa from Monash University for her distinguished service to the community through her leadership as a practicing occupational therapist and researcher. In 2019 Di was appointed as a member (AM) of the Order of Australia (General Division) for significant service to people with disability.