Biography for Sue Gates

Sue Gates is a registered psychologist and her past experience includes working as a teacher, psychologist, advocate, lecturer and now researcher in the area of intellectual disability. Sue has been working at the Institute for the twelve years. Her areas of research include law and policy, health, and ethical and social issues in the lives of people with intellectual disabilities.

Her current research responsibilities are on the nationwide Workforce Project (Working in Intellectual Disability Services: Staff Retention and Turnover), and the local research project on exploring what life is really like in a group home for adults with an intellectual disability in terms of friendship and bullying within the home (Peer Abuse in Group Homes for Adults with an Intellectual Disability). She is also working on the new project, Mental Health and Well Being for Women with an Intellectual Disability.

From time to time Sue is contracted to provide clinical assessments and or investigations into situations and issues that affect the lives of specific individuals with an intellectual disability. She also presents seminars to various disability support service providers and tertiary institutions on issues that challenge people with an intellectual disability and their families.

Sue is currently an Arbitrator for the Ministry of Education and at parents' requests will investigate sections 9 and 10 of the Education Act 1989 with regard to their child's education.

She is also the Chairperson of the Family Network in Dunedin and is a management committee member of the Complex Carers Group.

Publications

Articles in Peer Reviewed Journals

Bray, A., & Gates, S. (2001). In that case: Commentary. New Zealand Bioethics Journal. (February), 39-41.

Reports and other publications

Bray, A., & Gates, S. (2003). Community Participation and Leisure for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities: Review of the Literature. Report prepared for the National Health Committee. Wellington: Ministry of Health and Donald Beasley Institute Inc.
Bray, A., Gates, S., Vautier, S., Simpson, J., Firth, H., Narbey, C. & Forsyth, H. (2002). Safe Lives for People with Intellectual Disabilities. A Community Injury Prevention Project. Final Report to ACC (111 pages). Dunedin: Donald Beasley Institute
Cleland, G., & Gates, S. (2006). Report on Consultation with Disabled and Deaf Parents. Development of a Service Design for Disabled Parents: Keeping Families Together. A Project for the Children and Young Persons Agency (MSD) (91 pages).
Gates, S., & Stewart, C. (2006). People First Advocacy Project: An investigation into the most effective way to ensure people with an intellectual disability can access their rights at work. A Report to People First New Zealand, funded by the Ministry of Social Development. (70 pages).
Milner, P., Mirfin-Veitch, B., Stewart, C., Gates, S., Bray, A., Sharp, S., & McDonald, T. (2005). Kimberley Research Project Phase 1 Preliminary Report (191 pages). Dunedin: Donald Beasley Institute.

Other forms of Dissemination (including Conference and Seminar presentations)

Gates, S (2006). Institutional closure and the resilience of long term staff. Presentation to the 41st Annual conference of ASSID, Canberra, Australia. 4-7 September 2006.
Gates, S (2006). Pathways to Advocacy in employment for people with intellectual disability. Presentation to the NZSAID Conference, Wellington, 2-3 November.
Gates, S (2004) Welfare Guardianship. A presentation to staff at PACT Group, Dunedin. 2 November.
Gates, S (2004). Ethical Issues in working with People with Intellectual Disability - sexuality and relationships. Presentation to staff at PACT Group, Dunedin, 26 August.
Gates, S (2001 - 2004). Ethics Tutorials for University of Otago Medical School. March - April and August 2001 - 2004. Patient, Doctor and Society Course. Ethics and Principles, The Nature of Disease, Patient Rights, Confidentiality and Privacy, Ethical Dilemma.
Gates, S. (2002). Keynote Presenter - Hohepa Conference. Presentations on Perspectives of Self-Determination and Guardianship and Legal Rights.

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