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Abstract
The serious shortage of personnel in virtually all professional disciplines who have been specifically trained to work with people with developmental disabilities, indicates the need for a sharper focus on this field within Australian universities. It is suggested that this need will best be met through the establishment of a number of multidisciplinary academic centres for teaching and research in this specialist area. Each of the academic staff within these centres should hold conjoint appointments with a relevant professional discipline taught by their university, and play an active role in upgrading the training of students in this discipline on how to relate their knowledge and skills to the needs of people with developmental disabilities. These academic centres should also be properly networked with the system of disability services provided within the wider community so as to ensure that there is effective translation and dissemination of their expertise into those areas which are of major concern to service providers and consumers. Finally, the proposed centres should be committed to specific research and development activities that will further contribute to the enhancement of programs in this area.