b'Annual Report 2021/22Meet Aodn:Professional Co-ResearcherFormer care worker, hurler and security guard Aodn Mulholland was 25 when he suffered massive head and face injuries in a car crash in Belfast in February 2013. Halfway through his firstAodn went back toHead of Research at year at Ulster Universityuniversity studying for aPraxis Care. studying for a BSc inmasters in developmentCo-researchers Health and Social Careand co-production inimmediate and direct Policy, Aodn suddenlysocial care research. Butexperience of accessing found himself fighting forwhat keeps himsocial care services his life and spent twomotivated more thanmeans they have weeks in a coma inanything is his role as aunparalleled insight and intensive care beforeco-researcher workingperspective on how care subjecting himself toclosely with care policypolicy works or doesnt reconstructive surgery. Byexperts Gavin Donaldson,work. Unfortunately, September the followingProfessor and Praxisco-researchers like year, he was back at theChair of Social Care atAodn are few and far books and eventuallyQueens Universitybetween in Northern completed his degree. Belfast, and Paul Webb,Ireland, unlike in Great Britain and the United States, where they are known as peer What we needresearchers.to do is help peopleI have gained my realise that working in care is perspective from an a fantastic job which through timeunusual number of and lived experience can open upviews, says Aodn. I new opportunities and careers was a care worker in a in a variety of sectors. residential facility and I Aodn Mulholland, have been a service user Co-researcher48'