Media Release by Senator the Hon Jan McLucas

Supporting people with disability for 60 years

The Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers, Senator Jan McLucas, today paid tribute to one of the largest non-government disability service providers in Australia and one of Queensland’s oldest charities, at a celebration in Brisbane today.

At Queensland’s Parliament House, the Endeavour Foundation was recognised for their six decades of supporting people with disability in an event hosted by the Hon John Mickel MLA, Speaker of Queensland’s Legislative Assembly.

“For sixty years now, the Endeavour Foundation has been part of local communities throughout Queensland and New South Wales. That is sixty years of providing opportunities for people with a disability, helping them to lead more fulfilling lives,” Senator McLucas said.

“The work done by Endeavour has helped countless numbers of people with disability lead more fulfilling lives.”

Endeavour was started in 1951 by a group of Queensland mothers who refused to accept their children with an intellectual disability couldn’t be educated. Today, they support more than 3,350 people with a disability, from 230 locations in Queensland and New South Wales.

“There have been enormous changes in disability services over the past sixty years and it is organisations like the Endeavour Foundation that have fought for the rights of people with disability, helped them get the care and support they need and helped to create a more inclusive society.”

Senator McLucas today also visited the Endeavour Foundation’s Cannon Hill headquarters, Endeavour House, to join in their DisabiliTEA Morning Tea that is raising awareness of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Yesterday, the Australian Government received the Productivity Commission’s final report into a long-term disability care and support scheme and will now carefully consider the report.

“Endeavour Foundation has played an important part in increasing opportunities for people with disability, and I’m sure they will continue to do so.”

“I look forward to continuing to work with Endeavour at what is an important time for the disability sector.”