Launceston Gears Up

Zumba routines, choir performances and wheelchair basketball were among the activities on offer today at an expo in Launceston aimed at improving the lives of people with disability.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers, Senator Jan McLucas, officially opened the Gearing Up: Living Your Potential Expo, an event showcasing more than 50 local services and organisations.

Senator McLucas commended the many organisations exhibiting at the Expo, which included disability employment agencies, Australian Disability Enterprises, education and training providers, community and recreational organisations.

“The expo is a wonderful way of putting people with disability and their carers and families in touch with the range of local providers here in Northern Tasmania,” Senator McLucas said.

Member for Bass Geoff Lyons, who participated in a celebrity table cricket match to mark the opening of the Expo, said “This is the fifth year that the Expo has been held, which is a great reflection on the dedication of the organisers and the support from the local community.”

“The Expo plays an important role in enabling people with disability and their carers to access a variety of information and support services under the one roof.”

Senator McLucas said the Australian Government is working hard to ensure people with disability have the same opportunities as other Australians to fulfil their potential.

“Last month, the Australian Government launched the National Disability Strategy. It is the first time in our nation’s history that all governments have committed to a unified, national approach to improving the lives of people with disability, their families and carers.”

The strategy sets a 10 year reform plan for all governments to address the barriers faced by Australians with disability and will ensure that mainstream services and programs including healthcare, housing, transport and education, address the needs of people with disability.

“The National Disability Strategy provides the framework for change. We will continue to work with people with disability, their families and carers, and the disability services sector, to deliver changes that will improve people’s lives.”

“Community participation initiatives such as the Gearing Up: Living Your Potential Expo help to remove barriers and expand opportunities for people with disability and their carers at the local level.”

The National Disability Strategy is one of the Gillard Government’s election commitments for people with a disability, their families and carers.