Media Release by The Hon Jenny Macklin MP

Finalists announced for National Disability Awards

Joint Media Release with:

  • Senator Jan McLucas, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers

Twenty-seven outstanding individuals and organisations have been selected as finalists for the 2012 National Disability Awards, recognising their valuable contribution to improving the lives of people with disability in Australia.

The Minister for Disability Reform, Jenny Macklin, and the Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers, Jan McLucas, today announced the finalists across the nine award categories.

The National Disability Awards, now in its sixth year, celebrates the remarkable achievements of people with disability and those who support them to create a more inclusive and diverse society.

Finalists were chosen from more than 200 nominations for the Awards, which include the Minister’s Award for Excellence in Disability Reform and the Emerging Leaders Award.

The finalists are made up of individuals, support organisations and national companies. Their achievements include improving community accessibility and employment opportunities for people with disability, promoting the rights of people with disability and advocating for a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

This year’s Awards come at an exciting time for people with disability, their families and carers, as the Gillard Government invests $1 billion for the first stage of an NDIS.

The first stage of an NDIS will be launched from the middle of next year. More than 20,000 people with significant and permanent disability in five locations will benefit from this first stage, receiving a care and support package that is individually tailored to their needs and having decision-making power about their care and support.

Critical to the success of an NDIS will be the continued commitment of all Australian governments to the National Disability Strategy, which is a framework to embed the inclusion of disability in policies, programs, services and infrastructure across all areas of the community. These 27 finalists are showcasing some of the achievements and progress being made in these areas.

The National Disability Awards will be presented at a gala dinner at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra on Wednesday 28 November 2012.

The Awards form part of the Australian Government’s celebration of International Day of People with Disability, which occurs annually on 3 December and which this year celebrates its 20th anniversary.

Communities across Australia are celebrating International Day of People with Disability. Visit http://www.idpwd.com.au to register your event and download a toolkit to help you prepare and promote your celebration.

Thursday 18 October 2012

Media contact: Gerard Richardson (Macklin) 0417 066 818 – Belinda Featherstone (McLucas) 0408 743 457

National Disability Awards Finalists

Minister’s Award for Excellence in Disability Reform

Recognises the significant achievements of an individual in influencing the disability reform agenda.

Samantha Jenkinson, Karrinyup, WA, in recognition of her long-standing and tireless disability reform work particularly her involvement in the Count Me In campaign, with the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations and her dedication to increasing awareness of the barriers facing Australians living with disability.

Michael Small, Sandy Bay, Tas, in recognition of his achievements in influencing government policy and best practice in removing barriers and developing accessibility standards to improve the lives of people with disability, their families and carers.

Emerging Leaders Award

Recognises an individual aged 15 to 35 years who is a leader in their community through raising awareness and/or improving outcomes for people with disability.

Audrey O’Connor, Denistone, NSW, in recognition of her use of arts to show society what people with disability can achieve, and how good life can be when you are given a fair go.

Gerard O’Dwyer, Guildford, NSW, in recognition of his high-profile public role in challenging stereotypes about people with intellectual disability and in promoting their abilities and contributions.

Samantha Parsonage, Allambie Heights, NSW, in recognition of her role in creating a more inclusive and diverse society by establishing social networks for people with disability and developing and delivering the Just Like You program to reach school children.

Excellence in Accessible Communities Award

Recognises the significant contribution of an individual or organisation to the community by removing or reducing structural or communication barriers, to help make communities more accessible for people with disability.

Andrew Fulton, North Rocks, NSW, in recognition of his work in designing homes that truly meet the needs of his clients with disability and in working with associations to establish regulations for builders working with people with disability.

Safe Futures, Eastern Region, Vic, in recognition of providing accessible emergency and crisis accommodation and support for women and children with disability who are experiencing family violence and for educating the family violence and disability sectors about each other.

Warringah Council, Dee Why, NSW, in recognition of its extensive engagement to plan, research and develop access for people with disability in its Collaroy Accessibility Precinct Masterplan, which will provide accessible natural and built environments in the community, including during the world-leading surf carnival for people with disability.

Excellence in Improving Social Participation Award

Recognises the significant contribution of an individual or organisation in improving the social participation of people with disability, including assisting people with disability to participate in sport, recreation, tourism, the arts and other social and cultural activities.

Australian Communication Exchange, Stones Corner, Qld, in recognition of its development of innovative technology to help people with hearing impairment participate in the arts and tourism and to attend museums using smart phones, including through captioned phone, video relay service, and phone apps.

Alison Richardson, Parramatta, NSW, in recognition of her work in creating opportunities in all art forms as a powerful tool to give people with disability a voice and to enable them to fully express and empower themselves.

The Captioning Studio, Adelaide, SA, in recognition of its tireless work to promote and provide access in a wide variety of areas for people with hearing impairment, including through the development of innovative, accessible technologies such as its GoTheatrical! theatre captioning and its interactive 3D Speech live captioning application for use in education, the workplace and at events.

The Other Film Festival, South Melbourne, Vic, in recognition of its support of both film-makers and film-goers with disability, being the only festival in Australia dedicated to screening films that explore the experience of living with disability and in promoting access to cinemas for people with mobility and sensory impairments.

Excellence in Advocacy and Rights Promotion Award

Recognises the significant contribution of an individual or organisation in advocacy and promotion of the rights of people with disability, including helping people with disability to speak up for themselves and their rights.

Joy Clarke, Irymple, Vic, in recognition of her commitment through the Sunraysia Disability Group to help create more accessible and inclusive communities, particularly in regional Victoria and ensure people with disability are recognised, valued, and included.

Communication Rights Australia, Moorabbin, Vic, in recognition of 30 years of dedication to help people who need assistance to communicate when they need it, support them to be heard, including when they want to exercise their human rights, invoke the power of the law, assert their own autonomy, resist abuse or live a normal life.

Speak Out, Reach Out, Sydney, NSW, in recognition of promoting the rights of people with intellectual disability to lead good lives in the community, including through health care, ceasing institutionalisation, ageing, mental health, criminal justice, and transport.

Excellence in Improving Employment Opportunities Award

Recognises the significant contribution of an individual or organisation in improving and providing quality employment outcomes for people with disability.

Australian Dairy Buffalo Co. Millaa Millaa, Qld, in recognition of providing long-term sustainable jobs and for its supportive and flexible approach to working with people with disability and helping them overcome obstacles, including providing transport to and from work.

McDonalds, Erina, NSW, in recognition of placing 50 people with disability into eight McDonalds restaurants on the Central Coast, for ensuring people with disability can get the training they need and for interview practices that enable all potential employees to be heard and valued for the abilities they have.

Telstra Corporation, National, in recognition of its commitment to employ and support people with disability, providing meaningful work and comparable pay and conditions, to investing in local communities and for continuing to expand its expanding workforce program and partnerships to employ people with disability.

Excellence in Improving Personal and Community Support Award

Recognises the significant contribution of an individual or organisation in providing and/or improving personal and community support for people with disability, including helping people with disability be independent by providing more choice, information, and control.

Australian Foundation for Disability, (AFFORD) Sydney, NSW, in recognition of the organisation’s work in helping people with disability approaching retirement find activities to ease the transition through a personal plan based on their interests and goals and towards meeting meaningful third age activities.

Mary D’Elia, Hobart, Tas, in recognition of her contributions to building person-centred disability practices in Tasmania, particularly her role in implementing Tasmania’s Gateway model.

Scope Communication Resource Centre, Box Hill, Vic, in recognition of providing support and training to people with communication difficulties and in increasing community awareness of the challenges they face.

Excellence in Improving Education Outcomes Award

Recognises the significant contribution of an individual or organisation in improving education outcomes for people with disability of all ages, including helping people with disability to reach their full potential.

Angelo Gavrielatos, Southbank, Vic, in recognition of his work in the promotion of students with disability in education reforms and working to ensure the rights of these students to have equal education opportunities.

RIDBC Renwick Centre/University Newcastle, North Rocks, NSW, in recognition of its work preparing highly-qualified teachers with the skills and resources they need to meet the needs of children with sensory disability.

Geoffrey Warren, Clifton Hill, Vic in recognition of his work in promoting positive attitudes towards disability during his time as Principal at Clifton Hill Primary School.

Excellence in Improving Health Outcomes Award

Recognises the significant contribution of an individual or organisation in improving health outcomes for people with disability, including giving people with disability more support to make informed choices about their healthcare.

Dr Michael Adams, Belair, SA, in recognition of his commitment to general medical practice; in particular his devotion to supporting the needs of patients with intellectual, mental and physical disability.

Family Planning Qld, Fortitude Valley, Qld, in recognition of its innovative leadership in sexual and reproductive health services particularly for people with disability, including community education and professional health training.

The Machado Joseph Disease Foundation, Groote Eylandt, NT, in recognition of its work to improve the quality of life of Indigenous Australians and their families living with Machado Joseph Disease in Arnhem Land and beyond.