Media Release by The Hon Christian Porter MP

Finalists announced for 2015 National Disability Awards

Minister for Social Services, the Hon Christian Porter MP today announced the selection of 27 finalists for the 2015 National Disability Awards.

“The National Disability Awards have been set up to recognise the valuable contribution organisations and people make to improving the lives of people with disability in Australia,” Mr Porter said.

“The number of finalists reflects the breadth of talent through the more than 200 nominations received.

“There have been some fantastic achievements and it has made the job of the independent judging panel difficult.”

The achievements of the some of the Award finalists include:

  • Raising awareness of the discrimination experienced by people who are blind or have low vision when using Australian banknotes.

  • The world-first patient-initiated project to create a mobile holiday dialysis bus so people receiving the treatment can have holidays.

  • The invention of communication technology for people living with paralysis, loss of speech, or loss of motor control allowing them to communicate using signals inside a muscle, even when that muscle doesn’t work.

Now in their ninth year, the National Disability Awards are part of the Commonwealth Government’s celebration of International Day of People with Disability.

The 2015 National Disability Award winners will be announced at a ceremony on Wednesday, 25 November at Parliament House in Canberra.

2015 National Disability Award finalists

Sam Almaliki, Cricket Australia, VIC

Cashelle Dunn, VIC

Fishers with Disabilities Association Inc, WA

Peter Ford, NSW

Maurice Gleeson OAM, Blind Sports and Recreation Victoria, VIC

Keran Howe, VIC

Alexandra Kay, Scope Global Pty Ltd, SA

Kidney Health Australia Big Red Kidney Bus Holiday Dialysis Project, VIC

Greg Killeen, NSW

Jessica May, Enabled Employment, ACT

Connor McLeod, NSW

Alex Miller, Western Health, VIC

Mind Recovery College, VIC

MJD Foundation Ltd, NT

My Choice Matters (incorporating My Learning Matters), NSW

Parks Victoria, VIC

Julie Phillips, VIC

Jo Ragen, NSW

Rebus Theatre, ACT

Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children, NSW

Trudy Ryall, VIC

Kate Swaffer, SA

Karen Thompson, NSW

Chris Varney, VIC

Western Australian Motor Industry Foundation Inc, WA

Karen Williams, Queensland Public Interest Law Clearing House, QLD

Wynyard Yacht Club Inc, TAS