2018 National Awards for Disability Leadership
The Assistant Minister for Social Services, Housing and Disability Services, Sarah Henderson today announced that the Morrison Government will partner with the disability sector to support the 2018 National Awards for Disability Leadership, to be held on 3 December 2018.
The National Awards for Disability Leadership are an initiative of the Disability Leadership Institute (DLI), Disabled People’s Organisations Australia (DPOA) and the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO).
The Awards were established following the cancellation of the National Disability Awards, usually held at Parliament House in Canberra on International Day of People with Disability on 3 December.
Ms Henderson has been in discussions with DLI, DPOA and AFDO since mid-October to determine how best to support these new awards.
“I am delighted that the Morrison Government is providing funding by way of a $30,000 sponsorship, as well as practical support, for the National Awards for Disability Leadership. This sponsorship will be used to fund the costs of running these awards including for webcasting, venue hire and marketing,” Ms Henderson.
“Since my appointment as an Assistant Minister in August, I have heard some disappointment about the cancellation of the National Disability Awards from the sector.
“The National Disability Awards were an important way to recognise and champion people with disability who are leaders in their field.
“I am very pleased that the Government is backing these new awards which will continue to be held on International Day of People with Disability. I congratulate DLI, DPOA and AFDO on their initiative in establishing the National Awards for Disability Leadership.
“This is a great example of how disabled persons, and the organisations which represent them, are innovative and forward-thinking.”
The new-format National Awards for Disability Leadership will be co-hosted in several locations across Australia and web-cast so that people with disability, no matter where they are located, can participate.
“I will also be working with stakeholders after this years’ Awards to review the Government’s support and look to how we can re-invigorate the Awards in the future,” Ms Henderson said.
Nominations for the National Awards for Disability Leadership close on 12 November 2018 and anyone is encouraged to nominate a disability leader across seven categories: the Arts; Change Making; Rights Activism; Innovation; Social Impact; Inclusion; and the Lesley Hall Award for Lifetime Achievement.
Further information can be found at https://disabilityleaders.com.au/national-awards/