news
National
Disability
Awards
Award winners Sarah Houbolt (left) and
Rosemary Kayess (below).
By Carole Lander
Sponsorship went towards promotion,
live captioning and trophies. The
result was a highly successful event
watched across the world.
Social media statistics indicate
100,000 people were engaged.
Viewers in houses, nursing homes
in the news
T
he first National Awards
for Disability Leadership
have honoured seven
people with disability who are
leaders in their field.
The awards, held on December
3, were organised by the Disability
Christina coordinated it all from her
living room using the latest video
conferencing software.
“It was a steep learning curve and
a great technical mastery moment!”
she said.
This news led to the disability
The judges selected recipients
community running the awards and in seven categories from a highly
changing the format. competitive list of nominees. The
Their main goal was for everyone
categories embraced contemporary
involved – organisers, nominated issues and nominees also represented
award recipients and judges – to be members of the LGBTQIA, Indigenous
people with disability. and CALD communities.
They had just four months to One category retained from
People’s Organisations Australia and do it – initially without government previous years was the Lesley Hall
the Australian Federation of Disability support, however Assistant Minister Award for Lifetime Achievement. This
Organisations. for Disability Services, Hon Sarah went to Janice Slattery, a tireless and
Henderson MP, came on board committed advocate for and with
run by the Australian Government providing $30,000 sponsorship closer people with intellectual disability for
and formed the main celebration to the event. over 30 years.
Leadership Institute (DLI), Disabled
Previously, these awards were
of International Day of People
with Disability.
However, last year, all this changed
Christina said a webcast format
Other recipients were: Anthony
was chosen because a virtual event Mulholland (Change Making), Sexual
does not require an expensive venue. Lives & Respectful Relationships
by sheer coincidence, according to (Inclusion), Client Voice Project Group
DLI’s Christina Ryan. (Innovation), Rosemary Kayess (Rights
“In mid-2018, one of our
colleagues looked at the website
to find out about nominating
Activism), Jessica Walton (Social
Impact), and Sarah Houbolt (The Arts).
Christina and her collaborators
somebody and discovered a are determined to repeat and
statement from the government improve the event this year,
saying that the awards were no building on the 2018 success.
longer running,” Christina said.
8
and offices watched on YouTube and
news
www.disabilityleaders.com.au
linkonline.com.au