Breaking Down the Barriers

Simon Darcy

Simon Darcy

I am an Associate Professor at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Business School where I specialise in the management of events, sport and tourism. I have worked in the higher education sector for 21 years having held a variety of part-time positions while studying.

My career is not what I expected it was going to be when studying physical education, playing rugby and surfing as a 19-year-old when I acquired a spinal-cord injury. Some six months in hospital, six months living in a rehabilitation centre and another 12 months rehabilitating found me wondering about what life was going to be like. Fortunately, I recommenced university completing a BA followed by a Master of Environmental Planning before looking for full-time work. After some disappointment at being the best candidate for a job, having it offered to me and then not being able to accept because of the workplace was not accessible (second floor of a two-storey building with no lift) I started the job search again. After some work as an independent researcher, I was employed by UTS as a tutor and have since been promoted through to my current position.

My lecturing and research has been regarded as highly innovative together with having a strong human rights and advocacy focus. I believe in supporting other people with a disability getting started in education and, in 2007, was proud to be awarded a Carrick Australian higher education teaching citation for prolonged support of people with disability in the higher education sector.  Apart from lecturing responsibilities, I have used my background in environmental planning for disability related matters across the built environment, transport and cultural industries sectors. In 2010, I was awarded the World Leisure Organisation Innovation Prize for a team on a lead researching and developing the Sydney for All portal that highlights accessible recreation and tourism experiences for people with disabilities.

As a power wheelchair using quadriplegic with high support needs, I have been involved in numerous disability related organisations and represented on government and private sector committees to promote the rights of people with disability. I believe in being actively involved in the political process to ensure that people with disability have the same rights to citizenship as everybody else and that it is important to use research and policy skills in improving outcomes for people with disability. To this end, I have undertaken complaints and supported Federal Court disability discrimination cases against transport companies to improve access for people with disabilities.

While this all sounds very serious, it’s about making sure that people can do what they want without being discriminated against. I have worked with but enjoyed the services that organisations like Surf Life Saving Australia, the Football Federation of Australia, the Australian Rugby Union, the Sydney Opera House, Tourism NSW, City of Sydney, the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Accessible Arts and the Australian Sports Commission, to name a few, provide.

When I am not working or advocating I enjoy spending time with my wife Fiona, going to the theatre, supporting Manly, the Waratahs and the Wallabies rugby union teams, and getting into the outdoors as much as possible. There is nothing I enjoy more than being able to get out on Sydney Harbour or Pittwater on accessible boats.  I am also currently working on projects to establish access to the fishing boats and pleasure craft in the same way that Sailability has done for sailors with disabilities.