National Disability Awards Ceremony 2011

The 2011 Finalists

More than 270 guests gathered at the Great Hall at Parliament House, Canberra on the evening of Tuesday 22 November 2011 to attend the 2011 National Disability Awards.

The Awards, hosted by Minister Jenny Macklin and Senator Jan McLucas, Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers, celebrate the significant achievements of people with disability and workers in the disability sector.

Twenty-four award finalists were among the guests attending the ceremony and eight outstanding recipients were announced during the evening in the categories of:

• Minister’s Lifelong Achievement Award
• Young Disability Challenge Award
• Business Award
• Local Government Award
• Social Inclusion Award
• Inclusive and Accessible Communities Award
• Health and Wellbeing Award, and
• Yooralla Media Award for Excellence

Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers, Senator  Jan McLucas and other portfolio Ministers presented this year’s winners with their awards..

In addition to the eight award categories, Prime Minister Julia Gillard presented a special award to Mr John Walsh AM in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the disability sector, and for the pivotal role he has played in the Productivity Commission’s report to Government on long-term disability care and support.

View the Prime Minister’s speech from the National Disability Awards ceremony.

The event was attended by judges for the National Disabilty Awards, Australian of the year and Patron for IDPwD, Simon McKeon, and five of the six Disability Community Leaders, appointed by the Australian Government to champion the cause of people with disability within their local communities. The youngest Disability Community Leader, Danny Dickson, is just twelve years old and has appeared on national television promoting International Day of People with Disability. Stella Young, comedian and disability advocate, was Master of Ceremonies for the evening.

Disability Community Leaders

Stella

Minister’s Lifelong Achievement Award—Frank Hall-Bentik, Richmond, Vic

Frank Hall-Bentick

A tireless grassroots campaigner for the rights of people with disability, Frank has contributed to improving human rights for people with disability for more than thirty years. Frank played a pivotal role in the development of United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and successfully lobbied for its ratification in Australia in 2008. The Convention now forms the basis for Australian Government policy and program developments for people with disability.

Young Disability Challenge Award—Katrina Lancaster, Parramatta, NSW

Katrina Lancaster

Katrina was the recipient of the 2011 Parramatta Lord Mayor’s Youth Award, completed a Bachelor of Community Welfare, and was named Deaf Australia’s 2009 Deaf Youth of the Year for her work and volunteer commitments with the deaf community.

Business Award—Alcoa Aluminium Smelter, Geelong, Vic

Alcoa

Partnering with Kommercial, a local Australian Disability Enterprise, Alcoa Point Henry provides supported employment for more than 30 people with disability, and has teamed up with highly regarded children’s program Rainbow Riders, an equine-assisted growth and learning centre.

Local Government Award—City of Mandurah, WA

City of Mandurah

The City of Mandurah is working closely with Intework to create exciting and rewarding jobs for 44 young people with intellectual disability in areas such as community equipment maintenance, environmental clean-up, gardening and repairs. They were recognised in the 2010 Count Us In Awards.

Social Inclusion Award—Technical Aid to the Disabled Incorporated, ACT

TADACT

TADACT is a not-for-profit organisation, which specialises in creating or modifying equipment for people with disability, including a Kinetic Stander, which won the 2010 Australian Institute of Project Management Award in the not-for-profit category within the ACT.

Inclusive and Accessible Communities Award—Housing Choices Australia, Melbourne, Vic

Housing Choices

Housing Choices Australia has delivered more social housing over the past two years than any other community housing provider in Victoria, including 100 high-quality units for people with disability.

Health and Wellbeing Award—Parks Victoria, Melbourne, Vic

Parks Victoria

Parks Victoria has actively embraced universal design and access principles, including introducing all-terrain wheelchair equipment in some parks and a Sailability program. Parks Victoria has also developed an accessibility guide for park rangers and grants to community organisations to help improve visitation and participation.

Yooralla Media Award for Excellence—Nance Haxton, Ethelton, SA

Nance Haxton

Nance is seen as one of the Australia’s most lauded radio journalists. The judges noted her relentless, powerful and timely coverage of people with an intellectual disability, and commended her work as an important contribution to the advancement of disability rights.

Mr John Walsh AM (Special Award from the Prime Minister)

John Walsh

In recognition of his pivotal role as an Associate Commissioner in preparing the Productivity Commission’s report to Government on long-term disability care and support which recommended the establishment of a National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Rudely Interrupted

Krystel Keller

Award Recipients

Parliamentary Secretary McLucas, Minister Jenny Macklin and John Walsh