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2021 Inclusion Awards Videos

The Inclusion Awards were unable to be held in 2020 or 2021 due to the COVID-19 health emergency, so we produced a series of videos highlighting inclusion in the Canberra community.

The ACT Chief Minister, Andrew Barr delivered a message for all Canberrans in 2021:

 

 

Inclusion in Health Services - video

Inclusion in Employment

Rina shares her story, following years of volunteer and unpaid work Rina has now secured a permanent part-time position which she describes as her dream job:

 

Disability Providers, Carers and Support Workers video

Canberra’s disability providers, carers and support workers have been incredibly responsive, flexible and a commited to providing essential services to people with disability since the beginning of the COVID-19 health emergency, but especially during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Kylie Stokes, Executive Director, Sharing Places said “About half the people we support find it impossible to isolate at home. So we continued to stay open and modified our programs so that we could keep people safe”

Focus ACT advise they continue to work with a number of Canberra community services organisations to sure up their infection control procedures and will assist if they have positive COVID-19 cases.

Lisa Kelly, Chief Executive Officer, Carers ACT said “I wish that following these 2 years we can come together and continue to come together as a community and really value every member of the community and really think about what’s it like when we’re not included and how do I therefore make sure everybody is”

See the full story here:

Video on Youtube

 

Inclusion in Housing Video

In this video celebrating Inclusion in Canberra, Andrew and Lud Kerec from Renaissance Homes share their story about building accessible and livable homes in Canberra following Lud’s cycling accident in early 2010, resulting in Lud becoming a complete C5 quadriplegic.

The video highlights the benefits of accesible design and how accessible homes enhance the quality of life for all occupants at all stages of life. The cost to do this is minimal, making it very cost effective in the long run.

Andrew also talks about the mandatory accessibility standards which will be included in the National Construction Code and what features a home built to those standards means. Plus the ACT Government’s public commitment to adopt these standards.

See the video here:

 

Inclusion in Business video

Through the pandemic, businesses in Canberra rose to the challenge to provide inclusive access and services like working from home technology, contactless delivery, and telehealth appointments. Let’s continue Canberra!

The adoption of new business processes helped not only people with disability but the whole community. Chair of the ACT Disability Reference Group Renee Heaton said, “we want to capture all those good things that have happened from the pandemic, and keep them, because they’re enhancing the lives of people with disability.”

We encourage any business or workplace that adopted a new process or technology due to COVID-19 to keep it as we strive to make Canberra a more accessible and inclusive place to live.

Watch the full story here:

 

Inclusion in Justice video

Justice organisations are working to ensure their services are inclusive and accessible so people with disability have equal access to justice.  Disability Justice Liaison Officer, Sarah Broadhurst said: “In my position as a Disability Justice Liaison Officer at Legal Aid I work within a community of practice and there are seven other members throughout the community at other justice agencies and we meet fortnightly and working on systemic issues to make sure that we can close the gap for people with disability.”

You can see the full story here:

 

Inclusion in Health Services - video

Inclusion in government health services

Inclusion in health services was incredibly important during the pandemic to ensure vaccinations were available to anyone who wanted them.

Canberra’s Access and Sensory Vaccination Clinic was designed in consultation with people with disability and was available to anyone who would benefit from:

  • a quieter environment
  • additional space
  • longer appointment time
  • carer assistance

This includes people with disability, people with mobility limitations, and people with mental health conditions.

“It was one of the first times in public since the start of the pandemic where I felt that my different existence was completely ordinary… It made me feel like a person, which was fantastic,” said Diversity and Inclusion leader, Ashlea McKay.

Watch the full story here:

 

Tribute to the late Sue Salthouse

The late Sue Salthouse was a strong advocate for Canberra’s disability community, working hard for the rights of people with disability and championing inclusion and leadership opportunities, especially for women and girls.

The previous ACT Minister for Disability Emma Davison MLA said, “However, Sue had a huge impact on the whole Canberra community. Sue was a woman of courage and conviction – who never gave up having those hard conversations and challenging us all to do better.

Peter Gordon from Hands Across Canberra, also talks about the establishment of the perpetual Sue Salthouse Leadership Fund with $75,000 funding provided by ACT Government.

See the tribute to the late Sue Salthouse: