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2019 Finalists for the ACT Chief Minister’s Inclusion Awards

Emerging Young Leader

This award recognises a person aged 16-35 years with disability who is an outstanding leader in their community. The finalists are:

  • James O’Hehir
  • Jeremy Barralet
  • Katie Senior
  • Sharon Champion
  • Shay-Leigh Willis
  • Vanessa Low

Achievement in Inclusion

This award recognises a person with disability who has over a long period of time (more than 10 years) made a significant personal contribution to creating an inclusive ACT community. The finalists are:

  • Justin Le Couteur
  • Peter Rosini
  • Ruth O’Brien
  • Yenn Purkis

Excellence in Making Inclusion Happen

This award recognises a person with disability who works to celebrate and enable people with disability to participate in the community and reach their full potential as equal and valued citizens. The finalists are:

  • Bonnie Millen
  • Penny Pollard
  • Sharon Ding
  • Sharon Kensell
  • Wayne Herbert

Inclusion in Private Sector Employment

This award recognises a business, organisation or individual within the private sector that has provided inclusive and innovative employment practices.  The finalists are:

  • Bunnings Warehouse
  • Business Boost Centre
  • Cam Sullings
  • Commonwealth Bank
  • Daana Restaurant, Curtin
  • Independent
  • National Convention Centre Canberra
  • The RUC
  • Seeing Machines

Inclusion in Public Sector Employment

This award recognises an organisation, team or individual within the public sector that has provided inclusive and innovative employment practices.  The finalists are:

  • ACT State Emergency Service – Tuggeranong Unit
  • Australian Bureau of Statistics
  • Department of Agriculture
  • Department of Communications and the Arts’ Disability and Carers Steering Committee
  • The Diversity Team, Department of Health
  • Diversity and Inclusion Policy, Australian Public Service Commission
  • Donna Rowbotham at Department of Defence
  • Feedback, Behaviour, Investigations and Assistive Technology Team at Department of Defence
  • Katie Costabile at Major Projects Canberra
  • Questacon
  • Veronique Gouneau at Canberra Institute of Technology
  • Yarralumla Nursery

Inclusion in Education and Training

This award recognises an educational and training organisation or individual either within the private sector or government funded that has provided exceptional or innovative educational or training opportunities for people with disability. The finalists are:

  • Black Mountain School
  • Charles Weston School Coombs
  • Jake Naylor
  • Learning Support Team at St Michael’s Primary School
  • Panache Driver Training
  • The Pastoral Care Team at The Woden School
  • Rebecca Jefferys

Inclusion in Business

This award recognises a business that has delivered exceptional or innovative services and facilities that empower and include people with disability and celebrate their contribution to the community.  The finalists are:

  • Canberra Business Chamber
  • Getaboutable.com
  • Ikea Canberra
  • Shaw Building Group
  • Stella Bella Children’s Centre
  • ThinkPlace

Excellence in Innovation, Design and Access

This award recognises an organisation, team or individual who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to accessibility or innovation in design* to create greater inclusion for people with disability.
(*Design encompasses inclusive design in the areas of art, building, architecture, landscape architecture, information technology, equipment and craft, or designing system or processes).

The finalists are:

  • ACT Courts and Tribunal
  • ACT Emergency Services Agency
  • ACT Parks and Conservation Service
  • Belconnen Arts Centre
  • Canberra Metro and The ACT Government’s Light Rail Project Team
  • Ceilidh Dalton
  • Cycle Solutions team, TADACT
  • The Future is Inclusive podcast
  • Juliet Brown
  • Peter Churcher, Public Schools Infrastructure Program
  • Social Infrastructure Branch, Major Projects Canberra
  • Technology for Ageing and Disability ACT (TADACT)
  • Tilly Davey
  • Workforce Impact Collective led by National Disability Services ACT

Excellence in Inclusive Services and Disability Support

This award recognises an organisation who has demonstrated excellence in providing services that promote inclusion, and respond to the needs and aspirations of people with disability.  The finalists are:

  • Achieve By Design
  • Acute Support Social Work Department at The Canberra Hospital
  • ACT Down Syndrome Association
  • Ausdance ACT
  • Belconnen Community Service
  • Beyond Bank
  • Canberra Yacht Club Sailability
  • The Disability Trust Score Raiders
  • Forward to the Future
  • Hands On Studio
  • Hartley Lifecare
  • Imagine More
  • Inclusive Volunteering Program, Volunteering ACT
  • Marymead Autism Centre
  • Mixed Bag Singing Group at Community Services #1
  • Network Student Engagement Team, ACT Education Directorate
  • Nexus Human Services
  • Sharing Places
  • Therapy 4 Kids, Early Start Australia
  • UnitingCare Kippax
  • Women With Disabilities ACT

Excellence in Volunteer Support

This award recognises an individual volunteer who supports people with disability who has shown outstanding dedication to empowering people with disability to increase their independence, enhance belonging in community and achieve goals.  The finalists are:

  • Greg Ophel
  • Individuals supporting Special Olympics ACT Golf – Malcolm Brown, Denis Donoghue, Neville Gathercole, Gareth Dear and Kerry Atkins
  • John Brookes

Excellence in Support Work

This award recognises an individual support worker who has shown outstanding dedication to empowering people with disability to increase their independence, enhance belonging in community and achieve goals.  The finalists are:

  • Anton Saadeh
  • Luke Ferguson
  • Patricia Falcetta
  • Tracy Dodt

Life Time Achievement in Supporting People With Disability

This award recognises a person that has over a long period of time (more than 10 years) shown innovation and leadership in supporting people with disability to increase their independence, enhance belonging in community and achieve goals.  The finalists are:

  • Bob Sawyer
  • Brett Olzen
  • Dalane Drexler
  • Jamelle Boettcher

Excellence in Championing Human Rights and Equality

This award recognises an individual, organisation or service who demonstrates excellence in the promotion and fulfilment of human rights. The finalists are:

  • Advocacy for Inclusion
  • Canberra Community Law
  • Disability Justice Reference Group
  • Mary Mallett
  • The Office of the Senior Practitioner
  • Rebus Theatre
  • Women With Disabilities ACT