The Chief Ministers Inclusion Awards (CMIAs) provide acknowledgement of the outstanding achievements of businesses, organisations and individuals who have demonstrated their commitment to encourage, welcome and support people with disability in their workplace, business and community.
The Awards align with International Day for People with Disability on 3 December and acknowledge inclusive leaders across four categories:
• Recognising people with disability who are leaders in inclusion
• Excellence and innovation in community access and inclusion
• Achieving inclusion through supporting the independence and wellbeing of people with disability
• Championing rights protection and justice
An overarching Award for Excellence is then selected from award recipients.
The 2019 awards were announced at a gala night at the Great Hall, Parliament House on Thursday 5 December 2019.
The record breaking 102 finalists across four award categories showed that so many Canberrans are demonstrating their commitment to welcome, encourage and support people with disability in our community.
The 2019 winners were:
2019 Chief Minister’s Award for Excellence
Emerging Young Leader
Achievement in Inclusion
Excellence in Making Inclusion Happen
Inclusion in Private Sector Employment
Joint Winners – Inclusion in Public Sector Employment:
ACT State Emergency Service – Tuggeranong Unit
Questacon – the National Science and Technology Centre
Inclusion in Education and Training
Inclusion in Business
Joint winners – Excellence in Innovation, Design and Access:
ACT Parks and Conservation Service
Technology for Ageing and Disability ACT (TADACT)
With a Commendation awarded to The Future is Inclusive podcast
Excellence in Inclusive Services and Disability Support
With joint Commendations awarded to:
Inclusive Volunteering Program, Volunteering ACT
Excellence in Volunteer Support
Joint winners – Excellence in Support Work
Joint winners – Lifetime Achievement in Supporting People with Disability:
Excellence in Championing Human Rights and Equality
With joint Commendations awarded to:
Disability Justice Reference Group
The categories were:
Category 1 – Recognising people with disability who are leaders in inclusion
Select this category if the nominee:
• is a person with disability who is a leader in their community
• has made a difference in the community
• is a role model for their community
• demonstrates excellence and leadership
• engages community to promote inclusion of people with disability.
The awards for this category are:
1.1 Emerging Young Leader
Recognises a person aged 16-35 years with disability who is an outstanding leader in their community.
1.2 Achievement in Inclusion
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.
1.3 Excellence in Making Inclusion Happen
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.
Category 2 – Excellence and innovation in inclusion and access
Select this category if the nominee:
• improves and promotes accessibility for people with disability
• creates an environment that includes and values people with disability
• demonstrates excellence in inclusion and promotes the benefits of inclusion to the whole community
• demonstrates a commitment to embed inclusivity in everyday practice.
The awards for this category are:
2.1 Inclusion in Private Sector Employment
Recognises a business, organisation or individual within the private sector that has provided inclusive and innovative employment practices.
2.2 Inclusion in Public Sector Employment
Recognises an organisation, team or individual within the public sector that has provided inclusive and innovative employment practices.
2.3 Inclusion in Education and Training
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.
2.4 Inclusion in Business
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.
2.5 Excellence in Innovation, Design and Access
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).
Category 3 – Achieving inclusion through supporting the independence and wellbeing of people with disability
Select this category if the nominee:
• demonstrates excellence in supporting people with disability, above and beyond the national standards
• engages community to promote inclusion of people with disability
• expands opportunities for people with disability
• enables and empowers people with disability to achieve their full potential as equal citizens.
The awards for this category are:
3.1 Excellence in Inclusive Services and Disability Support
Recognises an organisation who has demonstrated excellence in providing services that promote inclusion, and respond to the needs and aspirations of people with disability.
3.2 Excellence in Volunteer Support
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.
3.3 Excellence in Support Work
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.
3.4 Life Time Achievement in Supporting People With Disability
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.
Category 4 – Rights Protection and Justice
Select this category if the nominee:
• increases access to justice for people with disability
• promotes awareness of disability rights
• demonstrates excellence and innovation in the achievement of just outcomes for people with disability.
The award for this category is:
4.1 Excellence in Championing Human Rights and Equality
Recognises an individual, organisation or service who demonstrates excellence in the promotion and fulfilment of human rights