Good morning everyone
I’d like to welcome you all here at Parliament House in our nation’s capital.
I begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we meet, the Ngunnawal people, and pay my respects to elders past and present.
I extend that acknowledgement to all First Nations peoples joining us today.
I’d also like to acknowledge my ministerial and parliamentary colleagues present. There’s a number of you around. This celebration really does attract people from across the Parliament, but I’d like to acknowledge my ministerial colleagues, Minister Bill Shorten and Minister Pat Conroy.
And I’d like to welcome our International Day of People with Disability Ambassadors, who have put up their hand to put themselves our there as role models. And I know many of them have come with family and friends as well so I’d like to welcome them, as well as other people here with disability, particularly those who advocate every single day for the inclusion of people with disability.
We’re a little bit early, it’s not 3 December today, but we wanted to gather here in Parliament House because I think it is very important and symbolic. Every year on 3 December we get to come together for International Day of People with Disability, a United Nations observed day to promote awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability and to determine how we can create a more inclusive and accessible world.
I’m going to speak as well as Minister Shorten about some of the actions we are taking here in Australia, but I am really excited that we have Pat Conroy here to talk about the work that Australia is doing to create a more inclusive world. We are proud to celebrate this day here in Australia, because we know that every person has a role to play in driving change together to promote the rights and wellbeing of people with disability.
But of course, we shouldn’t just be having these discussions one day of the year. With 5.5 million people with disability in Australia, every day is a day to elevate and share the stories, experiences and insights of people with disability, and celebrate their achievements.
This message is central to this year’s theme: Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future.
This theme recognises the importance of supporting current and future leaders with disability to create systemic change and lead to greater inclusion – something our Government is behind 100 per cent.
Because when people with disability are empowered to be leaders, we get better outcomes.
We are committed to working with the disability community in the planning, design and delivery of our initiatives – honouring the community’s call that there is ‘Nothing about us without us’.
And we are proud to support a range of projects that empower people with disability, building their capacity and skills to be leaders in their lives and communities. This includes Women with Disability Australia’s LEAD program and the Children and Young People with Disability’s Young Leaders Program that are equipping our next generation of leaders with the skills and connections to succeed.
And the Australian Institute of Company Directors’ Disability Leadership Program, which has supported over 200 people with disability to be ready for that next step in their career.
These and many of our other programs support people with disability to speak up, know their rights, make their own decisions, take action, and educate, lead and mentor other people in their communities.
We know that welcoming the diverse skills, talents, contributions, ideas and expressions of people with disability benefits everyone.
This is at the heart of Australia’s Disability Strategy, our overarching national policy framework to building a more inclusive Australia. This Strategy embeds the voices of the disability community and supports action across all levels of government and across all portfolios.
Through working hard to bring the Strategy from words on a page to life, we are all leading reform and change to facilitate the inclusion and participation of all Australians with disability.
Our approach to making a more inclusive Australia is stronger, clearer and more effective than ever before.
Supporting the International Day of People with Disability fits into our extensive work under Australia’s Disability Strategy, as we aim to increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability – but also celebrate their contributions and achievements.
There is no doubt that Australia would be enriched by more inclusive and representative leadership – because diverse leadership is more effective and innovative, drives meaningful change and highlights the immense contributions that people with disability make more broadly.
You’ll see in the videos being showcased today, that our eight Ambassadors are role models, and leaders in their fields of choice. Their unique perspectives highlight the diverse experiences of people with disability in Australia.
Regardless of their field and focus, or where they are from, all of our Ambassadors are using their voices and skills to share their experiences, ignite discussions and change attitudes and practices.
I am proud to stand with this year’s Ambassadors today as they all exemplify what this year’s International Day of People with Disability is all about.
They demonstrate the immense contribution people with disability make when barriers are broken down and they have the opportunity to thrive.
Thank you all for being here today to recognise International Day of People with Disability as we work together to build acceptance, accessibility and inclusion into every aspect of Australian life, for a better future for us all.
Thank you.