International Day of People with Disability 2022
Video transcript
International Day of People with Disability
Message from Commissioner Dr Rhonda Galbally AC
This year’s theme for International Day of People with Disability calls for innovation to fuel inclusive development for an accessible and inclusive world – quite a mouthful.
But there are so many innovations that do achieve access and equity, and are solutions for inclusive development. And I’ve heard about many of these throughout the Royal Commission.
I’ve heard about playgroups, and childcare centres and preschools and schools where inclusive play, learning and social support welcomes every child and their family, with or without disability
I’ve heard about housing and living, where people with disability are leaving group homes and are supported in choosing to live alone, to live with a friend, to share their home with a person without disability who contributes to social engagement in exchange for free or low rent – to live in all manner of innovative ways.
I’ve heard about innovations in work where people with disabilities have set up their own businesses and created them and run them. And where Australian Disability Enterprises have morphed into models that employ half people without disability and pay award wages.
But the innovation I value that is truly transformative is the translation of often what are once-off programs and projects into systematic change right across Australia.
To develop a truly accessible and equitable Australia for people with disability, innovation that has been shown to work must now be embedded in government policy – in legislative reform, in strategy, and in systems across the nation.
Only then will innovation transform the lives of every person with disability in Australia.