International Day of People with Disability – Champions of Inclusion

As a brain injury support group and registered charity, the Kings Park ABI Warriors Inc support brain injury survivors who have suffered a variety of injuries, such as strokes, tumours, epilepsy and traumatic brain injuries, through coffee catchup events facilitated by lived experience survivors.

With a growing membership, the organisation has helped a large number of people across the Perth metropolitan area, with 11 groups established, including those for young adults, families/carers and an online group for people who struggle to attend catchups.

Ever expanding with 362 online members and 1993 attendees so far this calendar year, they are doing amazing work with social inclusion and empowerment for the brain injury disability community

They are starting 3D printing workshops with mentoring by a fellow survivor and are looking into photography and art, as well as organising trips including one to Rottnest Island by the Young Adults Group to celebrate International Day of People with Disability.

They take recommendations from the State Head Injury Unit and the Neurological Council of WA, with members giving talks at seminars to new survivors on the journey ahead and the possibility of the best outcome for their recovery journey.

Over the last few years, the Rotary Club of Armadale has focused their efforts on inclusion through all their activities.

They’ve established and facilitated Quiet Zones in partnership and consultation with the City of Armadale; this is now an ongoing support for children and adults with disability at major events within the local government.

The club has also hosted a range of inclusive youth programs where young neurodivergent people can attend and be supported by volunteers to engage with peers their own age in a free and engaging range of school holiday programs.

In addition to this, the club supports many volunteers who are neurodivergent and fosters an inclusive environment that creates opportunities for all people with disability to be a greater part of their community.

While the club is small in number and limited within its finances, it makes significant contributions to the inclusion of people with disability within our community.

Kyal Fairbairn has operated his business, Kyal’s Coffee Kart for the past five years, service coffee at schools, functions and events.

His business and support team operate under the motto and mission statement, “Great coffee delivered to our community, with a difference.”

As an Early Childhood teacher at Saranna Early Learning Childhood Education and Care Centre, Mhairi has been recognised for the dedicated, compassionate and inclusive approach she takes in her role, going above and beyond to ensure children feel values, understood and fully included in every aspect of the classroom.

In nominating Mhairi as a Champion, Tevie Death has acknowledged that her patience, creativity, and commitment have made an extraordinary difference in the development of Tevie’s son. Mhairi helps him build vital skills and fosters genuine friendships and confidence in social settings. She consistently takes the time to adapt activities so he can participate meaningfully, celebrates his progress, and creates a learning environment where every child feels seen and supported.

Mhairi exemplifies everything an early childhood educator should be – kind, inclusive, and deeply committed to helping every child thrive. She truly deserves to be recognised for the life-changing difference she makes each day.

The RTR is run by the Goldfields Individual and Family Support Association, which operates in the Goldfields / Esperance region, and connects people with disability with their community and friends.

The program is loved by the community and participants, and their families.

Programs are run on Tuesday evenings with previous activities organised in collaboration with local police, Department of Fire and Emergency Services, Bijou Theatre, Wongutha CAPS and Cannery Arts Centre, swimming facilities and cinema venues, to name some examples.

Terica is an inspiring leader who brings extensive experience and dedication to supporting people with disability to feel empowered, valued, and included. Under her guidance, Together Now WA has built a reputation for providing a safe and welcoming environment where participants can thrive and be supported with genuine care.

Together Now WA not only delivers high-quality NDIS supports but also plays an active role in community advocacy, capacity building, and emergency relief; ensuring vulnerable individuals and families have access to meaningful opportunities and essential assistance when they need it most.

Through Terica’s leadership, the organisation coordinates a range of accessible community events that unite local service providers, showcase available supports, and foster greater inclusion across the community. Thinking outside the box, Terica has proactively developed numerous frameworks and initiatives aimed at supporting individuals with disabilities and the wider community.

Beyond this, Terica collaborates with various local services to enhance the support provided to the community. Swan Community Connect is a newly established not for profit in a neighbouring suburb to Together Now WA, and we are so grateful to have the support of Terica and Together Now WA.

Together Now WA and Terica's work is grounded in dignity, inclusion, and innovation, from individual supports to large-scale events, everything they do strengthens our community.

As Chairperson of Gosnells Safe Communities Now, Tracey has been described as an inspiring advocate for inclusion, accessibility, and community safety. Living with disability herself, she brings personal insight and empathy to her leadership, tirelessly championing improvements to facilities and services that support people with disability across the City of Gosnells.

Tracey works passionately to share safety information with local communities, with a particular focus on multicultural groups, ensuring that vital knowledge reaches everyone. She has also organised community events that bring residents together, promote safety awareness, and foster connection and understanding among people of all abilities and backgrounds.

Through her dedication, leadership, and lived experience, Tracey exemplifies the spirit of inclusion, empowering others and building a safer, more welcoming, and united community.

Inclusion Solutions has more than 30 years of experience in the disability inclusion space, supporting organisations, businesses, local communities, and clubs and groups across Western Australia to be more inclusive of people with disability through training delivery, consultancy services, and social impact projects.

Cathy was instrumental in guiding Horizon Power in preparing and lodging their 2025-2030 Disability Access and Inclusion Plan (DAIP).

She also leaned in to ensure the organisation was learning about access and inclusion as part of the process, while keeping the team motivated and challenged to fulfil their promised actions.

Horizon Power is proud of its progress to date in this space, and what it aims to achieve over the life of its plan and beyond.

Cathy is also supporting the organisation in planning an amazing International Day of People with Disability event for employees – something they are excited to bring to life.

An employee of Horizon Power, Amber looks after the organisation’s Corporate Volunteering program.

With her sights set on organisations that support people with disability, Amber was able to gather 52 of her colleagues to volunteer over five sessions in FY25 and 23 already this financial year for two sessions.

Amber is also supporting Horizon Power in planning an amazing International Day of People with Disability event for employees.

Horizon Power launched its 2025 – 2030 Disability Access and Inclusion Plan (DAIP) in January; the team has come together well to see where they can support the actions outlined for each outcome. 

They are a dedicated group, with a growth mindset who are wanting to make a difference.

Members include Jennie Milne, Brian Connolly, David Frankel, Jonathon Mizen, Vicky Chandran, Nadia Wilson, Louisa Frome, Sarah Moredount, Jenn Easlea, Andrew Riches, Anna Locke, Nicole Hough, Andy Jennings and Ryan Dwyer.

Manning Tennis Club and Club Captain Dwayne Augustin have been recognised for their WA Top Spinners Wheelchair Tennis program.

They welcome people of all ages and abilities and have created a fun and inclusive environment where wheelchair, ambulant and able-bodied players have opportunities to train and play together and individually to meet their needs.

In recent years, thanks to a CSRFF grant, the club has modified its facilities and car park to improve access.

The program has grown steadily since it began in 2020 to offer:

• Free coaching and equipment, including access to racquets and sports chairs
• Weekly sessions for adults, children and high performance players
• Tournaments and special events, such as club open days and come-and-try sessions

Cynthia has dedicated her entire career to advocating for the rights and self-determination of people with disability.

At Edith Cowan University (ECU), she has led the development of the Staff with Disability Network, embedded best practice in supporting staff with disability, and championed improvements to physical accessibility across our campuses.

Beyond her work at ECU, Cynthia advocates for accessibility in her local council area, serves on the P&C at Thornlie Primary School, and previously represented the rights of people with disability on an international scale during her time at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

She brings warmth, authenticity, and kindness to everything she does, making a profound impact both within the university and in the broader community.

Keira is an incredible businesswoman and a passionate advocate for families in need. She goes above and beyond to support others, including helping Renee Parker advocate for her child’s needs through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Living with invisible disabilities herself, Keira continues to inspire through her strength, empathy, and dedication. She successfully runs Collective Design Agency, where she helps clients and NDIS participants design accessible, functional, and beautiful homes that truly meet their long-term needs.

Keira embodies resilience, compassion, and empowerment – making a lasting impact on everyone she works with.

Oasis Climbing and Climbwell are both located in Malaga, with operations also out of Jandakot. Now under new management, Oasis Climbing has been recognised for its inclusive practices.

Both businesses go out of their way to be accommodating to people with all types of disabilities, which has been life-changing for many families in the community.

They offer opportunities to access rock climbing, alongside exercise physiology, and form significant relationships in the community to people who would otherwise face many barriers in the exercise and adventure sports arena.

They are such a valuable part of the community for people with disabilities and offer a unique and inclusive space.

Anthony Pyle lives and breathes inclusion. He has been recognised for establishing a Disability Employment Network (DEN) at his workplace.

Through his local Rotary, he has also been instrumental delivering Quiet Zones at events for many years within the City of Armadale.

In his current project, Inclusive volunteering, he is working with Volunteering WA to help organisations build confidence and increase opportunities for people with disability.

The staff at this school go above and beyond each year to make students and families living with a range of different disabilities feel welcome, included, and supported – giving every child the opportunity to thrive and grow within the school environment.

They actively support awareness days such as Epilepsy Awareness, Autism Awareness, Kidney Disease Awareness, Telethon, and many more.
We cannot thank them enough for the incredible support they provide to our daughter every day.

Emily has been recognised for her outstanding dedication to creating a more inclusive and accessible South West community.

Emily is an incredible advocate who not only works full-time in the disability sector but also volunteers her time and expertise on both the Bunbury Co-Design Panel and the Access and Inclusion Committee.

Her passion for genuine inclusion extends well beyond her professional role; she continually goes above and beyond to make sure every voice is heard and every person feels valued.

One of Emily’s most impactful contributions has been her work in developing and installing communication boards across multiple public spaces throughout the South West. These boards have opened up new ways for people to express themselves, connect, and be part of their community helping inclusion happen naturally, every day.

Emily embodies the spirit of inclusion and collaboration, and her efforts have made a lasting difference to so many individuals and families in our region.

Neurominded offers tailored training and consultancy for organisations that support neurodivergent children and young people in educations, care or community-based settings.

The organisation has been recognised for the amazing work that founding owner Gee and her team are doing in the early childhood education and care sector.

Amanda has been championing web and digital accessibility for many years, particularly through her previous work as CEO of Web Key IT, a company that was set up to improve digital accessibility in Western Australia.

Web Key IT audited website accessibility for businesses and consulted on WCAG standards. They hired people with disability as user analysts, providing them with meaningful employment.

The company also organised annual web accessibility forums and camps in WA.

Leanda is the managing director of E-QUAL disability consultants and Leadership Development Manager for Leadership WA’s LeadAbility program.

Leanda has led and facilitated many cohorts of leaders with disability, champions and advocates for disability inclusion for the WA community.

Leadership lacks diversity, equity and inclusion everywhere. Leanda's contribution in developing leaders with disability and disability inclusive leadership is significant.

Sophie is a Diversity and Inclusion Specialist at The Kids Research Institute and has led many significantly important projects for employment of people with disability. This includes those in the areas of public sector employment and hospitality employment network, as well as developing an online platform for employment opportunities and vacancies.

Sophie has also been involved in education work on family and domestic violence, with a focus on disability while working at Patricia Giles Centre for Non-Violence.