Good evening everyone.
It's my pleasure to be joining you tonight as we celebrate 70 years of Inclusion Australia.
I would like to begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we meet, the Wurundjeri people, and pay my respects to elders past and present.
I would also like to acknowledge:
- Felicity Crowther (Chair of the Inclusion Australia Board and Executive Director of the South Australian Council on Intellectual Disability (SACID)), and
- Catherine McAlpine (CEO of Inclusion Australia)
- Those here from other organisations who have contributed to the success of Inclusion Australia
- Advocates in the room
- And particularly people with intellectual disability and their families and carers
Tonight is an opportunity to reflect on how far we have come as a nation to create a more inclusive society for people with intellectual disability, and Inclusion Australia's critical role in this- but also to recognise how far we still have to go.
As an organisation whose focus is about increasing the voices of people with intellectual disability and supporting them to represent themselves - Inclusion Australia has, and continues, to play a critical role in this space.
Tonight is a night of celebration!
I would like to wish a very happy birthday to Inclusion Australia and congratulate you on 70 years of working alongside the disability community to amplify the voices of people with intellectual disability.
What began in 1954 as a group of family and friends of people with disability has since grown to become the national peak body for intellectual disability, and one of Australia's longest-standing disability advocacy organisations.
What you have achieved over the past 7 decades has been nothing short of remarkable.
And what's more is that you've ensured people with intellectual disability have been at the centre of everything you do.
From helping to steer the introduction of Australia's first disability discrimination laws, to what you do now in advocating for inclusive education and employment and supported decision making, you've truly been pioneers and built strong relationships across communities and with Government to achieve change.
Tonight, I want to talk about the importance of the advocacy work organisations like Inclusion Australia do for our community.
Inclusion Australia has worked tirelessly to raise the profile of the issues that are important to people with intellectual disability - ensuring that your perspectives and ideas are incorporated into Government policy responses.
Whether this is about making sure people with disability can make their own decisions with the right support, reducing the health inequalities experienced by people with intellectual disability, or making mainstream services and the broader community more inclusive and accessible - Inclusion Australia play a key role in educating the Government, organisations and businesses about the barriers people with intellectual disability can face.
But importantly, Inclusion Australia provide ideas and solutions to break down these barriers, challenge stereotypes and build the confidence of organisations and services to be truly inclusive.
And in undertaking your work, people with intellectual disability are at the centre of driving change - with people with intellectual disability leading Government and community engagement and education.
We know how important advocacy is in promoting the rights and freedoms of people with disability.
And that is why our Government has recognised Inclusion Australia as a standalone national peak organisation - and this does need to be recognised because you play a vital role to ensure people with intellectual disability have their needs met and can make choices about the way they want to live their lives.
In the past, people with intellectual disability have experienced really significant exclusion and exploitation and haven't been included in conversations about the things that impact them - and unfortunately these experiences are still too common. As Minister for Social Services, I am committed to working alongside Inclusion Australia and people with intellectual disability to change this.
One of the ways our Government is supporting change is through increasing funding to Inclusion Australia as a Disability Representative Organisation.
But we also know that there are other important ways we can empower people with intellectual disability to self-advocate and support social connections.
I've heard many times how important peer support is for people with intellectual disability and that connecting with people like them to get advice and tips and ideas helps them to break down barriers that exist across society so they can live independently and fully participate in society.
I often hear it's about the "I get you" factor that really makes a difference.
Everyone here knows how important lived experience is and that is why we are investing in peer support and self-advocacy activities for people with intellectual disability.
These programs are an important way we help people with disability and their families to build knowledge, skills and confidence and connect with their local communities.
Because we want to make Australia more inclusive and for each Australian with disability to be supported to reach their goals.
We know that change can only happen when the voices, perspectives and ideas of the people with intellectual disability are a part of the conversation.
And we will continue to listen to Inclusion Australia to understand how we can best work together to create a more inclusive society - because inclusion creates more opportunities and benefits everyone.
One area that for too long people with intellectual disability haven't been given equal opportunities is in employment. For too long supported employment has been seen as the only option available.
And that is why creating more opportunities for people with disability in employment is a key area I have focused on since becoming Minister for Social Services.
And I share this focus with Inclusion Australia - who have worked consistently and constructively across the sector and with government to improve employment outcomes for people with intellectual disability and provide more opportunities in open employment and career progression.
As a Government we want to make sure people with disability, including those with intellectual disability understand the different employment options available to them and understand their rights at work.
We are doing this by providing employment-related advocacy and information through a new Disability Employment Advocacy and Information Program.
Advice about employment will be provided through group workshops and information sessions, and people will have access to individual advocacy for specific employment issues when it is needed.
We also want to make sure there a lots of different employment pathways available for people with intellectual disability, with more opportunities to move into open employment and build careers. Which is why we are investing in projects to evolve the supported employment sector.
And to make sure people with intellectual disability have more opportunities to succeed in employment of their choice, we have expanded eligibility under our new specialist disability employment program that starts in July next year so that volunteers and people who can work less than 8 hours per week can participate.
Because people deserve to be able to take advantage of a diverse range of opportunities and should not be excluded from our specialist disability employment program - because that is not inclusive and that's why we are changing this.
And this is a key change I know that Inclusion Australia has been advocating for, for many years - as one of the ways to create more pathways and opportunities for open employment.
And I look forward to continuing to work with you as we reform the employment system for people with disability.
In all of these areas we have been working with Inclusion Australia and their member organisation, who have played a big role in creating change for people with intellectual disability in all parts of Australia.
I join with you in celebrating the work Inclusion Australia does to support people with intellectual disability to speak up and be heard.
Thank you for this critical work you do to create a better future for people with intellectual disability.
I look forward to the positive changes we will make together.
And I hope you all enjoy the rest of the evening, especially on the dancefloor.
