The Australian Disability Service Conference & Awards took place on November 9 at the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre.
MC for the conference was TV presenter and Paralympian Karni Liddell who said: “Let’s get together and make sure disability service organisations know we want to be employed and be customers.”
The keynote address was given by disability advocate and lawyer Dr Dinesh Palipana. “To push the limits, we need to do it together and think outside the box, be person-centred and create a better future for people with disability”, he said.
Among the speakers was former Paralympian and disability inclusion head at Woolworths, Geoff Trappett, Perry Cross founder of Accessible Homes and Dr Kylie Henderson, founder of Humanity Health Group.
Following the conference was the awards ceremony attended by more than 300 guests. The awards were presented in 12 categories.
Taking out the award for Best Assistive Technology Product was Braille House with its tactile QR code indicator. The winner for Innovation in Employment Programs went to Hotel Etico from Mt Victoria, NSW. The Most Outstanding Director award went to Laura O’Reilly from Fighting Chance/Hireup and winner of the Most Innovative Community Program was Everyone Can Dance, from Camden NSW. The award for the Best Early Intervention Program went to Therapy Pro, Victoria and QLD and the Best Accommodation Provider was Accessible Homes Australia, QLD.
Other winners were: Most Outstanding Plan Management Company, Assist Plan Managers SA; Most Outstanding Support Worker, Sharon Moore, Sunnyfield disAbility Services, Tamworth NSW; Most Outstanding Support Coordinator, Alison Kidd, Spinal Life Australia, QLD; Best Remote Service Program, Care Squared NSW & Qld and Best New Business, PlanCare, WA.
Event organiser One Community co-founder Kellie Puxty said: “The award showcased exciting innovations and provided inspiring benchmarks in the disability sector.”
The event is now a fixture in the final quarter of each year, with Melbourne confirmed for 2023.
Read more about the event in the December issue of Link magazine out next month.
LINK feature the latest, news, research and opinions on issues facing the disability sector for people with disability, carers and professionals working in the sector. There is also a weekly e-newsletter.
To read the latest issue online go to: https://linkonline.com.au/magazines/october-2022/
Photo: Finalist and winner for Best Assistive Technology Product, from left, Riley Saban finalist from PolySpine, Andrew Backhouse winner from Braille House, Jenny Gribbin finalist from Driving Well OT with award category sponsor, George Ajaka from GTK.