Michelle French & Associates - MF+A

15/02/2025

A great day to splash about at Cronulla Beach!

https://skillz4me.org.au/




Accessible Beaches

I met "The Sarah's" early this morning at Cronulla Beach. It was a perfect place to be and brimming with sand, surf and sun seeking Southern Sydney Siders. There were the Little Nippers, dog walkers,...

05/01/2025

Hello 2025!

Well MF+A celebrated 2024 in style again at Pinotta, our local favourite restaurant. We got together as many of our amazing team of experts as could make it - to thank them all for their work and what they achieved this year - and it has been epic.

We have no pictures of the night to share with you this year - as we all seemed more interested in conversing without the phones on and the cameras out.

We talked NDIS, housing needs, accessibility, and there was much reminiscence about "the good old days' of community rehab, and how we can keep the connection with each other in our practices, mentor new graduates and support the delivery of therapy services to NDIS participants, My Aged Care recipients and more. The challenges often seem overwhelming, but having the chance to talk about our experience and share wisdom seems to be key.

The MF+A In House team are grateful for the opportunities we have in our daily clinical work to meet, learn from, and provide support to people touched by life changing events, to enable them to set out on new paths, with new and often overwhelming challenges. So too, our medicolegal work sees us bear witness to the resilience of people and their capacity to cope, adjust and even thrive.

Whilst watching the boxing day test, reflecting on 2024 and recognising that we are all touched at some point by a life changing injury, illness or event, our founder and Principal Michelle French proposed to donate to the McGrath Foundation, and the team whole heartedly agreed.

None of us get out of this magical life unaffected and so it seemed fitting to donate to a foundation that provides much needed direct care.

We wish everyone all the best in 2025, may you achieve all that you want to, and if not, may you find joy wherever you land along the way.

See you when we get back to the office!

Pink Test 2025 - Help Us Take Our Care To All Cancers

Virtual Pink Seats are back in 2025.

09/12/2023

MF+A celebrated 2023 in style this week, with laughter, food and quiet reflections. It's been a big year in the world. Stay safe everyone and enjoy the break, we can't wait to see you again next year!

15/04/2023

It is an issue everywhere, accessible taxi's being unavailable to those who need them. Here's a story with a good ending at least...

https://www.facebook.com/100064972560625/posts/604173028425111/?sfnsn=mo&mibextid=6aamW6

In Vancouver, Canada, Kyle Hindley, man who uses a power wheelchair, was unable to find an accessible cab after a concert (despite being able to get an accessible cab to the show). After waiting for hours trying to find a ride, this kind limo driver decided to stop and help bring him and his gf home. Fortunately, Kyle had a portable wheelchair lift to help him into the limo. Read more: https://globalnews.ca/news/9620012/pair-left-stranded-vancouver-lack-wheelchair-accessible-cabs/

24/11/2022

Today, alongside Yvonne Duncan, Michelle French was awarded a lifetime membership of ARATA in recognition of her contributions. We at MF+A are so incredibly proud. Michelle encourages, motivates and facilitates our participation everyday, and we also get to have fun. A true leader, committed to Equality and Access for all. She deserves the high esteem in which she is held by her colleagues, clients and her team here at MF+A, we would not exist without her! Here she is with the energetic Libby Callaway and the impressive ARATA executive. We love and adore you !

24/11/2022

The ARATA 2022 conference has been inspiring, dynamic and educational ... invigorating!

27/10/2022

We farewelled this formidable, incredible woman this week. She contributed so much to this world and to so many, and will be missed.

Fiona Smith was one of Australia’s great leaders and a passionate advocate for equality. Her contribution to the advancement of women with disabilities cannot be underestimated.

A qualified barrister and mediator, Fiona has played a leading role in many community and government organisations including:
· Chair, Victorian Human Rights & Equal Opportunity Commission (2004 to 2008)
· Executive Chair, Business Licensing Authority (Victoria)
· She is a patron of the Victorian Immigrant & Refugee Women's Coalition
· Non-Executive Director of Yooralla
· Policy and Research Advisor with Trust for Nature
· Judge at the Small Claims Tribunal for many years
· Advocacy officer at Disability Resources Centre 1983 – 1986
· Founding member of Disability Attendant Service in 1980’s forerunner of NDIS services in Victoria.

If you’d like to see Fiona’s 2005 speech at the Communities in Control conference titled Leadership - Imagine the Leaders we Need and Deserve, it is available on the Communities in Control website: https://communitiesincontrol.com.au/media/imagine-the-leaders-we-need-and-deserve

Vale, Fiona Smith (8 July 1958 - 18 October 2022).

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03/10/2022

A truly incredible experience and well done to all involved. Thanks to Prof Nathan for inviting us! And of course the incredible Mr Dass.

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 2 — The Bar Council and Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) should come together and form a registry of medical professionals who can write reports for legal cases...

01/10/2022

Can't explain how good it is to witness the ground shift. Day two of the conference today.

PETALING JAYA, Oct 1 — Medical and legal experts have proposed streamlining the processing of medical disability claims and compensation payments to ensure patients get the...

30/09/2022

Looking forward to two days of progressive thought !

13/09/2022

The Other Film Festival should have your next weekend sorted !

A loud and proud dive into disability positive cinema.