25/09/2025
Insights from the National Disability Summit
Our Director, Kolinda, attended the National Disability Summit this week and shared some powerful reflections.
“It was inspiring to be in a room full of passionate people, leaders, advocates and individuals with lived experience. All committed to driving change in the disability space. The energy, ideas, and collaboration reminded me how important the work we do at Zest is, and how much potential we have to influence positive change together.”
Key themes that stood out:
💙 Inclusive Leadership & Lived Experience: Accessibility is everyone’s responsibility. True inclusion means co-design, power-sharing, and valuing lived experience.
💙 NDIS & System Reform: We’re in a critical period of reform, with calls for foundational supports, fair access, and culturally responsive practices.
💙 Employment & Workforce: Inclusive recruitment, mentoring, and professional development are vital for building and retaining a strong workforce.
💙 Housing: Accessible, safe housing is a human right, not a privilege.
💙 Justice & First Nations Voices: Addressing barriers in justice systems and ensuring culturally safe, trauma-informed supports.
💙 Inclusion in Action: From schools to workplaces, “nothing about us without us” must guide all we do.
For Zest, these insights reinforce our commitment to:
💙 Embedding genuine co-design in our services
💙 Strengthening cultural responsiveness (CALD & First Nations)
💙 Continuing to celebrate and build inclusion within our team
We’re excited to bring these lessons into our work with participants, families, and communities. Together, we can shape a more inclusive and sustainable future.
