Voice for Choice

26/03/2026

Why am I sitting on a gorilla statue?
The short answer is because my client loved seeing me do ridiculous things and I loved seeing them laugh.

Today we said Au Revoir in official support capacity. A very capable and nurturing team are in place to lead them forward. It's very emotional to negotiate leaving a support role but I believe we should be happy to make ourselves redundant. At the limit of our roles is another person who can make new connections that give clients the best experience to meet their goals

I am incredibly proud of the work I did with this client over 4 years, and even prouder of them. We don't often get formal feedback but today this client's mum rang me to thank me for my work. It feels great to be recognised.

I traditionally work with clients over 12+ months because I find skill development and advocacy are better brewed longer. That is to say, relationships with doctors and allied health and families need time to trust and grow.

I would love to hear from people engaging long term support relationships.

Cheers
Renee

24/03/2026

22/03/2026

10/03/2026

08/03/2026

Today the world marks - a moment to celebrate progress, harness the power of collective action, and stand in solidarity with women and girls everywhere.

While many celebrate, we also hold space for those facing conflict, injustice, and the ongoing struggle for . Their courage serves as a salient reminder of why matters.

Together, let’s keep lifting each other up, amplifying voices, and giving support, so women and girls everywhere can gain in moving forward.

💜🌍✨

👉️ bit.ly/IWD2026

24/02/2026

23/02/2026

23/02/2026

What is the Young Producers Program?  Do you have an interest in learning how to design and produce an event for young people?  Are you aged 12 to 25 and live in Baw Baw Shire?  The West Gippsland Arts Centre Young Producers Program is a unique opportunity for young people to gain han...

20/02/2026

As a former L2P mentor, I can 100% guarantee you will have an amazing experience as both a mentor and learner. The trust and rapport you build with each other is so memorable. Seeing a learner gain independence towards their future goals is priceless.

At 16, Dean’s* life was in a state of constant flux. He was couch surfing and navigating the massive responsibility of being a new dad to his baby daughter, Daphne*. Without a stable home or a car, even simple tasks like getting Daphne to maternal health appointments or buying groceries meant long, stressful trips on public transport.

To get a probationary license in Victoria, you need 120 hours of supervised driving. For a young person like Dean, who lacked access to a vehicle and a supervising driver, that 120-hour requirement felt impossible.

Dean was able to join our TAC L2P Program. We matched Dean with a volunteer mentor in his area and provided a safe vehicle for him to practice in. Then, on his 18th birthday, Dean sat his test and passed with flying colours! Today, he no longer has to plan his life around bus timetables. He has the independence to get Daphne where she needs to go, safely and on his own terms.

As a TAC L2P Program Coordinator, I love to hear stories like Dean's. Having a licence allows young people easier access to employment, education, and helps them to feel part of their local community. It's absolutely vital!

— Rebecca, L2P Program Coordinator

Could you be the passenger who changes a life?
Many young people need support to get driving experience. Our TAC L2P Program matches volunteer mentors with learner drivers to help them gain independence. If you have a full licence and a bit of time to share, we’d love to hear from you.

Learn more about the L2P Program via the link below:

https://www.berrystreet.org.au/what-we-do/young-people/driving-support-and-mentoring-tac-l2p-program

19/02/2026

What does it take to create meaningful career pathways for people with disability?

Join us on Thursday, 26 February, as Australian Disability Network's Training Consultant, Sarah W and guests Isabella Swanston and Brent Phillips from Deaf Connect explore the business case for disability inclusion.

Discover how Deaf Connect's Signs of Success framework creates meaningful career pathways for Deaf and Hard of Hearing talent and learn practical strategies you can apply to build a more inclusive workforce.

⛓️‍💥 Register here:
b0691e1c-cbfe-4eac-b149-1af49ba3f7a6@1ce6baa1-e79d-4c5a-87e4-4a198f3c43b8" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/b0691e1c-cbfe-4eac-b149-1af49ba3f7a6@1ce6baa1-e79d-4c5a-87e4-4a198f3c43b8



ID: Text reading "Inclusive by Design Webinar (free registration). Signs of Success - Creating career pathways with Deaf Connect. Thursday 26 February 2026. 12:30 - 1:15pm AEST (Online event)"

13/02/2026

Today we mark the anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations.

On 13 February 2008, the Australian Government formally apologised to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples - particularly the Stolen Generations for the profound grief, suffering and loss caused by past government policies.

For many First Nations families, the impacts of forced removal continue across generations.

For First Nations people with disability, these impacts are often compounded through intergenerational trauma, systemic discrimination, institutionalisation, and ongoing barriers to culturally safe and accessible supports.

The Apology was a powerful and necessary step. But words must continue to be matched with action.

FPDN stands with Stolen Generations survivors, their families and communities. We honour their strength and resilience, and we reaffirm our commitment to justice, healing, truth-telling and the full inclusion and rights of First Nations people with disability.

Image description (alt text): A commemorative graphic tile with a white centre panel framed by rich Aboriginal artwork patterns in teal, red, and orange. At the top, the First Peoples Disability Network logo appears inside a white rounded rectangle. Elegant script text reads “Anniversary of the,” followed by bold red text stating “National Apology to Stolen Generations.” Beneath, smaller orange text reads “13 February 2008.”

11/02/2026

We did some research about mental health and people with intellectual disability. It showed that almost 1 in 2 people with intellectual disability experience mental illness.

We are having a webinar to talk about this research.

We will talk about:
- when and why people with intellectual disability experience mental illness
- what we can do to make mental health care better

Sign up for the webinar here: https://mental-health-intellectual-disability-research.eventbrite.com.au/