More than 5.5 million Australians identify as having a disability, that’s one in five people. Each year, on December 3, we celebrate International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) to raise awareness, understanding, and acceptance of people with disabilities while promoting their rights and achievements.

This year’s theme, “Amplifying the Leadership of Persons with Disabilities for an Inclusive and Sustainable Future,” highlighted the vital contributions of people with disabilities and the importance of creating inclusive environments where everyone can thrive.

Staff across our offices came together to mark the day, providing an opportunity to reflect and start important conversations about disabilities, and how to improve accessibility and inclusion in our workplace.

Teams enjoyed the day and participated in a range of thoughtful activities:

In Inverell, staff created a board titled “What I Wish I Knew About Disabilities,” inviting everyone to contribute facts, reflections, and messages.

In other offices, staff engaged with educational challenges through creative “chatter boxes” that encouraged them to explore disability inclusion in practical ways. Some of the challenges included:

Visiting auslan.org.au to learn finger spelling and spell a friend’s name.
Creating Braille name tags using paper and a bent paper clip.
Assessing office spaces for wheelchair accessibility and identifying potential barriers.

These activities encouraged staff to think about accessibility and inclusion, building awareness of the everyday experiences of people with disabilities. We want to make sure everyone feels included and supported, both in our workplaces and our communities.