Reception in support of International Day of People with Disability

Spinal Life Australia, CEO, Mr Mark Townend AM and Board Member Mr Gerard O’Brien; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.

I begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the lands around Brisbane, the Turrbal and Jagera people, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and to all First Nations people here tonight.

Graeme and I are very pleased to welcome you all to Government House for this reception in support of the International Day of People with Disability.

Recognised internationally this Sunday, it is a highly significant day for all who live their lives with disability and for those who work to make a genuine difference in their lives. Spinal Life is one such organisation and I am very proud to be your Patron.

The work of those who advocate for and champion human rights in the sphere of disability, is applauded. These are the individuals, the businesses, the support organisations who not only ‘talk’, but also ‘do’, on behalf of others.

With 2023 being the Year of Accessible Tourism in Queensland, those living their lives with disability are afforded some of the same community engagement opportunities as other members of society.  

Companies that have undertaken audits of their offerings to determine any impediments to engagement and identify opportunities for improvement, have travelled some way to bridging the gaps that still exist for people with disability.

To the many organisations who are working hard to make a genuine difference to individual lives, we thank you. But there remains work still to be done, and this International Day of People with Disability highlights through its theme that several of the Sustainable Development Goals are still in need of greater focus.

So, today whilst we celebrate the strides that have been made in improving community accessibility – in all its forms – for people with disability, we also shine a light on the distance yet to be covered.  

Spinal Life has a mission ‘to enable those living with disability to live an accessible, equitable, and empowered life and is determined to be forward thinking and collaborative, to embrace change, and improve at every turn, in order to see such a mission come to fruition. For this mission is so important.

Through meaningful dialogue and feedback, through listening and heeding the lived experiences of those with disability, genuine, positive change can be enacted. Spinal Life has a purpose that is solely focussed on such change in order to improve lives.

This purpose is upheld by the continued support of the Spinal Life Australia Board, its staff, volunteers and members. Coupled with community partners who also share in the belief that our communities need to be accessible and inclusive, today, together, we celebrate International Day of People with Disability.

Thank you.