Released 09/12/2025
The ACT’s newly legislated Disability Advisory Council has held its inaugural meeting, marking a significant step forward in ensuring the voices of people with disability, their families, and carers are central to driving positive change across the Territory.
The Council was established under the Disability Inclusion Act 2024, a landmark piece of legislation introduced in the last term of the Assembly as a private members bill by the now Minister, that set in motion bold actions to tackle ableism and remove barriers that people with disability continue to face in our community.
The Minister for Disability, Carers and Community Services, Suzanne Orr said that one of the most significant achievements of the Act is the creation of this Council - a powerful, legislated platform to ensure people with disability are heard and can influence real change in Canberra.
“The Council will play a critical role in implementing the Act. Under the new law, the ACT Government must consult with the Council and other disability sector stakeholders to inform the development of all Disability Inclusion Strategies,” Minister Orr said.
“In addition, the Council will take a leadership role in the ACT Disability Strategy Governance Group once it is formed. This group will oversee the implementation and evaluation of the ACT Disability Strategy, guided by a monitoring and evaluation framework currently being co-designed.”
Early next year, the Council will contribute to key commitments under the First Action Plan, including:
- Reviewing a draft Accessible Disaster Communications Toolkit
- Advising on work to support Aboriginal and Community-Controlled Organisations to deliver culturally safe disability supports
- Informing the development of the Second Action Plan
A key priority for the Council is to strengthen the ACT Government’s broader disability reform agenda. Working alongside the ACT Disability Directed Advocacy Caucus which is an alliance of ACT-based Disabled People’s Organisations, and National Disability Services ACT, the peak body for disability service providers, the Council will advise on how people with disability and the sector can directly support and inform the delivery of disability reforms in the Territory.
“Together, we have an opportunity to make a real difference. The ACT Government is committed to ensuring the voices of people with disability remain at the heart of everything we do, and to building a Canberra that is more inclusive and more accessible for all,” Minister Orr said.
Quotes attributable to Kelly Brown, Chair at Disability Advisory Council:
“I look forward to working in partnership with the Minister and ACT Government to ensure the perspectives and priorities of people with disability, their families and carers are central to the Territory's disability reform agenda.
"I am confident the Council's firsthand knowledge and experience, grounded in the day-to-day realities of people with disability and strong community connections, will drive positive change and work to deliver a more accessible and inclusive ACT."
Further information on the Council and the full list of members can be found on the ACT Government Website.
Statement ends
Background information on DAC members
- Kelly Brown (Chair): Kelly is a woman with disability and a carer, bringing extensive governance and policy experience, strong leadership, and deep connections to the ACT disability community.
- Tess Yvanovich (Deputy Chair): Tess is a queer, culturally diverse woman with disability who has demonstrated collaborative leadership and expertise in advancing access, inclusion, and rights for disabled Canberrans.
- Ben Zarew (Ordinary Member): Ben is a queer person with intellectual disability and a passionate advocate for self-advocacy and supported decision-making, with strong ties to disability and LGBTIQA+ communities.
- Betty Callow (Ordinary Member): Betty is a proud Wiradjuri woman and carer with extensive experience supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and advocating for First Nations people with disability.
- Cecelia Klein (Ordinary Member): Cecelia is a woman with vision impairment and significant professional expertise in promoting disability rights, inclusion, and mainstreaming accessibility across systems.
- Deborah Eades (Ordinary Member): Deborah is an Indigenous carer and advocate with deep knowledge of ACT disability and mental health services and a strong commitment to building inclusive systems.
- Griffin Wright (Ordinary Member): Griffin is a non-binary young person with disability and academic expertise in disability politics, with experience representing disabled students and addressing accessibility issues.
- Henry Austin-Stone (Ordinary Member): Henry is an autistic adult and sibling carer with legal and policy expertise, including experience safeguarding NDIS integrity and advocating for neurodivergent individuals.
- Jacob Clarke (Ordinary Member): Jacob is a prominent member of the ACT Deaf community and Auslan educator dedicated to improving equity and access for Deaf and hard of hearing people.
- Iga Morzynska (Ordinary Member): Iga is a CALD woman with disability and a qualified social worker with experience in policy and case management, committed to amplifying diverse voices in decision-making.
- Jasmine Eldridge (Ordinary Member): Jasmine is a young woman with disability and strong advocacy experience in inclusive education and bridging gaps between NDIS and child protection supports.
- Lou Bannister (Ordinary Member): Lou is a long-standing disability advocate and wheelchair user with decades of experience advancing access and inclusion through ACT strategies and advisory roles.
- Statement ends -
Suzanne Orr, MLA | Media Releases