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Led by Griffith University, the Voice of Queenslanders with Disability Report 2025 is the third consecutive annual report driven by citizen scientists with lived experience of disability. Delivered in partnership with Queenslanders with Disability Network and commissioned by the Queensland Government, it is the only Australian initiative collecting census data which measures the day-to-day living experience of residents with disability.

Why this matters:
This report captures authentic lived experiences across Queensland's disability community, gathering insights from people with disability, their families, carers, and support organisations. Through these voices, we gain a critical understanding of experiences across housing, health, community support, and other essential areas of life.

Key Highlights:
✅ Over 700 participants in 2025 - bringing our 3-year total to more than 1,700 voices
✅ Strong participation from First Nations people with disability, enriching our understanding
✅ Data spans all seven outcome areas of Queensland's Disability Plan 2022-2027
✅ Provides year-over-year insights to track progress and identify challenges
✅ Recognises the diversity of disability experiences across our state
✅ Supported by dedicated citizen scientists who help drive this important research

Lead Author, Dr Kelsey Chapman, uses a snapshot approach each year to identify patterns and changes over time while acknowledging that there is no single 'voice of disability' in Queensland.

Who participated at a glance:

Access the full report:
Download the Voice of Queenslanders with Disability: Final Report 2025 HERE
Download the accessible Voice of Queenslanders with Disability: Final Report 2025 HERE

Thank you to every Queenslander who participated and shared their story. Your voices drive meaningful change and help build a more inclusive Queensland for everyone.

We would also like to acknowledge the ten citizen scientists with lived experience of disability who worked with us on this research. Thank you for sharing honestly and authentically about your experiences and for encouraging others in the community to do the same.

Visit People with Disability Survey: The Voice of Queenslanders with Disability | Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability to register your interest for the 2026 survey, receive future updates, and learn more about how you can get involved as a citizen scientist.

Read more: Report reveals how life has changed for Queenslanders with Disability - Griffith News

We’re excited to announce the formation of the Australian Disability Research Alliance (ADRA)—a new national collaboration uniting leading disability research centres across Australian universities.

Established in 2025, ADRA aims to build a connected, collaborative research sector that prioritises disability research and universal design across all fields. The Alliance is grounded in human rights, disability justice, and the leadership of people with lived experience.

Founding members include Griffith University’s Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability, alongside research centres from UTS, Monash, Flinders, Sydney, and Curtin universities. Together, they will drive inclusive innovation, support early career researchers, and advocate for disability research to be embedded in national and global agendas.

The ADRA Steering Committee, made up of representatives from each founding institution, will guide the Alliance’s strategic direction and collaborative efforts.

For more information or to get involved, contact Dr Maretta Mann at inclusivefutures@griffith.edu.au or visit our web page: https://inclusivefutures.griffith.edu.au/the-australian-disability-research-alliance-adra

We are delighted to welcome Dr Johnny Choi to the School of Allied Health, Sport and Social Work as a Lecturer in Social Work.

Dr Choi brings a strong blend of academic expertise and practice experience in disability, psychosocial disability, and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). His PhD at The University of Queensland explored the recovery journeys of NDIS participants living with psychosocial disability, using narrative inquiry and co-designed research to highlight lived experiences and pathways to wellbeing.

Before joining academia, Dr Choi worked for over five years as an NDIS Support Coordinator and psychosocial recovery coach, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to support individuals with complex needs. This experience informs his research and underscores his commitment to making disability systems more equitable, inclusive, and responsive.

Passionate about bridging research, policy, and practice, Dr Choi is eager to contribute to Griffith’s multidisciplinary research strengths and the advancement of disability practice and policy in Australia.

Please join us in welcoming Dr Johnny Choi to Griffith University!

Biography: Dr Johnny Choi is a Lecturer in Social Work whose research and teaching focus on disability, psychosocial disability, and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

His PhD study explored the lived experiences of persons with psychosocial disability through narrative inquiry and co-designed research, with a particular interest in recovery and wellbeing across personal, relational, and socio-structural contexts.

Before joining academia, Dr Choi worked for over five years as a NDIS Support Coordinator and psychosocial recovery coach, supporting individuals with complex needs to navigate disability systems.

This practice experience has informed his research and underpins his commitment to improving the responsiveness, equity, and inclusivity of the NDIS system.

He is passionate about bridging research, policy, and practice to ensure disability systems better serve individuals and their families.

We are proud to share that our team, Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability at Griffith University, has been awarded the 2025 Pro Vice Chancellor (Health) Staff Excellence Award for Engagement.

This recognition highlights our team’s commitment to meaningful engagement with communities, researchers, and partners in reimagining futures that are inclusive of people with disability.

🏆 Congratulations to our incredible team members: Professor Elizabeth Kendall, Dr Maretta Mann, Dr Kelsey Chapman, Dr Talitha Kingsmill, Dr Georgia Munro-Cook, Rebekah Barker, Joe-Anne Kek-Pamenter, Matt McShane, and Joyce Yi.

A huge thank you to our colleagues who nominated us and to Professor Analise O’Donovan, Pro Vice Chancellor (Health), and the wider Griffith University Health Group for recognising the importance of collaboration, equity, and inclusion in research and engagement.

We also extend congratulations to all the other award recipients and nominees who were celebrated at the ceremony on the Gold Coast campus.

💡 Together, we continue to champion inclusive research and practice that makes a difference.

#InclusiveFutures #DisabilityResearch #GriffithUniversity #StaffExcellence

Ken Brandt, author of 'Positive Vision'.

It was a delight to host Ken Brandt, author of Positive Vision: Enjoying the Adventure and Advantages of Poor Eyesight, at our recent Inclusive Futures Book Club event.

Ken opened with a powerful reflection on how medical advances at the time of his premature birth allowed him to retain some vision—an outcome shaped by the evolving understanding of oxygen therapy in newborns.

Ken’s story is one of courage, humour, and a zest for life. He shared how his mother’s unwavering support instilled in him an attitude to give anything a go, encouraging him to pursue adventure while being kind to himself when things didn’t go as planned. From learning to parachute to navigating life with low vision, Ken offered a refreshing perspective on how disability can shape, but not limit, one’s experiences.

Attendees were clearly engaged, asking thoughtful questions about community perceptions of disability. Ken responded with insight and warmth, furthering our collective understanding of how embracing diversity leads to a more inclusive world.

Ken’s book Positive Vision is available in hard copy, electronic, and audio formats at many online and physical bookstores. He is also available for public speaking engagements. For more information, visit www.kenbrandt.com.

A heartfelt thank you to Ken for sharing his story and helping us continue the conversation around disability, inclusion, and positive living.

Read more: https://inclusivefutures.griffith.edu.au/news/news_feed/inclusive-futures-book-club-ken-brandt-author-of-positive-vision

View on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XWfJiHEZFTw?si=fYJWO5Ej9O45n-ca

Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability invites you to join a lively and inspiring conversation with Ken Brandt, author of Positive Vision, hosted by Dr Maretta Mann.

Ken Brandt has lived a life full of adventure, humour, and resilience. Despite being legally blind for much of his life, Ken has galloped across Montana, chased thieves in New York, and even skydived, all while embracing the quirks and advantages of poor eyesight. His memoir is a celebration of optimism, filled with real-life stories, corny jokes, and uplifting insights that challenge conventional views on disability.

Ken’s professional journey spans decades in IT and cybersecurity across four continents, and he now resides in Melbourne with his wife Judy. He’s also an amateur jazz trumpeter and a passionate advocate for eye health, donating a portion of his book royalties to eye research and blindness prevention.

Join us for this engaging author talk as Ken shares his unique perspective on disability, vision, and the power of positivity.

This event was held on:

Tuesday 12^th August 2025, 12:00pm – 1:00pm AEST

Online via Microsoft Teams

View the Recording on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/XWfJiHEZFTw

Professor Catherine Marshall never set out to create a global movement, she simply wanted to give all women a fair chance. A renowned advocate for women with disability, particularly those who face the added challenges of poverty, she was driven by a belief that education and leadership opportunities should belong to everyone, not just the privileged few. More than two decades ago, Catherine founded the Women’s International Leadership Institute (WILI) in Arizona to bring opportunities to all women and has been a consistent partner of Inclusive Futures since 2003.

From its humble beginnings, WILI has grown into a transformative force, empowering low-income women to move closer to leadership roles, influence their communities, and challenge systemic barriers. Catherine’s vision was clear: leadership should reflect the diverse voices of the people it serves.

As Catherine prepares to retire from her tireless community work, it is important to reflect on the profound impact WILI has had on women around the world. Over the years, WILI has supported young women through mentorship programs, skills development workshops, and funding to access to education — often providing a lifeline where opportunities were otherwise out of reach. Many of these women have gone on to become powerful advocates, community leaders, and changemakers, reshaping policies and opening doors for others.

Now, in this final chapter, WILI has announced the creation of international scholarships for low-income women with disability to complete leadership training. The scholarships reflect Catherine’s unwavering commitment to dismantling barriers. 'True leadership is built on diverse perspectives,' she said. 'We’re not just empowering women—we’re changing the landscape of leadership itself.' Until we see young women from low-income backgrounds and those with disability in leadership roles, exclusion in our broader society will continue. Education and leadership are the ingredients for change.

Established in partnership with Griffith University’s Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability, these WILI-funded scholarships will provide a gateway to online training and mentorship—where the women will learn skills that will position them for leadership roles in future. The program will develop their practical skills and build confidence to return to their communities as powerful agents of change.

Meet our new Inclusive Futures Scholars

These five outstanding women with disability will amplify their impact in future thanks to the WILI Inclusive Futures scholarships – Nerine Williams, Nina Carr, Lizzie Ambrose, Laura Sheenan, and Carmel Larkin—each bringing deep lived experience, expertise, and fierce determination to create more inclusive and just systems.

Nerine Williams is a proud FND (Functional Neurological Disorder) advocate, AT Mentor, and accessibility leader who has dedicated her life to improving the lives of others with complex disability. She is already a strong voice in the disability community, bringing a rare combination of lived expertise and sector insight. She plays key roles with organisations such as QDN, AT Chat, and FND Living. Nerine believes this award will enable her to continue challenging barriers and ensuring that people with disability are not only heard but lead the solutions that affect them.

Nina Carr, a woman with an acquired brain injury, is an independent advocate known for her passionate, uncompromising stance on representation and systemic change. Without organisational backing or a steady income, Nina has carved out a space as a fierce voice for disability justice in Queensland. This award provides critical access to training and networks she otherwise could not access and will help her realise her bold goals. According to Nina, she will not just to have a seat at the table but will redesign the table itself by placing lived experience at the centre of policy, services, and leadership”.

Lizzie Ambrose is proud of having turned personal adversity into purposeful action. Living with epilepsy and a traumatic brain injury, Lizzie has become a leader in inclusive health promotion, co-facilitating a yoga program for people with brain injury, contributing to qualitative research, and sharing her story on national and international stages. Lizzie’s commitment to de-stigmatising neurological conditions and building community is reshaping how society understands epilepsy and disability. She is now using research as a vehicle to bring about change, particularly in how health services are delivered.

Laura Sheenan is a high-level advocate with deep expertise in trauma-informed practice and systems change, particularly in the areas of child protection and mental health. A mother with lived experience of profound grief and resilience, Laura uses her voice to advocate for improved mental health services and systemic support for marginalised families. Her focus on intersectionality ensures that the needs of diverse communities such as First Nations, CALD, LGBTQI+ people with disability are not forgotten.

Carmel Larkin acquired her disability following a medical event in 2021 and has since found herself becoming an unexpected but valued voice in health governance. From returning to work with significant adjustments to contributing to her Health Service’s Disability Plan, Carmel has discovered the power of lived experience in influencing systemic reform. This award will allow her to develop the skills and confidence to step more fully into a leadership role, sharing insights that go beyond her personal story to shape stronger, more inclusive health systems.

These remarkable women exemplify the future of leadership in the disability sector, which should be intersectional, informed, and led by lived experience. With this award, they will be able to amplify their advocacy, challenge injustice, and lead meaningful change in Queensland communities.

As part of their award, the recipients will receive premium membership of the Disability Leadership Institute in Australia. The Disability Leadership Institute (DLI) is dedicated to cultivating and advancing leadership by and for people with disabilities. Founded by outstanding disabled leaders, such as Christina Ryan, the DLI provides a unique platform that offers professional development, peer support, coaching, and networking opportunities tailored specifically for disabled people aspiring to or already in leadership roles. This will be an important opportunity for the WILI Inclusive Futures award winners to develop their skills and meet other leaders.

Christina Ryan, CEO and Founder of Disability Leadership Institute

After her retirement, Catherine’s lifelong dedication to inspire women leaders will continue through the work of these five women. WILI may be closing its doors, but it has created a ripple effect that will enable generations of future women to lead, thrive, and transform their worlds.

On Friday 30 May 2025, Pallav Pant successfully presented his PhD Confirmation Seminar at Griffith University's Gold Coast Campus.

His research, titled “Advancing Accessible Emergency Communication: Co-Designing Digital Solutions for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) Communities in Queensland,” is a vital step toward inclusive and equitable emergency communication systems.

Pallav’s interdisciplinary project brings together public health, digital technology, and inclusive design, with a strong co-design approach that centres the lived experiences of Deaf and hard of hearing community members.

His work is supervised by a dynamic team: Dr Febi Dwirahmadi, Prof Elizabeth Kendall AM GAICD, Prof Dian Tjondronegoro, and Dr Monique Lewis, and chaired by Professor Faruk Ahmed.

🔍 About Pallav:
Pallav is a passionate public health communicator with a rich background in global health, risk communication, and health emergency preparedness. Before beginning his PhD journey at the School of Medicine and Dentistry at Griffith University, Queensland, Pallav worked across Asia and the Pacific and was engaged with Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction (DIDRR) advocacy. He’s committed to using inclusive, evidence-based solutions to strengthen communication in crisis settings.

This inclusive seminar was accessible with Auslan interpreting and live captions — reflecting the values behind Pallav’s research.

The team at Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability are proud to support researchers like Pallav, who are reimagining communication to ensure no one is left behind. We wish him all the very best on his PhD journey!

To find out more about Pallav’s research, please contact him via email on: pallav.pant@griffithuni.edu.au

🎉 Congratulations to Joe-Anne Kek-Pamenter – named Champion of Accessibility in the 2025 ADCET Accessibility in Action Awards!

Joe-Anne is the Graphic Design and Communications Officer at Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability and The Hopkins Centre at Griffith University. With over 30 years’ experience in design and education — and hard of hearing since the age of 16 — Joe-Anne brings a powerful combination of lived experience, professional expertise, and inclusive design thinking to everything she does.

At Griffith, Joe-Anne plays a central role in shaping accessible research and events across numerous major initiatives. She works under the leadership of Professor Elizabeth Kendall AM, Dr Maretta Mann and Professor Tim Geraghty, and collaborates closely with researchers and teams to ensure accessibility is embedded from concept to delivery.

Some of her standout contributions include:

• The Dignity Project and Voice of Queenslanders with Disability, under the leadership of Dr Kelsey Chapman, where Joe-Anne led the design of highly accessible visual reports, infographics, diagrams and inclusive storytelling platforms.
• The development of Inclusive Events and Inclusive Design Toolkits, in collaboration with accessibility expert Rebekah Barker, to support inclusive practices across higher education.
• Accessible design and Easy Read materials for First Nations research and NDIS-related projects.
• Her earlier work as a TAFE Queensland educator, where she taught business administration, computing and design for over a decade.

Joe-Anne holds a Bachelor of Multimedia Studies (Faculty Medallist and Dux) from CQUniversity, alongside qualifications in graphic design, education and digital accessibility. She has worked across tertiary, government, and community sectors, including with Media Diversity Australia (designing the Disability Reporting Handbook) and as a judge for the Centre for Accessibility’s Australian Access Awards.

She was also instrumental in the development of the ADCET Guideline for Guideline for Supporting Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students Online – a groundbreaking national resource created in collaboration with Cathy Easte, Bobby Blackson, and Gary Kerridge. Now in its fifth year as ADCET’s most accessed guide, it remains a trusted resource in digital accessibility.

👏 This award recognises Joe-Anne’s sustained advocacy, creative leadership, and enduring commitment to accessible design and education. Griffith University is proud to celebrate her outstanding achievement.

🔗 Learn more about the ADCET Awards: https://www.adcet.edu.au/our-work/accessibility-in-action-award

Queensland is shaping an inclusive future for people with disability through co-design and you can be involved and have your voice heard. Queenslanders with Disability Network (QDN), in partnership with the Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety, is running the forums across Queensland as well as online.

The Queensland Disability Reform Community Forums are now open for registration right across Queensland.

Hear what people have said in earlier forums and how it is informing reform work. Everyone with an interest in or connection to disability is welcome to attend.

For more information and to register for a forum please visit
https://qdn.org.au/community-forums/

Further details, including dates and locations, can be found here and have also included summary of locations below.

Townsville Community Forum
Date: Monday 19 May
Time: 10:30am – 12:30pm
Location: Mercure Townsville - 166 Woolcock Street, Currajong QLD
Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/community-forum-townsville

Longreach Community Forum
Date: Tuesday 20 May
Time: 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: Longreach Civic and Cultural Centre, 96a Eagle Street, Longreach Queensland 4730
Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/community-forum-longreach

Online Community Forum #1
Date: Monday 26 May
Time: 5:00pm – 7:00pm
Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/community-forum-online-1

Mt Isa Community Forum
Date: Tuesday 27 May
Time: 10:30am – 12:30pm
Location: Terrace Gardens Function Centre, 4 Duchess Rd, Mt Isa
Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/community-forum-mt-isa

Brisbane Community Forum
Date: Tuesday 3 June
Time: 10:30am – 12:30pm
Location: Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, cnr Glenelg and Merivale Sts South Bank QLD
Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/community-forum-brisbane

Online Community Forum #2
Date: Wednesday 4 June
Time: 11:00am – 1:00pm
Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/community-forum-online-2

Hervey Bay Community Forum
Date: Thursday 5 June
Time: 10:30am – 12:30pm
Location: Hervey Bay Community Centre, 22 Charles Street, Pialba Queensland 4655
Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/community-forum-hervey-bay

Gympie Community Forum
Date: Friday 6 June
Time: 11:30am – 1:30pm
Location: Gympie Community Place, 18 Excelsior Road, Gympie Queensland 4570
Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/community-forum-gympie

Sunshine Coast Community Forum
Date: Friday 13 June
Time: 10:30am – 12:30pm
Location: The Events Centre, 20 Minchinton Street, Caloundra Queensland 4551
Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/community-forum-sunshine-coast