Geelong council will recognise the contributions of local people with disabilities at an awards ceremony next month.
The Geelong Awards for People with Disability, a free community event hosted by the City, will be held at Geelong Library and Heritage Centre on Wednesday 3 December to coincide with International Day of People with Disability.
Awards will be presented in four categories – Achievement, Leadership and Advocacy, Volunteering and Inclusive Business – at the event, which has been co-designed with six community members with lived experience of disability.
Councillor Anthony Aitken, chair of the Disability Access and Inclusion portfolio, said the awards helped build a stronger, more connected community.
“Our free event will celebrate Geelong Awards for People with Disability nominees who are doing outstanding work in advocacy, leadership, empowering others, volunteering, at work or in the community,” he said.
“These awards help to promote ‘an inclusive, diverse, healthy and socially connected community’, which is a community-led aspiration outlined in our Disability Access and Inclusion Plan 2024-28.”
Geelong mayor Stretch Kontelj said International Day of People with Disability was an annual opportunity to promote community awareness, understanding and universal design and inclusion for people with disability.
“About 22 per cent of Greater Geelong’s population lives with disability; that’s around 55,000 people,” he said.
“Community members with disability contribute significantly to our region, through arts and culture, relationships, the workforce, volunteering, caring responsibilities and more.”
Visit geelongaustralia.com.au/idpwd to book free tickets.
