The Disability Advisory Council
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Membership of Disability Advisory Council
Disability ACT is pleased to announce the appointment of new members to the ACT Disability Advisory Council for the 2009-2011 term.
The Disability Advisory Council provides advice to the ACT Government on disability issues, as well as strengthening links between government, people with disabilities, their families and carers and service providers.
The members of the Disability Advisory Council are:
- Mr David Long - Chairperson
- Ms Louise Bannister -Deputy Chairperson
- Mr John Dalton
- Ms Lynnette Hawley
- Ms Lauren Kish
- Mr Vincent McCormick
- Ms Carol McKenzie
- Ms Louise Gray
- Ms Pat Bourke
- Ms Sherrill Bell
Chairperson
Mr David Long is a person with a visual impairment who holds a Bachelor or Arts majoring in Communication and Public Relations with a Masters in Business Administration. Read more on Mr David Long
Deputy Chairperson
Ms Louise Bannister is a young woman with a disability, passionate about social inclusion, equity of access, and women’s wellbeing. She is a member of Women With Disabilities Australia and on the Executive of Women With Disabilities ACT. She has been involved with National and ACT projects including the “Well and Able” Program which won the Rhodium 2005 ACT Chief Minister’s Excellence in Inclusion Award. Read more on Ms Louise Bannister
Mr John Dalton was born in Brisbane with Holt Oram Syndrome, a rare genetic disability characterised by hand, arm and heart abnormalities. Mr Dalton studied at RMIT. Read more on Mr John Dalton
Ms Lynnette Hawley is the parent of two adult sons and one daughter. Her eldest son Nicholas is an Education Officer for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and her son Jesse attends Black Mountain School (a school for students with disabilities), her daughter Maddison will be commencing high school in 2010. Read more on Ms Lynnette Hawley
Ms Lauren Kish is person with Multiple Sclerosis who is passionate about instigating change to environments that are not accessible. Ms Kish was instrumental in the implementation of a mobility lift along the stairwell of the Centrepoint Building in Civic. Read more on Ms Lauren Kish
Ms Carol McKenzie is the parent of a son with a physical disability and autism who utilises many disability services provided within the ACT. Ms McKenzie is an accomplished writer and editor and has used these skills to educate people about disabilities. Read more on Ms Carol McKenzie
Ms Louise Gray is a person with a psychiatric disability, conscious of the challenges faced by people with an "invisible" disability. Provided the carer role for father prior to his death. Keen to play a role in ensuring that the rights of people with disability, whether physical, intellectual or psychiatric, are given appropriate prominence. Also keen to contribute to improving community understanding and acceptance of the issues faced by people with disability, including those whose disabilities may not be apparent to the casual observer. Read more on Ms Louise Gray
Ms Pat Bourke is an older woman with a history of caring for others, volunteering and fostering. She has a carer role with her husband who is a Veteran. Has an understanding of what it is like for a very active person to find they are limited in their actions. Read more on Ms Pat Bourke
Ms Sherrill Bell was the CEO for a not-for-profit organisation, owned by nine governments of Australia, with considerable experience in trying to balance the diverse needs of clients with various government policies within the funding arrangements. Over the years she has participated in many advisory bodies within educational and government institutions. She retired from a CEO position due to the need to take on a primary carer role for her husband. Read more on Ms Sherrill Bell
Contact Us
Contact the Secretariat at disabilityadvisorycouncil@act.gov.au for more information.
Disability Advisory Council Secretariat
GPO Box 158
Canberra City ACT 2601
Ex-Officio members to the Council are:
- Director-General, Community Services Directorate
- Executive Director, Disability ACT
- Manager ACT Regional Operations, Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.
