Amplifying the voices Yooralla’s leaders with disability this IDPwD
On International Day of People with Disability, Fiona and Annette sat down with us to talk about the importance of amplifying the leadership of people with disability.
On International Day of People with Disability (3 December), we’re celebrating and supporting the leadership of people with disability, with a little help from two of Yooralla’s brilliant employees.
This year’s theme of IDPwD is ‘Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future’. Who better to speak on this than Annette Brown and Fiona Anderson, two Yooralla employees who show exemplary leadership not just in their roles, but also outside of their day-to-day work.
Both Annette and Fiona are members of Yooralla’s Employees with Disabilities Peer Support Network, a growing cohort of employees at Yooralla with disability, who come together for sharing, support, laughs, and collaboration towards inclusion. They raise awareness about living with a disability, and work towards a more inclusive an accessible workplace for employees at Yooralla.
They have been vital in improving the experience for all employees with disability at Yooralla and have provided valuable insight to the organisation for ways to better support employees with disability.
Annette has also recently established, with Rebecca Feldman, Yooralla’s Systemic Disability Employee Network, a group of people who come together to identify and resolve barriers for employees with disability.
“In the group we’ve got both people with disability, and we’ve also got allies. We’ve only met a few times, but we’ve already had some great wins,” said Annette.
Outside of work, you’ll find Fiona, Administration Coordinator for Yooralla’s Home and Specialist Services team at her “local café, enjoying a mocha, or catching the latest theatre production.”
Annette, Diversity and Inclusion Project Officer, also enjoys similar creative pursuits, “going to concerts, socialising with family and friends, reading, and doing sewing,” she said.
The importance of amplifying the leadership of people with disability
Fiona and Annette sat down with us to talk about the importance of amplifying the leadership of people with disability, including what disability leadership means, and the benefits that people with disability in leadership positions can bring to an organisation.
“Disability leadership is about acknowledging and empowering people with disability,” Fiona said.
“It’s allowing the disability community to achieve something positive and creates a sense of hope and possibility among the community,” she said.
Unique experience and positive impact
“People with disability also bring specific skills, such as persistence and resilience that make them great leaders,” Annette said.
“They all have unique experiences that a have a positive impact on workplace culture and organisations. This diversity is important for all organisations and is known to increase performance,” she said.
“Having people with disability in leadership roles also means that they can contribute to where the decisions are being made and can identify and anticipate and remove barriers that may exist and may not be identified otherwise,” Annette said.
Fiona adds, “often people with disability get very good at patience, determination and resourcefulness, often because we have had to get through barriers.”
“Quite often people with disability are able to think outside the box to problem solve and that is a really good quality to have in all areas of life,” she said.
Fiona knows this first-hand, from her experience backpacking solo around the world for six-months.
“I came to realise that not every city in the world is as accessible as Melbourne. I had to learn very quickly how to make the most of the resources I had, and I came back from that experience being a more self-reliant and knowledgeable person,” Fiona said.
The importance of support and visibility
It is of vital importance to ensure that all employees with disability, not only those who are working towards leadership positions, are supported along their journey.
“Like all leaders, you need to mentor, support and coach people along the way and provide them a path,” Annette said.
Visibility of leaders with disability is also incredibly important.
“When there are people with disability leadership, other employees can see that and that is something they can aspire to,” Annette said.
At Yooralla, we are grateful to be led by incredible leaders like Annette and Fiona, who provide such valuable insight to ensure that Yooralla is as inclusive an employer as possible for people with disability.
Check out the interview with Annette and Fiona below.
International Day of People with Disability
This International Day of People with Disability, let us celebrate and support the leadership of people with disability.
By prioritising accessibility, fostering allyship, and valuing the lived experiences of people with disability, we can work together to build a society where everyone has the opportunity to lead, thrive, and make a difference.
Learn more about International Day of People with Disability.