Internship opportunities recognised through Victorian Disability Awards nomination!
We are proud to announce that Yooralla’s Executive Internship Program has been named a finalist in the Victorian Disability Awards, in the Self Advocacy category!
We’ve been continuing our work with the Disability Leadership Institute, providing opportunities for aspiring leaders with disability to experience executive roles, through paid internships.
We welcomed our first CEO Intern in 2023 and have since employed a further two executives in internship roles.
- Megan Spindler-Smith - inaugural CEO intern
- Vicki-Anh Winfield - Co-Chief Development Officer intern
- Shevonne Joyce - Co-CEO intern
Our interns have experienced the breadth and depth of an executive role, while bringing their own valuable lived experience to the organisation.
Yooralla has also benefitted greatly from our Interns’ professional skills and backgrounds.
The impact of disability visibility
A key to the success of the internship program has been a supportive peer environment, with visibility of and support from other employees with disability, particularly within the Executive and Board. This includes:
- a Chief Experience Officer role
- multiple concurrent internships
- Board observer with a disability, and
- multiple Board Directors with a disability.
The internship program also promotes the psychological safety of employees with disability within the workplace.
After our first internship, the percentage of staff identifying in surveys as having a disability increased by 50%, and their levels of engagement, commitment and safety at work all improved. The interns also interacted with emerging leaders within Yooralla, modelling Lived Experience Leadership and creating a safe space, where other emerging leaders disclosed their disability among their peers. This inclusion and visibility of people with disability within the organisation at all levels creates a safer space for employees with disability to speak up and feel supported within the workplace.
Lived experience informing the sector
Our interns have become integrated into leadership and governance at Yooralla, and are equal partners included in most forums - from Board meetings to all-staff forums, to ensure their lived experience with disability is at the forefront of decisions. Their participation brings the perspective of people with disability at each forum they attend, whether it is about rights, inclusion, or how services can be improved.
We were also invited to present to sector leaders at NDS’ Victorian State Conference in June 2024, which led to other providers declaring their intention to adopt the program, recognising its benefits. Providers were even more encouraged to embed the program within their own organisations, after it was recognised by the Disability Royal Commission as an example of inclusion of people with disability in organisational decision-making.
We were also proud to see the experience provided through the internship program as a pathway to executive career transition for Megan Spindler-Smith, our first CEO intern. Within six months of completion, Megan was appointed to the role of Deputy CEO at People with Disabilities Australia, Australia’s peak disability advocacy body.
Executive internship program nominated for Victorian Disability Award!
We are proud to announce that Yooralla’s Executive Internship Program has been named a finalist in the Victorian Disability Awards, in the Self Advocacy category!
The groundbreaking initiative, the first-of-its-kind in Australia, was nominated for its empowering of people with disability by offering a hands-on learning experience in organisational leadership.
Congratulations to Matt Warren, Chief Experience Officer and Terry Symonds CEO, for spearheading this important program, and best of luck for the Awards!
We share this honour with past co-CEO Megan Spindler Smith, current co-CEO Shevonne Joyce and co-CDO Vicki Anh Winfield, with thanks to Christina Ryan from Disability Leadership Institute for their partnership in and support for the Executive Internship program.
View all the finalists on the 2024 Victorian Disability Awards website.