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    1300 363 783
    1300 363 783

    2025 Disability Action Week – Webinar

    To celebrate Disability Action Week, QDN will be hosting a webinar on Friday 28 November from 10am – 12pm and everyone is welcome.

    Find out more about the event and the Guest Speakers below.

    A blue square with a promo image at the top and centred. It is a white circle at the centre of the image reads “Disability Action Week 2025, Sunday 23 November to Sunday 30 November”. Another circle around that image connects eight blue and white icons that represent the different ways people communicate. Below the circles are graphic images of people with and without disability talking to each other. Below this, text reads “Disability Action Week Webinar”. The tile also includes QDN and Delivering for Queensland Government logos.

    The theme for Disability Action Week 2025 is ‘Communicate. Connect. Create’.

    This year’s theme highlights the inclusion of accessible communication to connect people, and the importance of including people with disability in the arts and other creative fields. It is also an opportunity to show how some simple changes we make can improve access for all.

    During Disability Action Week, QDN is bringing together experts who have shaped the creative landscape of Queensland to discuss access and inclusion in the arts for people with disability.

    What: QDN Disability Action Week Webinar
    When: Friday 28 November 
    Time: 10am – 12pm
    Where: Online (Via Zoom)

    Click here for tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/qdn-disability-action-week-webinar-wdmuvzhq/tickets

    Guest Speakers are listed below

    Woman sitting on a chair with short blonde hair, blue shirt and black jacket

    The Honourable Amanda Camm MP

    Minister for Families, Seniors and Disability Services and Minister for Child Safety and the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence

    In her second term in Queensland Parliament, Minister Amanda Camm has taken over the crucial role as Minister for Families, Seniors and Disability Services and Minister for Child Safety and the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence. The North Queenslander plays a critical role in the Crisafulli Government in delivering reform to improve outcomes for some of Queensland’s most vulnerable people.

    Minister Camm recently announced a Commission of Inquiry into Child Safety and is working towards reforming the domestic violence system, all within the first 12 months of taking her seat in government. 

    Minister Camm is also an advocate for people with disability and is committed to improving accessibility and inclusivity across the state, while listening to the experiences of people living with disability to help improve their daily lives. 

    Woman with medium blonde hair and a black jacket smiling at the calendar.

    Kirsten Herring

    Deputy Director General, Arts Queensland

    As Deputy Director-General for Arts Queensland, Kirsten is responsible for the Department’s investment in arts infrastructure, arts organisations, grant programs and development of arts policy. This includes the management of the state’s $1billion in arts and cultural assets, including the Queensland Cultural Centre, Festival House, Judith Wright Arts Centre and Bulmba-ja in Cairns. Her role also oversees $60m investment in 80 arts and cultural organisations across the State, as well as the funding of creative development activities, arts projects, and touring activities across Queensland. Kirsten provides governance, budget, and Ministerial liaison support to the state’s five arts statutory bodies and four arts government-owned companies.  

    Kirsten has had a wide and varied career in the public sector and tertiary education. Prior to her role at Arts Queensland, Kirsten had Executive roles at Events Queensland and was Interim CEO overseeing the merger of the entity with Tourism Queensland in early 2013. In this role she was responsible for building the agency’s major sports, arts, and festival events. 

    She is a strong advocate for the economic benefits of the arts and creative industries and has had roles at Screen Queensland (formerly Pacific Film and Television Commission) promoting Queensland as an international and domestic film production destination, and at the University of Queensland as the Commercialisation Manager for the Arts Faculty. Prior to these roles, she headed up the Queensland Government’s Investment Attraction team with the Department of State Development.

    Kirsten holds a Bachelor of Arts, and a Master of Business Administration. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and in recognition of her contributions to arts policy and cultural tourism, Kirsten was awarded a Public Sector Medal in 2018.

    Man wearing a suite and glasses with a yellow tie.

    Ian Walker

    Chairperson, Queensland Performing Arts Trust (QPAC) Board

    Ian Walker is a lawyer and served as Brisbane Managing Partner of his international firm before being elected as a State MP from 2012 – 2017. He was appointed Assistant Minister for Planning Reform and, subsequently, Minister for Science, IT, Innovation and the Arts. He has had a long association with the arts, having chaired the Board of Camerata (Qld’s Chamber Orchestra) and served on the board of Circa. He is now President of Queensland Youth Orchestras. He maintains an interest in science and innovation, and from 2017-2020 was a member of the External Engagement Board of the Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation within QUT. He is a Life Member of the Urban Development Institute of Aust. (Qld).

    General Manager, Access Arts

    Billie Lewis-Cassidy

    Billie is the leader of the Access Arts leadership team! 

    As CPL Group’s General Manager of Social Impact and Community Development, Billie is dedicated to promoting inclusion and reshaping communities for individuals with disability. With almost two decades of extensive leadership experience at CPL, Billie has held senior positions across multiple portfolios, where she has successfully driven strategic initiatives and spearheaded innovative programs. Her efforts have included leading economic participation programs, social enterprises, and initiatives that bridge the arts, employment, and disability services. 

    At Access Arts, Billie’s role focuses on ensuring people with disability have equitable access to the arts — whether as artists pursuing sustainable careers, as individuals exploring creativity for personal expression and wellbeing, or as patrons engaging in cultural life. Through strategic leadership and sector collaboration, she champions rights, respect, and resilience across all aspects of Access Arts’ work. Billie knows first-hand the powerful change that is created when people with disability are included in the arts — how creativity can inspire connection, confidence, and contribution, enriching both individuals and the wider community. Billie is deeply committed to amplifying the voice and visibility of artists with disability, strengthening pathways for creative and professional development, and shaping systemic change that influences the broader arts and cultural landscape. 

    Billie’s academic achievements include an MBA from Griffith University and numerous qualifications in Business and Disability Services. She has studied abroad at the University of Glasgow and participated in the Ability First Australia Easterseals Professional Staff Scholarship Exchange Program in the US. A strategic thinker with a deep commitment to social impact, Billie integrates business strategy with community-driven solutions, particularly through programs that advance economic participation for artists with disability. Her leadership is instrumental in shaping a more inclusive future, making her an invaluable part of the Access Arts team and a key contributor to sector-wide progress.

    There is a headshot of a speaker and title descriptions that read “Autumn Skultorpe Crossroad Arts Artistic Director/ CEO”. Autumn is wearing a fun stripey button up shirt, orange square glasses. She has long brown hair with a fringe cut.
    Image by Leah Mclean Photography

    Autumn Skuthorpe

    Artistic Director & CEO, Crossroad Arts (Mackay)

    Autumn is a Maori wahine (Te Arawa, Tuhoe, Ngati Kahangungu and Ngati Porou) and is an experienced inclusive arts practitioner driven by inclusive arts practice, contemporary performance making, advocacy and is proud to celebrate the voices and stories of our region.

    Since 2006 Autumn has worked with Crossroad Arts periodically as a performer, artist, arts worker, administrator and as a member of the Board. During this time, Autumn has closely worked on creative developments, co-producing new performance work, facilitating workshops and collaborating with artists from the community to tell their own stories. Autumn enjoys working across many mediums including music, film, visual arts and performance. Autumn has also founded several artist collectives, coordinated festivals, exhibited works and performed as a musician outside of her work with Crossroad Arts.

    Autumn assists with the delivery of Crossroad Arts strategic goals and has extensive experience in both the operational and artistic requirements of the organisation. Growing up alongside our key artists Autumn also has strong knowledge of the cultural memory and value of Crossroad Arts and the wider challenges facing our region.

    Autumn was awarded a scholarship through the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal and completed a Diploma of Business (Governance), is an alumni of the Australia Council for the Arts’ Future Leaders Program that assists with the development of emerging and high potential arts leaders and is a recipient of the Australia Council for the Arts (Creative Australia) Kirk Robson Award for Community Arts and Cultural Development.

    A person with purple hair and a green dress with cowboy cats is smiling
    Image by Leah Mclean Photography

    Charlee Presland

    Artist-in-Residence, Crossroad Arts (Mackay)

    Charlee is a performer, dancer, choreographer and workshop facilitator. Charlee has played significant roles in Crossroad Arts performances including Unexpected Tour (2020), LOOSE ENDS (2021-2023) and is an assistant facilitator in the Stretchy Pants afternoon workshop. 

    Charlee also enjoys working on workshop plans for C.R.U.S.H and is keen to continue her professional development by teaching workshops to more people, writing and developing shows and also connecting with other arts organisations around the country. 

    Charlee has danced since she was 3 years old and enjoys all styles including ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary and her favourite is musical theatre. Charlee has also performed with Mackay Comedy Players, Choir of Unheard Voices and loves entering Eisteddfod in the Mature and Motivated section alongside Company Administrator Lesa Walker!

    Charlee believes that people with disability should be able to perform and lead creatively the performances themselves. Charlee wants to make performances that are world class and are inclusive of all people with disability and to advocate to the wider sector that access and inclusion is important. Charlee says people with disability should be included in professional performances and opportunities and wants to work towards that during her time at Crossroad Arts.

    Man in a pair of red rimmed glasses and a black shirt that has an indigenous flag. He is standing in a garden.

    Uncle Paul Calcott

    Indigenous Artist

    Uncle Paul Calcott (he/him) is an artist and disability advocate who uses his art to share his journey as a gay First Nations man living with disability in urban Australia. Uncle Paul works closely within the community, such as coordinating exhibitions and leading initiatives like the NunnaRon Art Group for artists with disability.

    Woman with very short brown hair and is wearing a dark green coloured blouse with red earrings and clear glasses.

    Celia White

    Creative Director and Facilitator, The Body Code Project

    Celia is a devisor and director of contemporary circus and performance. She has worked in the performing arts for over 40 years and performed, directed, and facilitated creative processes and outcomes with a wide variety of artists, exploring the potential of meaning originating from the body and drawing inspiration from circus, dance, the visual arts and other performance languages. Her work is driven by her feminist and queer politics and her interest in diverse representation and collaboration in performance making.

    She has created work with iconic companies such as Legs on the Wall, Circus Oz, National Institute of Circus Arts, Stalker, and others. She was artistic director of Vulcana Women’s Circus from 2003 – 2009, artistic director of Contact Inc, a youth arts organisation that collaborated with First Nations and Pacific Islander communities, she was co-founder and co-director of Circus Corridor, generating contemporary circus on the Gold Coast.

    She directs new work with a range of independent artist and companies across Australia, including GUSH a feminist performance ensemble who created Monsteria, winner of the first Matilda Award encompassing circus, for Best Costume Design, and winner of Best Circus and Physical Theatre weekly award at Adelaide Fringe, and Kookoo the Birdgirl with Sarah Houbolt, winner of the Green Room Award in 2019.

    She was again artistic director of Vulcana Circus, from 2013 – 2025, regularly creating new work with new, emerging and professional performers and in partnership with diverse communities, and creating opportunities to support women, trans and non-binary artists.

    She is currently director and facilitator of Body Code, with Vulcana Circus, created in collaboration with members of Brisbane’s Deaf and Disabled communities, presenting at the Kingston Butter Factory, November 2025.

    Woman with long brown hair and wearing glasses and a black shirt, smiling at the camera.

    Allycia Staples

    Artist, The Body Code Project

    Allycia Staples is a passionate, creative, disability advocate who believes in the power of the arts as a way to express herself, enjoy herself, build community and speak to injustice.

    As a performing artist and founding member of the Sunshine Troupe and the Aha Ensemble Allycia has
    performed in numerous productions locally, interstate and overseas. Allycia has particularly enjoyed working with Vulcana in recent years, developing her own show, Be Lagertha with the Agitate Program, working collaboratively on their work, Impact and will be performing in the groundbreaking Body Code in November 2025. 
     
    She has participated in prestigious residencies in Australia and overseas and has been a finalist with Queensland Young Achievers. Her creative practice is steeped in her advocacy – she sees the stage and screen as important vehicles for bringing messages of inclusion and diversity.

    She was one of Queensland Disability Network’s Emerging Leaders in 2022 and is a regular at QDN’s co-design meetings and initiatives as well as a regular MC at events.

    Allycia also served on the organising committee for the first National Youth Summit hosted by Children and Young People with Disability Australia, is a founding member of Loud & Clear Advocacy group and has served on Inclusion Australia’s Our Voice Committee.