Media Release: QDN CALLS FOR QUEENSLANDERS WITH DISABLITY TO BE PART OF A NEW EMERGING LEADERS PROGRAM THIS INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEOPLE WITH DISABLITY.
This International Day of People with Disability, Thursday 3 December 2020, QDN are calling for Queenslanders with disability to be part of a new and exciting Emerging Leaders Program.
QDN Chairperson, Des Ryan, said “I am very proud to launch the Emerging Leaders program on International Day of People with Disability, alongside longstanding QDN Board member and past Chair, Nigel Webb.”
20 emerging leaders will be selected from diverse groups across Queensland to be part of this new program.
“I am also pleased to announce that participants who are successful in being selected for this program, will also be eligible to apply for the Nigel Webb Emerging Leader Bursary.
“The Bursary is named in recognition of Mr. Webb’s extensive service to QDN, of over ten years, and the significant contribution he made to the organisation, the Board and more broadly to Queensland’s disability sector.
“The bursary will allow for up to two recipients to travel interstate to broaden their networks with nationally recognised leaders in disability,” Mr Ryan said.
QDN Board member and past Chair, Nigel Webb said he was honoured to have this bursary in his name.
“I am pleased to see QDN undertaking this leadership program in aid of building and growing individual, peer and community leaders across the state; developing their skills and confidence to contribute to their community,” Mr Webb said.
QDN Chief Executive Officer, Paige Armstrong said that the program is about participation and leadership for all people, of all abilities, from all parts of the community.
“Everyone can be a leader in their own lives and this program provides people with disability a space to build skills and practice techniques to grow their leadership.” Ms Armstrong said.
Participants will learn from prominent leaders in Queensland’s disability sector who will share their learnings from their own leadership journey, real- world experiences and advice.
The Emerging Leaders Program will run over ten months from February 2021 and will be delivered in a variety of ways including face to face workshops, online learning, and local, community-based projects.
Queenslanders with disability who are interested in being part of the program can download an Expression of Interest form from the QDN website at www.qdn.org.au.
Applications are open to people with disability of all ages, who live in Queensland, are QDN members and who want an opportunity to develop your leadership skills.
Applications close 15 January 2021 and will be notified of the outcome of their application by 29 January 2021.
The program is funded by the Department of Social Services Information Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC) grant.
For more information email qdn@qdn.org.au or call 1300 363 783.
Media Contacts:
Paige Armstrong, QDN CEO (07) 3252 8566
Background information:
QDN is an organisation of, for, and with people with disability with over 2000 members and supporters, providing information, feedback and views from the lived experience of people with disability.
QCOSS is Queensland’s peak body for the social service sector. For 60 years, we have been a leading force for social change. We believe that every person in Queensland – regardless of where they come from, who they pray to, their gender, who they love, how or where they live – deserves to live a life of equality, opportunity and wellbeing.
ADA Australia is a not-for-profit, independent, community-based advocacy and education service with more than 25 years’ experience in supporting and improving the wellbeing of older people and people with disability. ADA hosts the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Disability Network of Qld (ATSIDNQ).