On Thursday 3 December 2020, IPAA ACT, the Australian Public Service Commission and the Department of Social Services hosted an online event launching the ‘APS Disability Employment Strategy 2020-25: From intention to action’. The event was hosted by David Fredericks PSM, Secretary of the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources and Chair of the APS Disability Champions Network. Aunty Violet Sheridan performed the Welcome to Country, followed by brief addresses from Senator the Hon Anne Ruston, Minister for Families and Social Services and the Hon Ben Morton MP, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Australian Public Service Commissioner, Peter Woolcott AO, introduced keynote speaker, Dr Ben Gauntlett, Disability Discrimination Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission.

A panel discussion followed, examining the Strategy and what it means for the APS and those with lived experience with disability. Panellists included Fiona Thornton, Director, People and Culture Division at the Department of Home Affairs, Abby Meyer, Service Delivery – Early Debt Intervention at the Australian Taxation Office and Nathan Hannigan MAHRI, General Manager, People at the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources. The discussion was chaired by Daniel Savage, Assistant Director, Diversity and Inclusion at the Department of Social Services.

Kathryn Campbell AO CSC, Secretary of the Department of Social Services, provided the closing remarks.

Read the Australian Public Service Disability Employment Strategy 2020-25 here.

We would also like to extend our appreciation to Auslan Services for their support.

Transcript – a transcript of the full event is available here.
Video – a video of the event (57 minutes) is available below or can be viewed on IPAA’s Vimeo channel here.