The Inspire Awards ® honour the outstanding achievements of individuals who identify with a disability and contribute to increased recognition of equality, human rights for all Australians and to a more inclusive society.

These awards are an initiative of the Supreme Court’s division Funds in Court. “The awards, made [last] Thursday, recognise the achievements of those with a disability across a range of fields including, medicine, the law, policing, visual arts, journalism and disability advocacy,” said Funds in Court Strategic Advisor, Miranda Bain. “The Inspire Awards ® aim to honour and recognise the outstanding achievements of individuals who identify with a disability and whose vision and abilities significantly impact on the lives of their peers, their profession and the community around them and thereby contributes to increased recognition of equality, human rights for all Australians and to a more inclusive society.

“The nominees are nominated by their peers for their significant professional contribution and community participation. Award categories celebrate and acknowledge people who demonstrate: excellence, passion, vision and a commitment to assisting their profession and people to achieve their goals.”

Addressing the 200 people in attendance, Professor Gillian Triggs, the President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, spoke about what inspiration really means to her: ‘It’s about encouraging leadership in the community – leadership can be exercised quietly at one end of the spectrum – or, at the other, in a blaze of media publicity. I am particularly pleased with the award category today for speaking out because in my current job I have come to believe that, one way or another, we must speak up and speak out about the injustices we see in society.’

Professor Triggs said we owe a great debt to people who have identified particular needs in their professional community and have set out to rectify them.

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Marilyn Warren, presented an award in the law category to Ms Fiona Smith, saying, ‘she has been at the forefront of reform leadership.’ Fiona is a public interest lawyer with vast experience across the public, human rights, business, health, welfare and community sectors. Fiona is a former non-executive director of the Board at Yooralla, and former Chairman of the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission.

“Margaret Easterbrook, editor of The Saturday Age, who has held numerous senior reporting and editing rolls at The Age during the past 26 years, shared the journalism award with Ken Haley, a freelance reporter and Swinburne University lecturer,” The Age on Saturday, 23 April 2016 reported. “Other winners include the mayor of Strathbogie Shire, Colleen Furlanetto. The president of the human rights commission, Professor Gillian Triggs, presented Furlanetto with the Human Rights award.”

Is your organisation truly inclusive so that people with a disability can participate fully and be productive? The Inspire Awards ® support the dream of many people with a disability to be recognised for their contribution rather than their disability.

A participant in the UN Global Compact, CourtHeath seeks to raise awareness about the principles of the Global Compact and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Principle 1 is about supporting and respecting the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights (which include the rights of persons with a disability).

Principle 6 relates to the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.

The 8th SDG is about promoting sustained inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all, in particular: “8.5 – By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value“.

Click here for more information about the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Image: Peter Ward Partner of Galbally and O’Bryan Solicitors and CourtHeath’s Pauline Bernard recognised in the 2016 Inspire Awards ®.