- Nine organisations awarded Innovation Fund grants to enhance independence and quality of life for people with disability
- Grant funding totalling $2.5 million awarded to innovative projects that enable and advance access and inclusion
- The Innovation Fund delivers on key Cook Labor Government election commitment
Improving the lives of Western Australians with disability is in the spotlight, as the Cook Labor Government invests $2.5 million in nine innovative projects.
The nine successful projects under Tranche Two of the Cook Government’s $5 million ‘A Western Australia for Everyone: State Disability Strategy 2020-2030’ Innovation Fund aim to empower people with disability.
Nine WA-based organisations have been deemed successful through an expression of interest process:
- DADAA;
- My Place WA;
- Huntington’s WA;
- Curtin University;
- Inclusion WA;
- Ruah;
- Microboards;
- Kiind (formerly trading as Kalparrin); and
- Developmental Disability Council of Western Australia (DDWA)
Delivering on a key election commitment, the Innovation Fund was created to support projects that creatively apply new knowledge, technologies or processes to improve inclusion and participation for people with disability.
One example is Huntington’s WA Outreach Neuro-Clinics project, the first of its kind in Australia. The project aims to deliver innovative neurological health outreach clinics in remote areas and remote Aboriginal communities in Kununurra, supporting people impacted by Huntington’s disease.
To learn more about State Disability Strategy 2020-2030, please visit: https://www.wa.gov.au/government/document-collections/state-disability-strategy-2020-2030
As stated by Disability Services Minister Don Punch:
“People with disability have the right to be engaged and empowered, and to live as they choose.
“The Innovation Fund aims to invest in initiatives that promote and foster people with disability’s inclusion, participation and independence to realise creative ideas.
“Tranche One of funding is proving successful in stimulating creative thinking and building the capacity of people with disability, their family and their community. I look forward to seeing the impact of these nine projects with Tranche Two of funding.”
Further information on the successful organisations and their projects:
Organisation | Project |
DADAA | The Citizenship Journalism project will invest in the digital capability of artists with disability. It will produce new multi-platform digital content that is grounded in disability culture and grow an audience around disability content. |
My Place WA | Small Stories is a collaboration between storytellers with disability and subject matter experts to support inclusive, disability-led storytelling in WA. |
Huntington’s WA | The Outreach Neuro-Clinics project is unique, innovative and a first: no other outreach neurological health clinics operate within Australia. The clinics are aimed at improving inclusion and participation in regional and remote communities and specifically Aboriginal communities in the Kununurra area who have been impacted by Huntington’s disease. |
Curtin University | The Accessible Challenge project will bring people with intellectual disability together with disability organisations and Curtin University staff and students to foster innovative ways to tackle challenges faced by people with disability and change attitudes to build a more inclusive community. |
Inclusion WA | The Open Doors project will work alongside people with lived experience of disability to co-design and develop a suite of place-based educational resources and support to encourage local businesses to increase their disability awareness, and challenge common stigmas and stereotypes. |
Ruah | The Access and Inclusion Project aims to transform the community service system, making it inclusive and accessible for people with intellectual and/or cognitive disability and complex communication needs. The project seeks to provide equitable access to specialist knowledge and resources to address issues such as homelessness and family and domestic violence. |
Microboards | An online sexuality education and expression program will aim to improve access for people with complex communication needs and their parents and/or carers to the understanding, vocabulary, and supports needed to explore their sexuality. |
Kiind (formerly trading as Kalparrin) | The What’s on Guide Project will see Kiind connect children and young people with disability and their parents and/or carers with recreational, cultural, sporting and community organisations, to identify and promote inclusive community activities through a weekly What’s On guide. |
Developmental Disability Council of Western Australia (DDWA) | The Creative Social Connections Project focuses on engaging and supporting students with intellectual disability and/or complex communication needs in years 11, 12 and 13 to reduce isolation and increase their well-being and social connection. |
