Australia Awards South and West Asia

Earlier this year, Australia Awards – South Asia & Mongolia offered scholars the opportunity to participate in a ‘Disability Sector Connect’ program as a professional development opportunity. The program, held in Adelaide on 25–27 February 2025, delivered innovative practices that scholars could adopt to improve disability inclusion in their home countries.

Mohamed Safras Mohamed Safwan, a Sri Lankan scholar who is studying a Master of International and Development Economics at the Australian National University, was a participant in this program. “I arrived with questions and left with inspiration,” he says, describing the program as an experience that “reshape[d] my understanding of inclusive development”. Below, Safras reflects more extensively on the program in his own words, revealing what inspired him and the key insights he gained into inclusive development.

Scholar Safras pictured during the program in Adelaide.

The program began with a welcome from the Palladium Maven team, whose motto of ‘Catalysing an enriched future for all’ resonated deeply with my mission back home. Their approach to partnering across sectors to address global challenges offered a blueprint for the public–private partnerships I hope to foster in Sri Lanka.

What impressed me was not just their technical expertise but their genuine commitment to creating lasting change. Each presentation balanced idealism with pragmatism, backed by evidence and delivered with passion.

The evening involved a cultural tour of Adelaide Botanic Garden guided by an Indigenous guide, Tyalah, who shared stories of the traditional custodians of the Adelaide Plains. I was moved by how the Kaurna people’s values of inclusivity and care for vulnerable community members mirrored the principles of disability inclusion we were exploring through the program.

(Left to right): Support person of scholar Manil Raj Maharjan, scholars Bilguun Sergelentsogt (Mongolia), Manil Raj Maharjan (Nepal), Muhammad Tallha Noman (Pakistan), Safras, Ragutharan Sanmukarasa (Sri Lanka), Ibrahim Thayyib (Maldives), Sokina Aktar (Bangladesh), Shazeena Ahmed Naseem (Maldives) and Myagmarsuren Surenragchaa (Mongolia) pictured with guide Tyalah (fifth from left) during their visit to the Adelaide Botanic Garden.

Walking among Australia’s endemic plants, each perfectly adapted to its environment, I reflected on how our societies must similarly adapt to embrace the unique contributions of people with disability. Nature, it seems, has much to teach us about the beauty of diversity and resilience.

Our second day began with a visit to the accessible beaches at Glenelg, guided by officials from the City of Holdfast Bay. This was a thoughtful exploration of practical accessibility in public spaces. The council officials explained their collaboration with disability advocates to design truly accessible beach facilities. The beach wheelchairs and ramps weren’t afterthoughts but integral features that invite everyone to enjoy Australia’s famous beach culture.

During our tour along Glenelg’s Jetty Road, we saw accessibility integrated throughout the precinct—from tactile ground indicators for people with vision impairments to gently sloping paths that eliminated stairs. At Seacliff, we examined newly-installed accessible facilities, including changing rooms and viewing platforms that allow people with mobility challenges to enjoy ocean views.

Scholar Myagmarsuren from Mongolia with her support person experimenting a beach wheelchair, a service provided by estara, a disability support service.

Our visit to Glenelg Library revealed the city’s commitment to information accessibility. The library staff demonstrated their innovations, including adaptive technology stations, large-print collections and sensory-friendly spaces. This showed me how access to information and community spaces is just as important as physical access to buildings.

In the afternoon, we visited Minda Inc, South Australia’s largest not-for-profit disability service provider. Their impressive range of services includes home support, housing assistance, children’s services, respite accommodation and day programs. Their supported employment program helps people with intellectual disability find meaningful work that matches their skills and interests.

What struck me most at Minda was their person-centred approach. Every service was designed around individual goals rather than forcing people to fit into pre-existing programs. The living spaces were both functional and homelike, demonstrating that accessibility can be warm and inviting.

The evening session with the Tri-Council Disability Advocacy Network was particularly enlightening. This network brings together advocates from three council areas to influence policy and improve services. Members openly shared their personal experiences navigating public spaces and services, highlighting gaps and suggesting practical solutions. Their collaborative approach with local councils demonstrated the power of partnerships in advancing inclusion. One advocate explained how their input had directly shaped the accessible beach equipment we had seen earlier, showing a clear connection between advocacy and real-world improvements. This session reinforced the principle of ‘Nothing about us without us’ and showed how including people with disability in planning leads to better outcomes for everyone.

Scholars learning about various accessibility innovations at Glenelg Library, City of Holdfast Bay.

The final day centred on economic inclusion through entrepreneurship—directly relevant to my work in poverty alleviation and social empowerment in Sri Lanka. The morning began with a workshop by Community Bridging Services (CBS) Inc., which has supported people with disability since 1997.

The CBS Inc. team explained their ‘Three Pillars’ approach as follows:

First, their Disability Employment Services help individuals find and keep meaningful jobs. I was impressed by their focus on finding the right job match rather than just any employment.

Second, their National Disability Insurance Scheme support services help people navigate Australia’s comprehensive disability support system with tailored plans based on individual goals.

Third, their social enterprises—including cafés, catering services and art galleries—create employment opportunities while generating revenue to support other programs. During our tour, we met employees who shared how working there had built their confidence and skills.

The highlight was the session with Rapid Enterprise Development, which helps people with disability start their own businesses. Rather than just presenting information, the Rapid Enterprise Development facilitators engaged us in a hands-on workshop using a realistic case study.

What made their approach compelling was their reframing of disability as a potential competitive advantage in business. They showed examples of successful entrepreneurs who had turned their lived experience of disability into innovative business solutions. The Rapid Enterprise Development team addressed practical concerns like accessing startup capital, navigating benefit systems and developing marketing strategies that highlight unique value rather than seeking charity.

Safras learns about of native plants during the study tour at the Adelaide Botanic Garden.

Throughout the workshop, the facilitators emphasised how their methodology could be adapted to different cultural and economic contexts, making it especially relevant for countries like Sri Lanka. They provided resources and frameworks that I could implement, potentially creating new economic opportunities for people with disability in my country.

The program’s greatest strength was its practical approach—showing real examples of inclusion in action across public spaces, libraries, organisations and businesses, rather than just discussing theories. This approach provided me with concrete ideas that could work in Sri Lanka.

After returning to Sri Lanka, I carry new knowledge and renewed purpose. The Disability Sector Connect program has shown me that inclusive development is possible with creativity, collaboration and commitment. The insights gained during these three days in Adelaide will inform efforts to improve the lives of people with disability in Sri Lanka, and I’m deeply grateful for this opportunity to learn, connect and envision a more inclusive future.