Australia Awards South and West Asia

International Day of Persons with Disabilities has been promoted by the United Nations on 3 December each year since 1992 (initially under the name ‘International Day of Disabled Persons’). Each year the day focuses on a different issue, and this year the theme is ‘Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future’. Two disability advocates from Sri Lanka recently participated in an Australian experience that strongly aligns with this theme.

Australia Awards – South Asia & Mongolia supported Supun Rashinda Jayawardena and Nishantha Geeth Kumara Thissawa Pathirannehelage to take part in a 10-day professional development opportunity in South Australia at the end of November. During the visit, they learnt how different sectors in Australia work together with people with disability to provide the best outcomes for the people for whom they are providing services. Activities included site visits, presentations from government agencies and non-government organisations, and meetings with local people with disability.

Supun and Geeth were among a group of 11 participants representing five countries. All participants were chosen on the basis of being people working in policy and advocacy within the disability sector in their home country. Supun is the Head of Advocacy and Strategic Initiatives at Sri Lanka National Federation of the Visually Handicapped, where he leads national advocacy efforts on disability inclusion, accessibility and policy reform. Geeth, an experienced physiotherapist, is Program Director at Navajeevana Rehabilitation Tangalle. The main focus of his work is disability rehabilitation through community-based inclusive development.

The program participants, including Supun (second from left, back row) and Geeth (far left, front row) at the Glenelg Community Centre with representatives of the City of Holdfast Bay.

The two Sri Lankan participants travelled to Adelaide, South Australia, on Wednesday 20 November. Supun, who is visually impaired, was also accompanied by a Sri Lankan carer. From 21 November to 30 November, Australia Awards facilitated a diverse series of learning opportunities for all 11 representatives from South Asia. With more than a full week of activities, there was much for Supun and Geeth to digest and learn from.

One highlight was a visit to Glenthorne National Park on Thursday 21 November to observe the accessible nature playspace, accessible bathroom and Changing Place facility jointly funded by Commonwealth, state and local governments. Changing Places facilities offer the highest level of accessibility to ensure people with disability with complex needs have access to safe, suitable and specialised bathroom facilities in their community.

After an informative meeting with the Disability team from the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on Monday 25 November, the participants heard from Community Bridging Services about the services it provides for people with disability, including social enterprises and employment services. They then undertook a site visit to see the work of Community Concierge SA, a social enterprise developed and owned by Community Bridging Services. This visit showcased the mix of concierge services, discreet security, and personalized support that Community Concierge SA offers to its clients, delivered by people with disability.

The following day saw an extensive review of facilities in the beachside suburbs of Glenelg and North Brighton, such as accessible beach equipment (including beach wheelchairs), a Changing Places facility at Bouchee Walk, Minda social enterprise INC Cafe (an inclusive venue that provides employment for people of all abilities and caters to different dietary needs) and accessibility innovations at Glenelg Library.

Supun and his support person trial a the beach wheelchair at Glenelg Beach.

A significant element of the experience in Australia involved the participants learning about Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), which funds reasonable and necessary supports associated with significant and permanent disability for people under 65 years old. For example, on Thursday 28 November the group took part in a site visit to VIVA Mutual, an Adelaide-based registered NDIS provider. VIVA Mutual’s founder and Managing Director, Dr Guy Turnbull, led the visitors through the fundamentals of disability and entrepreneurship, a Case Study of social care, and a discussion of what good support looks like. As an award-winning social entrepreneur, Guy spoke passionately about the need to treat both Disability Support workers and participants with dignity and respect.

Later the same day, the group received a showroom tour at NovitaTech, Australia’s largest assistive technology retailer. The company supports people with disability to achieve their personal goals through its role as a leading provider of assistive technology equipment, mobility products and daily living aids. The group examined the range of products that assist individuals to move, communicate, play, learn, work and participate in the community. They also heard about how NovitaTech co-designs the best leading-edge solutions for real people by working with adults, children, families, carers, disability workers and other organisations.

Geeth participates in a smoking ceremony in the Adelaide Botanic Gardens with Keneifa Hayes, an Arrernte man and Cultural Officer with Southern Cultural Immersion.

Finally, on Sunday 1 December, the participants concluded their educational visit and flew back to their home countries, full of new perspectives that they can bring to bear in their advocacy roles back home.

Reflecting on the visit, Supun noted that he had gained a deeper understanding of best practices in disability inclusion, which he plans to bring back to Sri Lanka to strengthen national disability advocacy efforts. As he says, “The program gave us an idea of where Australia is heading, and we can use this as a benchmark to influence Sri Lankan policymakers to design inclusive programs and improve existing ones.”

Geeth viewed the visit as an excellent opportunity to network with organisations in Australia with similar missions to Navajeevana Rehabilitation Tangalle. He says, “I loved visiting VIVA Mutual and Community Bridging Services because we saw their efforts to create independent lifestyles for people with disability and help them contribute to development.”

He too will be taking home valuable insights from Australian initiatives. “There are lots of learnings for us about working with people with disability.”

“The overall picture was that all the stakeholders and partners were coordinated, on the same page, and working with the same goal. To have real impact, it is so important that NGOs and governments work together in a collaborative manner to achieve disability inclusion.”

We look forward to seeing the contributions that these two Sri Lankan disability champions—alongside the rest of the visiting participants—make towards an inclusive and sustainable future!