Nominations Open for National Disability Awards
14 May 2013 at 10:38 am
Disability advocate and 2011 Senior Australian of the Year Emeritus Professor Ron McCallum AO, has been named as this year’s patron for International Day of People with Disability and the National Disability Awards.
Nominations for the seventh annual National Disability Awards recognise individuals and organisations that make a positive contribution to the lives of people with disabilities.
The Minister for Disability Reform Jenny Macklin said McCallum was an appropriate patron for the awards given he was the inaugural member of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
McCallum is currently the Vice Chair of this committee.
“Having dedicated himself over many years to improving the lives of people with disability, in particular those with visual impairment, Professor McCallum will be a strong voice in promoting International Day of People with Disability,” Macklin said.
“Professor McCallum was appointed professor in industrial law at University of Sydney in 1993, becoming the first totally blind person appointed to a full professorship at an Australian university.”
The National Disability Awards take nominations for individuals and organisations that make a positive contribution to the lives of people with disability.
Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers Amanda Rishworth said the call for nominations came at an important time for the disability sector with the launch of the national disability insurance scheme.
“The Awards build awareness of disability issues and recognise the important role people with disability play in their local communities, their country and internationally,” she said.
To nominate for the National Disability Awards visit www.idpwd.com.au or call 1800 440 385, TTY users please call 1800 555 677 and ask for 1800 440 385.
The award recipients will be announced at a gala dinner in Canberra on November, 26.
