Creating Change Together

We are a social profit organisation on a mission to create a world where people who live with disability have a fair go at what life has to offer.

In honour of Ann Marie Smith

It’s been just over a year since Ann Marie Smith died.

Our three most recent podcast episodes reflect on what still needs to change in order to make sure this doesn’t happen to anyone else. We are also dedicating all Moments of Me to Ann Marie this month.

Two mothers share their thoughts on Ann Marie Smith, and what needs to change to ensure their children are safe into the future.

Find a transcript of this podcast here.

One year on from Ann Marie's death, someone we'll call Nat says she could be the next Ann Marie due to chronic inadequate support.

******** This is a heavy story. If you need to speak to someone, ring Lifeline on 13 11 14. ********

Find a transcript and resources to help you take action here.

Natalie Wade, founder of Equality Lawyers, shares her thoughts on how we can not only keep people safe, but create successful futures.

Find a transcript of this story here.

Did you know you can also listen and subscribe to the Purple Orange Podcast on Spotify?

What We Are Talking About

JFA Board Nominations

Nominations for the JFA board are now open! If you have a deep commitment to inclusion, if you’ve heard about our work and like what we do, if you think you can add value to our governance, then put in a nomination.

Entries for the WWDA LEAD Art Prize is now open!

Entries for the WWDA LEAD Art Prize is now open to all women, girls, feminine identifying and non-binary people. Stand a chance to receive a prize in the form of gift vouchers and art supplies when you submit your artwork.

Language Matters

Be a better ally to the disability community starting with language. The words you choose to use shape the way society views and treats people with disability.

A Moment for Ann Marie

In April 2021, we dedicated all stories in our storytelling project, "A Moment of Me", to remember Ann Marie Smith. She may be gone but not forgotten. These stories are a reminder of what we need to do as a society to work towards a better future for all people living with disability.

The Purple Orange Podcast: Nice, but not really

You would never go around slinging out disability slurs. The last thing you want is to cause harm with your words. You would like to be an ally to the disability community, or perhaps you consider yourself one already. But even friends, family members, advocates and disability workers sometime get things wrong. In this episode of The Purple Orange Podcast, Jae Marie Jaensch guides us through things people commonly say that they think are nice, but often aren't received that way.

What is Our Voice SA?

We made this video to show off the life-changing work of Our Voice SA, a self-advocacy group run by and for people with intellectual disability.

The Elephant in the Interview

After graduating from her accounting degree, Daniella Biagi really struggled to get a job. She had no problem getting to the interview stage. But she said there was always an elephant in the room that no one wanted to talk about.

Video: It was there all the time

After a terrible life-changing event, Rod Flight reconnects with a dormant passion, but then struggles to not be boxed in by a label.

We Acknowledge And Pay Our Respects To First Australians

We want to see a world where everyone is included, respected and gets a fair go in life. We can't get there without acknowledging that our office sits on the land of the Kaurna people. Like people living with disability, we recognise that Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander people continue to experience inequality and division. We want them to know we are their allies. We believe their culture, history, diversity and deep connection to the land deserves our highest respect.

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A MOMENT OF ME

Akii

I stopped working full time about 5 years ago. I was about 21, which is a really young age to go “Hey, I’m never going to work full time again, because my body literally can’t physically handle it.”

The problem I discovered is there isn’t a lot of accessibility and flexibility in senior positions. I have 10 years of experience in my industry (advocacy, health policy and promotion). Yet it was so difficult and next to impossible to find a role that reflected my experience because I needed it to be part time, and of course, pay well enough to meet my experience and skill set.

Akii is currently working as the Executive Director at Chronic Pain Australia.

Moments

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