We often hear businesses, organisations, and government talking about engaging with the disability community. But if that engagement is only tokenistic “tick and flick” consultation, it doesn’t create real change.
In this episode of the Purple Orange Podcast, host Belle Owen, a proud disabled woman and advocate, explores what good engagement looks like. Drawing on the experiences of the Local Government Association of South Australia’s Disability Inclusion Advisory Group, you’ll hear from members and staff about what it takes to move beyond surface-level consultation.
The episode shares six practical tips for meaningful engagement:
- Listen more than you talk, especially to stories of lived experience.
- Seek out diversity — disability is not one story, but many.
- Pay people for their time and expertise.
- Remember you’re all on the same team.
- Follow up, show what’s been done, and check how people feel about it.
- Keep improving — good engagement is never “finished.”
You’ll also hear honest reflections about conflict, language, and learning from mistakes. These conversations highlight that genuine engagement requires time, openness, and a commitment to keep showing up.
Whether you’re setting up a Disability Advisory Group, consulting on a new project, or simply wanting to connect better with the disability community, this episode will give you practical insights to guide your approach.
The video below is a captioned version of the same podcast episode.
Below is a video about the Disability Inclusion Advisory group.