Meet The Facilitators

Based in SA’s Limestone Coast, on Buandig Country, I am a neurodivergent individual who has lived with a vestibular disorder for over a decade. My journey as a volunteer and advocate has so far seen me work in mental health, disability and chronic illness, healthcare consumer, community, and youth spaces, using my interests and lived experience to contribute to constructive societal and systemic change. As part of the facilitator team, I look forward to co-creating a world where we are each safe, valued and can flourish on our own terms.  Outside work, my passions are history, culture, art, science, and fashion. 

My pronouns are she/her. I'm a multi-award-winning performer, writer and director. I make boundary-pushing theatre that explores the human condition through the personal as universal with raw honesty and playful physicality. I'm also an Australia Council for the Arts Future Leader 2022. After having my world turned upside down by chronic illness, I became a champion of thriving in impossibility. I'm passionate about the intersection of art and health and am an ambassador for the Lyme Disease Association of Australia and on the board of No Strings Attached Theatre of Disability. I have 10+ years' experience in facilitating Empathy in Medicine training within the medical sector and have written an academic paper on the subject. I also run my own creative mentoring business, Kick Up The Arts, where I help artists create and sustain their own practice.

I grew up on the beautiful coast of Port Willunga and currently do life in a cottage full of enthusiastic half-finished DIY projects, book towers and sandy footprints from 3 human babies and 5 fur babies! Coming from a Social Work and Mental Health background, I work primarily with families and children in my local community, spanning across various roles around counselling, groupwork, community engagement and advocacy work. I am guided by the belief that everyone has a right to feel heard, to have access to opportunities, of their choosing, and to grow up feeling a sense of belonging within themselves and their world. I am also a member of the Disability Advisory Board with LGA, deeply valuing people’s stories and its power to create positive and meaningful change.

My pronouns are they/them, I am an actor and award-winning playwright, and ambulatory wheelchair user. I advocate for greater inclusion of disabled people in the stage and screen industries as a Co-Chair of the Equity Diversity Committee, a researcher at Back to Back Theatre, and as a freelance access consultant. I cultivate queer, gender diverse, disabled and chronically- ill community on my Instagram @jamila_main.

I have lived with an acquired disability since the age of 14 due to illness. During this time, I have spent a long time re-learning everything, grieving what was lost and successfully learning how to 'live' again. I share my story of illness as well as my journey back to elite sport on social media platforms, as well as with various groups and schools. I aim to shed light on what managing chronic illness is all about, and how I have found ways to cope and thrive. In doing so I aim to help people who are in a similar position to know they're not alone, as well as educating those who may not have experienced similar difficulties. Outside of this, I study a double degree in Human Movement/Psychology and am a National level Dressage rider.

I am privileged to belong to many communities; I live with Cerebral Palsy, believe in social justice, and work towards helping the world be a better place. Currently working as a Training coordinator and training International Students in a professional year program. I am passionate about learning and education and supporting others to achieve their goals. I enjoy relaxing and socialising with family and friends.  I also participate in a regular Uno challenge. 

My pronouns are she/they. I'm a disabled and autistic artist and educator, and have a strong record of facilitating disability access in the arts sector. I have worked in museums and galleries creating accessible programs as well as digital resources such as videos and podcasts.

I’m a qualified special education teacher, working with students with a variety of disabilities across many school settings in South Australia.  In 2018, I was involved in a work place accident and have been living with a traumatic brain injury for the last 4 years. I am now a concussion/tbi advocate, mentor, writer and speaker, dedicating my time to offering support and education to both the brain injury community and wider non disabled community. I am a rehab mentor and board trainee for Brain Injury SA, volunteer with YMCA, and am also involved in the co-design process for the Road to Employment Project at Purple Orange. I have created my personal blog and organisation called The Orange Butterfly.  Through my writing, community events and online social media platform, I am committed to closing the often-misunderstood gap between the brain injury and wider community. Ballet and Irish Dancing have also been an integral part of my life where I have competed nationally for over 20 years.

I’m an autistic individual that is fond of hot chips, peanut butter and spicy red sauce sandwiches. I have been actively involved in the autistic and autism communities in Adelaide since I received my autism diagnosis in 2008. I have presented to various groups including students and staff at university/TAFE I have a Master of Teaching degree and a Master of Disability Policy and Practice. Currently, I am a tutor and lecturer at Flinders University and a workshop facilitator for Positive Partnerships. Previously, I have worked for National Disability Services as a workshop presenter for high school students.Outside of the disability and educations sectors, I have represented South Australia at the Zone Laser Tag Australasian Championships on multiple occasions and in my free time can be found binge-watching Supernatural with my cats.

I am a passionate and active disability advocate. As a manual wheelchair user, I am eager to make positive change to physical access to public places and travel. I’m a certified Youth Worker, specialising in youth and disability engagement with an emphasis on empowerment. I'm the original founder of the Julia Farr Youth Committee within Purple Orange. I chaired the committee from 2008 until 2015 as well as playing a part in the implementation of the Julia Farr Youth Mentoring Program and Peer Support Network, where I still have an active role. I have extensive board and governance experience, including: Purple Orange Board of Directors and Housing Board, Ministerial Advisory Committee: Students with Disabilities (SA), Physical Disability Australia and Home Modifications Australia.

I am an enthusiastic chronic illness and disability advocate from the Limestone Coast. I love using my lived experience to help others learn and understand how they can help change the world for the better. I enjoy being creative, baking choc chip peanut butter cookies, and getting involved in our beautiful community. I acquired ME/CFS at the age of 14, which has resulted in me getting involved in many different projects and organisations involving mental health, disability awareness and education, and peer support. I'm grateful that through these opportunities, I've been able to learn work with, and learn from, other people with lived experience. I am enormously proud to be representing the project in the Limestone Coast region.