Making Inclusion Happen > Personal and community support > Chief Minister's Inclusion Awards

Chief Minister's Inclusion Awards

WE MAKE INCLUSION HAPPEN by celebrating excellence and promoting inclusion in the ACT.

The Chief Minister's Inclusion Awards acknowledge the outstanding achievements of Canberrans with disability, businesses, organisations and individuals who go above and beyond their core role to be inclusive and demonstrate their commitment to encourage, welcome and support people with disability in their workplace, business and community.

The 2023 awards were announced at a gala night at the National Ballroom at Hotel Realm on Wednesday 6 December 2023.

You can see the list of finalists, find out about the winners and view highlights from the event on the 2023 Inclusion Awards webpage.

The 2022 Chief Minister’s Inclusion Awards were celebrated at a gala dinner at the Hotel Realm on Wednesday 7 December 2022.

A list of 2022 finalists, the winners and event photos are available on the Inclusion Council website.

Given the impacts of the COVID-19 Health Emergency, the 2021 Chief Minister’s Inclusion Awards was not able to be held.

However, to celebrate the inclusion, support and engagement of people with disability during the pandemic a series of videos were released, each with a specific theme which align with Inclusion Awards categories and highlight great examples of progress make toward better inclusion in our community.

The videos focus on celebrating the good and positive stories which have emerged since the beginning of the COVID-19 Health Emergency. Celebrating inclusion in our community rather than awarding individuals and organisations.

The video of the Chief Minister’s message and the Inclusion and Employment video were released on I-Day and the Inclusion in Housing and Inclusion in Government Health Services videos ahave also been released. Upcoming videos include Inclusion in Business, Inclusion by disability providers and support workers as well as a video highlighting Canberra justice organisations who are working to ensure their services are inclusive and accessible so people with disability hae equal access to justice. A tribute to the late Sue Salthouse will also be released in early February 2022.

To celebrate and acknowledge the individuals, organisations and businesses nominated in 2021, a series of social media posts has commenced via Involved FaceBook.

The posts highlight the outstanding achievements of people who were nominated earlier this year and their stories will also be uploaded to the Involved website.

We hope you enjoy these stories of inclusion across Canberra.

Traditionally people with disability as well as individuals or businesses or organisations are celebrated at the Inclusion Awards from the following 12 Awards, across 4 categories:

Recognising people with disability who are leaders in inclusion

Emerging Young Leader
Achievement in Inclusion
Excellence in Making Inclusion Happen

Excellence and innovation in community access and inclusion

Inclusion in Private Sector Employment
Inclusion in Public Sector Employment
Inclusion in Education and Training
Inclusion in Business
Excellence in Innovation, Design and Access

Achieving inclusion through supporting the independence and wellbeing of people with disability

Excellence in Inclusive Services and Disability Support
Excellence in Volunteer Support

Championing rights protection and justice

Sue Salthouse Award for Championing Human Rights and Equality

An overarching Award for Excellence is then selected from award recipients.

The Inclusion Awards were also not held in 2020 due to the COVID-19 Health Emergency.

2019 Finalists and Winners

Follow the links below to news posts about each finalist summarising some of the fantastic achievements in inclusion.

Emerging Young Leader

This award recognises a person aged 16-35 years with disability who is an outstanding leader in their community. The finalists were:

Achievement in Inclusion

This award recognises a person with disability who has over a long period of time (more than 10 years) made a significant personal contribution to creating an inclusive ACT community. The finalists were:

Excellence in Making Inclusion Happen

This award recognises a person with disability who works to celebrate and enable people with disability to participate in the community and reach their full potential as equal and valued citizens. The finalists were:

Inclusion in Private Sector Employment

This award recognises a business, organisation or individual within the private sector that has provided inclusive and innovative employment practices. The finalists were:

Inclusion in Public Sector Employment

This award recognises an organisation, team or individual within the public sector that has provided inclusive and innovative employment practices. The finalists were:

Inclusion in Education and Training

This award recognises an educational and training organisation or individual either within the private sector or government funded that has provided exceptional or innovative educational or training opportunities for people with disability. The finalists were:

Inclusion in Business

This award recognises a business that has delivered exceptional or innovative services and facilities that empower and include people with disability and celebrate their contribution to the community. The finalists were:

Excellence in Innovation, Design and Access

This award recognises an organisation, team or individual who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to accessibility or innovation in design* to create greater inclusion for people with disability.
(*Design encompasses inclusive design in the areas of art, building, architecture, landscape architecture, information technology, equipment and craft, or designing system or processes).

The finalists were:

Excellence in Inclusive Services and Disability Support

This award recognises an organisation who has demonstrated excellence in providing services that promote inclusion, and respond to the needs and aspirations of people with disability. The finalists were:

Excellence in Volunteer Support

This award recognises an individual volunteer who supports people with disability who has shown outstanding dedication to empowering people with disability to increase their independence, enhance belonging in community and achieve goals. The finalists were:

Excellence in Support Work

This award recognises an individual support worker who has shown outstanding dedication to empowering people with disability to increase their independence, enhance belonging in community and achieve goals. The finalists were:

Life Time Achievement in Supporting People With Disability

This award recognises a person that has over a long period of time (more than 10 years) shown innovation and leadership in supporting people with disability to increase their independence, enhance belonging in community and achieve goals. The finalists were:

Excellence in Championing Human Rights and Equality

This award recognises an individual, organisation or service who demonstrates excellence in the promotion and fulfilment of human rights. The finalists wre: