Inclusion

Discrimination keeps disabled people out of the workplace – not ‘attitudes’

Elly Desmarchelier wasn't able to share her whole speech at the Jobs and Skills Summit. She has graciously allowed us to share it with you here.

By Elly Desmarchelier

Inclusion

Elly Desmarchelier wasn't able to share her whole speech at the Jobs and Skills Summit. She has graciously allowed us to share it with you here.

By Elly Desmarchelier

I almost didn’t make it to the Jobs and Skills Summit.

I had travelled to Canberra a week earlier, to facilitate the NDIS Jobs and Skills Summit. But such is the reality of living with chronic illness and disability: the first trip sucked every last bit of energy from my already overworked body.

I want to begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet, and I want to throw, as a campaigner, my strong support behind the campaign for a Voice to Parliament.

I want to begin by thanking the Prime Minister for the honour of an invitation and to Minister Shorten for the trust he has put in me, to deliver the results of the NDIS Job and Skills Summit.