ADCET Advisory Committee

To assist ADCET to meet its strategic objectives the Advisory Committee providers strategic direction, leadership and guidance.

The Committee consists of co-opted members who volunteer their time and expertise to supporting ADCET. The Committee includes:

Disability Practitioners from the University and Vocational Education and Training sectors
staff from the National Disability Coordination Officers program
representatives from peak bodies - Equity Practitioners in Higher Education Australasia (EPHEA), Australian Tertiary Education Network Disability (ATEND) and the Australian Council for Private Education and Training (ACPET)
student and community representatives with lived experience of disability
representatives from the Higher Education Program Management Team, Governance, Quality and Access Branch, Higher Education Division, DESE ADCET Project Worker
teaching staff with expertise in inclusive teaching.

Role and key responsibilities of the Advisory Committee

provide strategic direction and leadership to ensure the ongoing development and improvement of the website, resources and projects undertaken by ADCET and that they reflect the current best practice across the sector
monitor content and work undertaken by the ADCET project team and to advise around the continued sustainability and ongoing development of the site
effectively provide advice and guidance on issues and key themes that are emerging from across the sector
participate in working groups, as required, on developing or reviewing resources, facts sheets and other relevant materials
actively work to increase the profile of ADCET
provide advice and strategies in seeking ongoing financial support from government and other funding sources.

Advisory Committee Members

Dr Matt Brett

Interim Chair of ADCET Director, Academic Governance and Standards Deakin University

Dr Matt Brett is currently Director of Academic Governance and Standards at Deakin University where he oversees academic governance, academic policy, course governance, and quality reviews. He has a longstanding commitment to student equity spanning roles in research, policy and practice. He has been involved in over m of externally funded competitive research grants. He convened the 2011 National Summit on the Mental Health of Tertiary Students. Matt co-edited "Student Equity in Australian Higher Education: 25 Years of A Fair Chance For All".
Darlene McLennan

Manager: ADCET, University of Tasmania

Darlene McLennan is the Manager of the Australian Disability Clearinghouse on Education and Training (ADCET) and was a National Disability Coordination Officer for Tasmania from May 2005 until October 2023. Darlene has led in the development of several significant national resources that support the success of students with disability in tertiary education, including an E-Learning resource ‘Supporting students with disability in VET’, NDIS preplanning toolkit, and ‘How to Transition to Tertiary study for students on the autism spectrum’. Darlene’s lived experience as a person with a Specific Learning Disability gives her a personal insight into the challenges and opportunities faced by students with disability. Darlene has nearly 40 years of experience working in the disability sector, of which 19 years are within the tertiary disability sector.
Jane Hawkeswood

ADCET Project Coordinator University of Tasmania

Jane has been the Project Coordinator for ADCET since 2002. The role Jane is involved in is to make ADCET as useful to Disability Practitioners as possible, whether that be by scouring the internet for the latest relevant events, uploading useful resources, running the ADCET webinars, developing the monthly newsletters, ensuring content on ADCET remains current, administering the aust-ed email list or brainstorming with Darlene on how to continue to grow ADCET to best meet the needs of the Disability Practitioner.
Stephen Manson

Manager Student Services TAFE SA

Stephen commenced his current role managing TafeSA Student Services in 2017. Stephen has a Social Work background and has been working in student services and disability support services in post-secondary education for many years. Stephen is particularly interested in the important role post-secondary education plays in providing a pathway to employment for students with disabilities and other equity cohorts.
Cathy Easte

Manager: Student Disability and Accessibility, Student Success, Griffith University, Brisbane President: Australian Tertiary Education Network on Disability

Cathy Easte is currently the Manager of Student Disability and Accessibility at Griffith University. She has previously worked for a number of Queensland TAFE’s, private training organisations and disability services. Cathy has been on committees for HEDN(Q), TEDCA, the first ATEND, and is currently President. She is also actively involved in the Queensland QDLO network. She has extensive experience supporting students who study online or externally. Cathy has personal interests in assistive technologies, e-Learning and training where she wants to increase the knowledge of academic staff, trainers, and teachers to be able to meet the needs of students. She actively works on ways to embed accessibility and inclusion principles into curriculums. Cathy is deaf and was one of the first deaf persons to graduate as a Teacher of the Deaf in Griffith's Deaf Student Support program.
Dr Stuart Dinmore

Lecturer: Academic Development, Teaching Innovation Unit University of South Australia

Dr Stuart Dinmore is a Senior Lecturer with the University of South Australia’s Teaching Innovation Unit (TIU). Stuart works in academic development with a particular focus on technology enhanced and blended learning. This involves support for academic staff in the implementation of online learning environments and the design and effective use of the new generation of collaborative and flexible learning spaces. Other areas of work involve the provision of professional development opportunities for teaching staff and the creation of multimedia content for learning. Stuart also has a strong interest in the area widening participation and inclusion. He is interested in the use of digital technology and its potential to remove barriers to learning for all students. Stuart’s research focus is on the creation of effective video content for learning.
Annie Carney

Teaching & Learning Specialist (Projects) Box Hill Institute

Annie Carney is a teaching and learning specialist in the Teaching and Learning Enhancement team at Box Hill Institute. She is an educator and learning designer with a special interest in accessibility and universal design. In 2020, Annie developed a microcredential short-course, Universal design for VET teachers, in collaboration with disability-support colleagues. She is currently a co-researcher on a project about incorporating universal design into teaching practice, which was awarded the Women in Vocational and Adult Education (WAVE) Sue Salthouse Grant for Research into Diversity and Gender at AVETRA 2021. Annie is a member of the ADCET Universal Design for Learning E-learning Project advisory group.
Breanna Medcalfe

Student representative (Undergraduate) Bachelor of Laws Student University of the Sunshine Coast

Breanna is in her second year studying Law and has a high-level spinal cord injury from birth which limits movement from her neck down to her toes. Breanna has been involved in leadership roles during her high school education and in her final year was a school captain. During this time, she developed a passion for advocating for students with disabilities. She is currently a member of the Health Consumers Queensland Youth Reference Group assisting in developing a Youth Engagement Strategy, through which she attended the 2020 Queensland Clinical Senate as a young consumer representative. Breanna believes inclusion and adequate support are essential steps towards ensuring people with disabilities receive equal opportunities for education and employment.
Saima Khan

Student representative (Postgraduate) Murdoch University

Saima Khan is a qualified English and ESL teacher and part-time student counsellor in a school in Perth WA. She has a Masters in Education from Curtin University and is currently engaged in acquiring the Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling from Murdoch University. Saima brings with her experience in teaching and counselling and understanding issues of cultural difference in both areas. Saima enjoys reading and writing, and in her leisure time, likes to advocate against stigma about mental health in CALD communities.
Jennifer Parry

Student representative TAFE NSW

Jennifer found her two biggest challenges while completing her HSC were getting materials in a timely manner in a format that she could read and being accepted by her peers. Jennifer went on to complete a Certificate III in Business and a Certificate III and Diploma in Music Industry Performance through TAFE NSW. During her studies she connected with the Three Bridges Inclusive Volunteering program and, in 2018, was successful in gaining employment at Blind Citizens Australia. Jennifer has always had a passion for music, and she finds it is a way of breaking down barriers and connecting with people. She is now studying the Advanced Diploma in Music Industry Performance. Jennifer has found that as a person with disability being accepted, respected, and valued in society is an ongoing challenge to be overcome.