ADCET's Annual Accessibility in Action Awards

In recognition of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), ADCET holds annual Accessibility in Action Awards to recognise passion, innovation, good practice and leadership in accessibility.

Our awards are held annually in line with GAAD which occurs yearly in May. The purpose of GAAD is to get everyone talking, thinking and learning about digital access and inclusion, and the more than one billion people with disability. Winners receive a certificate and an ADCET digital badge.

The 2024 winners were announced at a special online event in May

The Trevor Allan Award for Excellence in Disability Inclusion and Accessibility

This year ADCET announced a new Individual Award category - The Trevor Allan Award for Excellence in Disability Inclusion and Accessibility. This award is a prestigious honour that will be bestowed annually upon an individual who has demonstrated a sustained and unwavering commitment to promoting accessibility and inclusion for students with disability in tertiary education across Australia. Named after Trevor Allan, a renowned champion and leader in the disability and tertiary sector, this award recognises and celebrates those who have made significant and sustained contributions to creating an equitable and inclusive learning environment for all students.

The award honours individuals who have gone above and beyond in their efforts to remove barriers, implement innovative solutions, and advocate for the rights and needs of students with disability. These individuals have shown exceptional leadership, dedication, and passion in ensuring that students with disability have access to the same opportunities and resources as their peers, fostering an inclusive and supportive educational experience. The Trevor Allan Award celebrates the power of individual passion, dedication, and vision to create a more equitable and inclusive future for all learners.

2024 Judging Panel

The Accessibility in Action Awards 2024 featured a distinguished panel of esteemed judges with a diverse range of expertise and experiences. This year's judges brought together professionals from various backgrounds, including passionate advocates, students with lived experience and sector leaders. Their collective knowledge and passion for inclusive design ensured a rigorous and fair evaluation process, recognising the most impactful accessibility initiatives and innovations across industries.

The Judges

Dinesh Palipana was the first quadriplegic medical intern in Queensland. Dinesh is a doctor, lawyer, disability advocate, and researcher. While in medical school, he was involved in a car accident that caused a spinal cord injury.

Dinesh works in the emergency department at the Gold Coast University Hospital. He is a researcher and senior lecturer at the Griffith University. Dinesh is a researcher in spinal cord injury. He is a doctor for the Gold Coast Titans physical disability rugby team. Dinesh was a senior advisor to the Disability Royal Commission. He is an ambassador to the Human Rights Commission’s Includeability program. He is a founding member of Doctors with Disabilities Australia. He is an advisory board member to HealthyLife. Dinesh is a John Monash Scholar.

Dinesh was the Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service’s Junior Doctor of the Year in 2018. He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2019. He was the third Australian to be awarded a Henry Viscardi Achievement Award. He was the 2021 Griffith University Young Alumnus of the Year. Dinesh was the Queensland Australian of the Year for 2021. In 2022, Dinesh was listed as number 33 in the Courier Mail’s top 100 power list for Queensland’s most influential in health and wellbeing. His autobiography, Stronger, was published by Pan Macmillan in 2022.

Breanna Medcalfe is a 21-year-old student in her fifth year of studying a Bachelor of Law part-time on the Sunshine Coast and is a passionate Health Consumer Representative and Disability advocate, working throughout Queensland and Australia. She has a high-level spinal cord lesion from birth which has inspired her to be a voice for those living with Disability.

Merrin McCracken has worked in the disability sector for over 40 years. With Vision Australia, Scope, and most significantly Deakin University she has learnt so much from the people who use the services and those who work with them. She has championed access and inclusion through her work. At Deakin she developed the inaugural and many of the subsequent Disability Action Plans and developed the digital accessibility and inclusive education teams. She is delighted to stay connected to the sector though the work of ACDET and honoured to be involved in the 2024 Access in Action Awards.