Post by Brotherhood of St Laurence

We launched our Stretch Disability Action Plan 2026–2028! Gathered at our Fitzroy office, with colleagues joining in person and online, we celebrated not just a document but a genuine commitment: to make BSL a place where disability is visible, valued and celebrated An Access and Inclusion pledge wall (already filling up with meaningful commitments from our people), Auslan interpreters, and catering from All Things Equal, a Melbourne social enterprise empowering people with disability in hospitality careers. Every detail was intentional. Our Executive Director Travers McLeod spoke to what the 'stretch' in this plan means, the ambition to go beyond where we've been, while being honest about where work remains. Our Diversity and Inclusion Lead Josh Morgan shared the journey: from our inaugural 2022 DAP through to this next chapter, including highlights like an 11% uplift in accessibility metrics and the establishment of our Disability Inclusion Network. Diversity Equity and Inclusion Consultant Fiona Doyle unveiled the stunning cover artwork, Rainbow Rainbow Rainbow Flowers (2025) by Catherine McGuiness, a three-time Archibald Prize finalist who works with Studio A, a supported studio championing artists with intellectual disability. Catherine said she made it hoping it would make people feel happy. It did exactly that. A panel of lived experience voices, Board Director Emma Henningsen, Senior Local Area Coordinator Michael Parremore, and Josh Morgan, then opened up a real, honest conversation about what disability inclusion looks and feels like in practice. This plan is built on the principle of 'nothing about us without us', shaped through genuine consultation with our Disability Inclusion Network, senior leaders across BSL, and the Australian Disability Network, who have endorsed our Stretch DAP as a Gold Member partner since 2016. Read our Stretch DAP at https://lnkd.in/ekB-kJkd