Launching the Council at Government House, Community Services Minister Christine Campbell said people with a disability had a new reason to celebrate.

‘The combined wisdom and experience of the 19 people who will form the Council will help establish a new voice for people with a disability in our community and in Government.’

The DisAbility Advisory Council is a key policy commitment of the Government’s strategy for achieving the following outcomes for people with a disability:

• A whole-of-Government approach to the provision of services in the community;

• An understanding in the community of how people with a disability can achieve full membership;

• Assisting people with a disability to actualise their aspirations in the community;

• Provide representation for Victorians with a disability at the national level.

‘We want to go beyond the rhetoric by developing strategies that actively create opportunities for people with a disability to be more self-determining about their lifestyles.

‘This Council is a key strategy of the Bracks Government to achieve an inclusive Victorian community, one that recognises the citizenship of people with a disability in all dimensions of social, political and community life.

Ms Campbell said 12 community members from a range of areas across the State had been chosen from an outstanding field of 296 applicants.

Associate Professor of Social Policy and Social Work at LaTrobe University David Green is DAC chair.

Other members of the council will be Trevor Barnes, Delia Flack, Martin Fathers, Heather Forsyth, Steven Hurd, Paul Jacobs, Valerie Johnstone, Stella Young, Christine Bigby, Bob Davis, Christine Blackburn, Jennifer Boulton, Alex Dordevic, Bob Solly, Therese Owe-Young, Clare Hargreaves, Sue Tait and Julian Gardner.