The National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA) as a part of its continued celebration of the 2017 International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) is proud to announce the recipients of this year’s NEDA Medal.  Since 2015 NEDA has presented the “NEDA Medal” to individuals who champion the rights and lives of CaLD people living with disability. 

This is a prestigious award, given to those people who are actively working to break down barriers and stereotypes that people with disability face every day with special regard given to the nexus of disability, language, culture and ethnicity.  NEDA wishes to shine a light on these people, pay tribute to them and their support of the work of NEDA, and for propagating the human rights of CaLD people living with disability.

This year NEDA celebrates the work of three people:

• Juan de la Torre Juan has been a long-time member of the NEDA Council representing his member organisation in Canberra CMCF.  Juan has held several positions within the NEDA Council notably that of President and was instrumental in the re-establishing of NEDA in Canberra.  This move to the nation’s capital reinvigorated NEDA, brought it closer to the seat of power thus offering staff greater access to Parliamentarians.  It was this change and Juan’s work in early 2011 that helped change the course for NEDA, moving us into a new paradigm of progressive systemic advocacy.

• Christine Williams Christine, another long-term member of NEDA, was also instrumental in the directional change of NEDA in early 2012.  Christine has held several executive positions within NEDA notably that of Vice-President and also Treasurer.  Christine has represented her member organisation (Disability & Diversity D&D) advocating for the human rights of the CaLD disability community in Victoria.  Christine has championed the women’s rights movement and its linkage with disability and CaLD issues.

• Pino Migliorino Pino has been a longtime supporter and collaborator of NEDA often working together with the NEDA team on key bodies of work both within his professional work and during his time as President of the Federation of Ethnic Community Councils of Australia (FECCA).  Pino is being recognised not just for his continued support of NEDA but also for the fact that it was his collaboration with NEDA that was instrumental in the formation of the National Disability Insurance Agency CaLD Disability Reference Group.  This advisory group brings together key civil society stakeholders across Australia to advise the NDIA on issues and concerns relevant to the CaLD disability community.

The NEDA staff and Council would like to take this opportunity to congratulate this year’s winners of the NEDA Medal.