Minister for Human Services Senator Kim Carr announced that eight people who have overcome disability and illness to study, train, volunteer and find work have been named Disability Champions by the Department of Human Services.
Senator Carr commented that he is pleased the men and women who where named Champions represented diverse personal circumstances and were from across the country.
“Over the past three Federal Budgets, this Government has initiated a series of reforms fundamentally overhauling the Disability Support Pension (DSP).” Senator Carr commented.
Senator Carr explained that DSP recipients can now work up to 30 hours a week and, depending on their earnings, may still remain eligible for a part pension and that DSP recipients under 35 with some work capacity, new participation interviews have been introduced to help support them.
“We have introduced better and fairer assessments, and are now placing a greater focus on a person’s ability rather than their disability.”

Champion Location
Ali Vinall Frenchs Forest, NSW
Paul Austin Esperance, Western Australia
Tonia Brdar Kinross, Western Australia
Rebecca Dewar Thornlie, Western Australia
Kristalee Caylen Bribie Island, Queensland
Neil Moorehead Zillmere, Queensland
Samuel Bubeck Toowoomba, Queensland
Colleen Jackson Ethelton, South Australia