ECU Staff Team (L-R) Robyn Ekberg, Kim Gray, Matt Harvey, Alice Macri, Constance Wiebrands, Justin Brown, Katrina Strampel, Lucette Barbier, Chela Dawson, Fiona Navin, David Collings, Kay Barnard, Denise Bertilone and Cynthia Lokanata.
ECU took out the 'Best in Class for Customer Experience' Award at The Disability Confidence Awards and were announced as one of the nation’s Top 10 Performers on the Access and Inclusion Index. Kay Barnard accepted the award on the night on behalf of a dedicated team from teaching, student experience and policy development pictured here.
The Disability Confidence Awards are acclaimed as the 'pinnacle of recognition' for those who champion accessibility in Australia and this year received a record number of nominations from across the country.
The ADN's Index review commended ECU for its innovative projects, including Sensory Spaces and Enhancing Digital Accessibility Student Partnerships, and the strong feedback and review processes in place and that training and resources are provided regularly, including at induction.
ADN Access and Inclusion Index Lead Rosie Lane congratulated ECU saying it was great recognition of the progressive work the university was engaged in.
"The Index benchmarks current best practice in the field and gives organisations insights into their strengths and opportunities on their journey to be accessible and inclusive of people with disability," said Ms Lane.
"The Awards Night was a marvellous opportunity to celebrate and honour members who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to fostering greater disability confidence and maturity in their workplaces."
ECU’s Director, Access and EquityDr Fiona Navin said ECU was delighted to receive a 'Best in Class for Customer Experience' award, for what in our case as a university is an award for Student Experience.
Dr Navin explains that improving disability confidence and maturity across the organisation is a critical element of ECU's Strategic Plan, and acknowledgement of the Index and Awards win was testament to that strategic commitment.
"The Disability Confidence Awards are a very welcome acknowledgement of the positive progress made across the University and the dedicated work of all staff involved in teaching, student experience and policy development," Dr Navin.
"We were so pleased to have ECU's Equity Project Coordinator Kay Barnard attend the Melbourne ceremony to accept the Award on ECU’s behalf, having been an integral member of the team whose commitment this award acknowledges."
Mx Barnard said it was quite a momentous occasion to be there in Melbourne, in person to have ECU acknowledged for its standout commitment to drive positive change in inclusive practices and to celebrate with fellow passionate allies.
"It was collectively inspiring to hear the moving stories of progress and cheer on the winners, and network with the people working towards such a positive common goal of being confident in this critical space," said Mx Barnard.
"I'm looking forward to celebrating the achievement with the whole team of ECU staff who work with such commitment in this area."
