First meeting for the Minister’s Advisory Council members to discuss issues for youth, disability and LGBTIQA+ communities
This is an archived media release. The information may be outdated.
Social inclusion is a key agenda for the Department of Human Services, and yesterday the Minister for Human Services met for the first time with the 37 community members of the three new Ministerial Advisory Councils that will promote a culture of social inclusion for all South Australians.
- LGBTIQA+ Advisory Council
- Disability Advisory Council
- Youth Advisory Council
The Advisory Council members will draw on their lived experiences to advise the Minister on policy, programs and initiatives impacting youth, disability and LGBTIQA+ communities.
These councils are a critical step to ensuring governments' actions and policies are directly informed by the people they are designed to support.
Minister’s Advisory Councils
The Minister’s Advisory Council members met with the Minister and each other for the first time on 14 December 2022, to share their experiences, commence the onboarding process and to hear from the Minister on her vision for the work that will follow over the next 12 months. The Councils will meet with the Minister throughout the year to share their lived experiences, knowledge and expertise to advocate for their fellow community members on key policy, legislation and program reform being conducted by the department and the State Government more broadly – this includes the review of Inclusive SA, the Youth Action Plan and the legislative ban on conversion practices.
LGBTIQA+ Advisory Council
The LGBTIQA+ Advisory Council will provide an evidence base for change, working together to achieve true inclusion for members of the LGBTIQA+ community.
Meet Jody Anderson one of the 13 LGBTIQA+ Council members. “I hope the Council will have some influence on changing a culture via policy and can take a lead on discrimination. Governments that provide increased opportunities for the LGBTIQA+ community to participate in places and spaces allow for diversity to flourish and bigger contributions to communities.”
Disability Advisory Council
The Disability Advisory Council will provide advice to the Minister on the issues that matter most to the 330,000 South Australians living with a disability, their families and carers.
Meet Ellen Fraser-Barbour, one of 12 Disability Advisory Council members and a disability advocate with JFA Purple Orange. “I’m excited to see the council formed with such a strong group of leaders. It is so important to ensure that government strategy, policies and legislation remain grounded in the advice and expertise of people with lived (and professional) experience of chronic illness, disability and/or neurodiversity.”
Youth Advisory Council
The Youth Advisory Council members are aged 15 to 24 years of age and will support the Department of Human Services in its role as lead agency for youth policy within the South Australian public sector.
Meet Ava Musarra, one of the 12 members of the Youth Advisory Council. “I’ve written to politicians about the issues disadvantaged young people face, and I’m excited to join the Youth Advisory Council as a way to advocate for change and to help achieve it. I’m looking forward to being a voice for young people like me. I really appreciate this opportunity for us to be heard.”
