Farewell and thanks to an award-winning advocate

Maurice Corcoran today ends more than eight years of service as South Australia’s first Principal Community Visitor.

Appointed to the role in July 2011 to implement the Community Visitor Scheme, Maurice has spent his working life advocating for people living with disability.

He was presented with a certificate of appreciation by Acting Chief Executive Lois Boswell, who thanked him for his years of service and commitment to people living with disability.

Maurice is taking on an important role as national policy lead in the Disability Royal Commission.

Maurice began his career as a social worker and has since made outstanding contributions, both nationally and internationally, through his tireless advocacy, policy development and leadership.

In working to break down barriers and champion equal opportunity for all people, he helped establish a protocol for investigative interviewing of children with speech and communication difficulties. He also took a lead role in the development of national accessibility standards, as well as the National Disability Strategy.

On the global stage, he represented the Australian sector at the United Nations to develop the International Convention on the Rights of People with Disability, which was ratified in 2007.

Appointed a member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2006 for his service to people with disability, he has also been recognised by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission for his advocacy and in 2016 was awarded the Lesley Hall Lifetime Leadership Award at the National Disability Awards.

The Minister for Health and Wellbeing has appointed the Public Advocate, Anne Gale, to act as Principal Community Visitor from 14 September 2019.

We wish Maurice all the best in his new role.

Page last updated 4 October 2023