Tamworth Regional Council Event Officer Natasha Little has been honoured at the inaugural Uniting Disability Impact Awards, held in Sydney today.
This month, Uniting Local Area Coordination (LAC) is celebrating 10 years of delivering the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) to communities in NSW. The awards were launched to celebrate this milestone of impact.
Natasha was awarded the Individual Award (Community), which honours people in NSW & ACT who have used their lived or living experience, advocacy, or community contribution to influence, strengthen, and promote disability inclusion.
Natasha says "I am very excited and humbled to be receiving this award."
Natasha was nominated by staff from Uniting NDIS Local Area Coordination Tamworth, for her strong leadership in creating more accessible and inclusive spaces at Tamworth Regional Council's flagship events. This includes a dedicated sensory space at the Tamworth Country Music Festival and amenities for assistive technology which supported more than 500 people.
"I am really proud of our entire Events Team for helping establish a dedicated Sensory Space and accessible viewing areas at the Tamworth Country Music Festival. We are always looking into other resources and funding opportunities to improve access and inclusion at our events." Natasha says.
The nomination pointed to Natasha's drive for cultural change by embedding inclusive language and digital accessibility. By removing physical and emotional barriers, Natasha has enabled families to participate with dignity and positioned Tamworth as a model for inclusive community events.
Manager, Festival and Events, Joel Ulbricht says, "On behalf of the wider Events Team, I would like to congratulate Natasha on this award.
"Tamworth Regional Council is committed to ensuring that the Tamworth region is accessible and inclusive for all people with a disability, especially at our events. Tash is a passionate Events Officer who is always thinking of new ways to make our Festivals more inclusive."
The Tamworth Regional Council Events Team was also a finalist for the Organisation Award (Community), recognising organisations operating within NSW that have made a meaningful and lasting contribution to disability inclusion and improved outcomes for people with disability.
