Some of Our Parts

BAP’s Professional Pathways for Students with Disabilities Event

Beta Alpha Psi (BAP) is an international honour society for high-achieving students in accounting, finance, and business information systems.

Founded in 1919, BAP promotes academic excellence, professional development, ethical leadership, and community service.

With over 300 chapters worldwide, it provides members with networking opportunities, skill-building workshops, and access to top employers, helping them advance their careers in business and finance.

In 2025, BAP’s Monash chapter is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse community where all Monash University students—regardless of background, ability, or experience—feel empowered to excel in their career.

Through meaningful professional development, networking opportunities, and community engagement, we strive to create an environment that promotes accessibility, collaboration, and integration for every student.

The BAP Monash team aims to organise an event tailored to meet the specific needs and interests of students with disabilities.

• To register your interest in this event, contact: Shafneen Rahman, BAP Events Director 2025; email: srah0035@student.monash.edu

PACE Career Mentoring Program Information session

Apply early to unlock your potential with Career Mentoring!

Are you ready to take the next step in your career journey?

AusDN’s PACE Career Mentoring Program is here to support and empower you to achieve your professional goals. See below the list of participating organisations!

To find out more about PACE Career Mentoring Program, join the information session #3 on Monday, 24 February 2025 at 2 – 3pm (AEDT). RSVP via the link here.

How to Apply

Applying is easy! Sign up and submit an application via the link here by midnight of Sunday, 16th March 2025.

*Don’t miss this opportunity to unlock your potential and achieve your career goals.

• Are you a previous applicant? You are also required to sign up and complete an application form through the Mentorloop platform. You are welcomed back to the program.

Announcing Participating Organisations!

AusDN are proudly announcing that mentors from the following organisations will be participating in this Autumn 2025 cohort:

• AGL
• Alstom Transport Australia Pty Limited
• ANZ Banking Group Ltd (Aust)
• Australian Federal Police
• Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited
• Coles Group Limited
• Department of Industry, Science and Resources*
• Digital Transformation Agency
• Hanes Australasia Pty Ltd
• Legal Aid Commission of NSW
• Sydney Water

(*First time participating in the program)

Frequently Asked Questions

• Check out our website and the Frequently Asked Questions here for more information.

You can also reach out directly to our Programs Team: Applications@AusDN.org.au or phone 02 8270 92003.

Student-led Networking Event: Academic & Accessible Communication for All

Access to communication is key to the success of both educators and students in teaching and learning environments.

Join a Week-0 networking event where both staff and fellow students will demonstrate how academic communication can become more accessible.

• This event may especially benefit students who need communication or language support in English.

Event Highlights

• What is a meaning-bearing, non -linguistic sign in cross-cultural contexts and what it may mean for spatio-visual learners
• What tech options are available for neurodivergent learners and how Moodle as a communication platform can be more accessible
• How to use ChatGPT more wisely when you face academic communication barriers
• Meet new friends who may have similar communication support needs

Guest Speakers

Dr Howie Manns (Arts) – How much can we read in a sign?

In this small informal talk, Howie is going to share a few examples of visual sign communication across cultures and its potential benefits for visual-spatial and ideographic learners.

Ms Brooke Tahir (Science) – C-pen, readers, and Moodle for neurodivergent learners

Brooke works as a Learning Designer and Academic in the Faculty of Science. She is a proud GunaiKunai woman from East Gippsland, a mother of two lovely children, and a passionate advocate for disability rights and inclusion across Monash.

In her talk, Brooke will share how she uses Assistive Technology to help her read better and how she is redesigning Moodle to make it more accessible for all students in her faculty.

Ms Jing Hu (PhD candidate) – GenAI from a disabled student’s perspective: Where’s that thin red line?

Jing is a PhD candidate in the Faculty of Arts and the HDR Student Representative of Monash Assistive Technology and Society Centre.

Her research project is AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) and its applications in tertiary contexts. Self-taught all her way from preschool to postgraduate levels with cerebral palsy, she feels very strongly about education justice and accessibility for all learners.

In her talk, Jing will share her own experiences of using Generative AI for studies in a foreign language – while toeing the line!

These talks will be followed by Q&A and networking.

• When: Thursday, 27 February, 12-1pm (Registration starts at 11:45am)
• Where: Seminar Room, Campus Centre (Level 1, Campus Community Division – West Wing)

This is a great opportunity to enhance your learning experience at Monash. Bring your questions and experiences to share!

Registration: https://events.humanitix.com/aac-for-all

IMPORTANT: Light snacks and soft drinks will be provided. All the presentations will be transcribed automatically. If you request Auslan interpreting or other accessibility considerations for this event, please contact event organiser Jing Hu at jing.hu@monash.edu

Round Table on Information Access for People with Print Disabilities Inc.

You are welcome to participate in the 2025 Round Table on Information Access for People with Print Disabilities annual conference!

This premier event brings together experts, innovators, and advocates dedicated to improving information accessibility for all.

• Don’t miss out—early-bird registrations are open, offering discounts for those who register by 28 February 2025.

Around the conference theme “Access Unlocked: Innovating for Information Equity”, presenters will explore the dynamics between legislative changes, technological progress, and advocacy efforts that collectively enhance information equity.

Information Equity and Social Justice

The 2025 conference is dedicated to deepening the understanding of information equity as an essential element of social justice. It emphasises the critical need for cross-sector collaboration to overcome the obstacles faced by individuals with print disability and to pave the way for a society where inclusive participation is the norm.

• Visit the website at 2025 Round Table conference to view the full agenda, speaker lineup, and registration details.

Don’t Miss These Keynote Speakers

• Maryanne Diamond, OA, The Road to Marrakesh – History and Relevance of the treaty.
• Carly Iles and Jonathan Craig, V2020A – 25 years of collaboration.
• Professor Gerard Goggin, Disability & Digital Citizenship: Australian Consumers & Citizens with Disability Navigating Digital Society.

And our confirmed Feature speakers:

• Dr Emily White, Accessing the expertise of teachers and people with lived experience to drive innovation in braille literacy assessment and teaching.
• Sonali Marathe, Transforming Access: A Decade of Progress, and What’s Next in Information Accessibility.
• Neil Jarvis and Andrea Arch, Digital Accessibility under the DDA in 2025

Dates

• Australian Braille Authority (ABA) Annual Meeting – Saturday, 24 May 2025.
• Conference Proper – Sunday, 25 May to Tuesday, 27 May 2025.

Registrations

• Early Bird Registrations are open and close on Friday, 28 February 2025

To register please complete the on-line delegate registration form, also accessible via the link on the 2025 Round Table conference page of the Round Table website.

Take advantage of the early-bird registration, available until Friday, 28 February 2025. After this date, standard registration fees will apply.

Conference Updates

Conference updates will be posted to the 2025 conference page on the Round Table website and Round Table mailing list.

The Tammy Axelsen Lifetime Achievement Award

This is a reminder that nominations for this annual award are open. The nomination form and further details can be found on our website by following this link: Tammy Axelsen Lifetime Achievement Award

2025 GradWISE Industry Accessibility Week

We’re excited to announce that GradWISE’s Industry Accessibility Week is returning in 2025.

This free, online event is a fantastic opportunity for students and recent graduates living with disability, injury and/or illness to engage with leading employers, explore graduate and early career opportunities, and gain skills and information to support their career journey.

Event Details

• Monday 10th February – Thursday 13th February 2025
• 9:30am – 3pm AEDT daily
• Online, MS Teams – Registration required here.

Students and graduates will have the opportunity to:

• Hear from leading employers across diverse industries
• Receive application tips and advice to stand out
• Join lunchtime activities focused on wellbeing

Monash students/graduates can attend sessions that align with their current career goals, making it flexible and impactful for them.

REGISTER HERE

Career Connect – Recruitment Ready Week 2024

From 18th-20th November 2024, Career Connect is hosting a series of events, panels, and workshops focused on essential recruitment skills and job-hunting strategies!

This week offers primarily online events, where students will gain practical tools and strategies to land a job confidently following graduation.

• Check out the full program of events visit: www.monash.edu/recruitment-ready

Welcome to the MATT Open Day!

• Friday, October 25 from 2 – 5pm
• 13 Rainforest Walk Clayton Campus

Hosted by the Monash Assistive Tech Team (MATT), this event highlights projects designed to improve the lives of underserved communities.

• Explore hands-on demonstrations, hear from students about their cutting-edge research, and connect with industry leaders, academics, and fellow students.

This is a unique opportunity to engage with impactful tech, discover collaboration opportunities, and learn how students are making a difference.

Whether you’re from the industry, a student, or faculty, we look forward to welcoming you to this exciting event!

• The event is open to all Monash students and staff.
• We will be showcasing 11 exciting accessibility-related projects that our team has been working on over the past couple of semesters, and this is a great opportunity for students and staff to connect around similar goals and topics. 
• To see a list of our projects, visit monatt.org

Please find the links to free tickets below:

• Monash Students
• Monash Staff

Ability Fest VIC 2024

Ability Fest is the first of its kind, promoting access and inclusion within the music industry, and proudly presented by the Dylan Alcott Foundation, Untitled Group & triple j.

It is a music festival designed for everyone to experience the magic of live music. It is a not-for-profit event, with all proceeds going directly to the Dylan Alcott Foundation to help empower young people with disability to achieve their ambitions.
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Celebrating their fifth edition, Ability Fest is opening up to ages 16+ to welcome more people than ever before!

In Victoria the festival is located at Naarm/Melbourne’s Alexandra Gardens/Birrarung Marr, an urban space embracing community with sweeping city skyline views and lush greenery.

You can expect all your usual festival amenities like delicious food & drink options, shaded retreats, unique experiences and unforgettable music performances across two stages.

Accessibility remains at the forefront of Ability Fest. The organisers have worked with their partners, Get Skilled Access, to implement the following features to ensure an inclusive and enjoyable environment for all music lovers:

• Auslan Interpreters
• Accessible Parking
• Accessible Drop Off & Pick Up Zones
• Accessible Bathrooms & Changing Places
• Elevated Viewing Platforms
• Bindi Maps – Navigation App
• Companion Card Accepted
• Friendly Volunteers to Assist
• Pathways & Flooring
• Assistance Dog Area
• Designated Chill Spaces & Sensory Zones
• Ear Plugs
• Tactile Sensory Silent Disco
• Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Initiative
• Free Wifi
• Live Captioning
• Access Liaison

Ability Fest was developed by Dylan Alcott, a four-time Paralympic gold medallist, 15-time Grand Slam champion, and the 2022 Australian of the Year, in collaboration with music festival masterminds Untitled Group, the creators of renowned music festivals including Beyond The Valley, and Wildlands.

Ability Fest uses the power of music to bring people together and help normalise disability whilst setting a standard for accessibility, inclusion and diversity at all events.

• For more information go to the Ability Fest website.

IT Student AccessAbility Network – Are You Interested?

The Faculty of IT is aiming to establish a community network for and with IT students who experience chronic illness, neurodiversity, disability (including mental health), and/or impairment.

Although this network will initially be aimed at current IT students, we are hoping to expand this to STEM students once the network is established and if it is successful.

To that end, we are interested to see if you would firstly be interested in participating, and secondly, potentially being consulted in setting up in such a network.

Please Provide Your Expression of Interest Here

Thank you!

Mat Teubert (he/him)
Education Support Officer

Polio Awareness Month is This October 2024

As we mark Polio Awareness Month this October, we invite you to stand with the tens of thousands of people affected by polio across Australia who are living with the Late Effects of Polio (LEoP).

The theme, We’re Still Here, highlights the resilience of our community and the urgent need for specialised care for those living with post-polio conditions.

Polio Australia is committed to improving this situation. They offer education and resources to both health professionals and polio survivors to support the management of post-polio conditions.

This year, over 90 landmarks will be participating in their Polio Awareness Month illumination campaign to help raise awareness for all people affected by polio living in Australia.

• You can view a list of all confirmed landmarks illuminating orange here.

How You Can Support the Illumination Campaign

1. Contact local landmarks in your area – If you haven’t already, there might still be time to contact your local council, or a building or landmark in your city/town. There is a template you can copy and paste (make sure you fill in the parts in brackets!). You can find the template at this website. If it’s too late, ask them about next year! They typically light up the second week of the month.

2. Remind them! – If you’ve already sent out a letter or email and haven’t heard anything, why not give them a little nudge? You can forward your original email to them with a polite “in case you missed it” message, or perhaps give them a call.

3. Take photos! – If a landmark in your area is illuminating, check it out and take a photo to send to – office@polioaustralia.org.au. They would love to post it on our Polio Awareness Month website as well as their social media accounts.

Polio Awareness Month Events and Activities

There are many events to celebrate Polio Awareness Month and World Polio Day.

• You can find a list of events here and here.

Keep checking back, as these lists are continuously updated as we hear about more events. If you are aware of any other events in your area, email them at office@polioaustralia.org.au, and they will add them to their website.

• Don’t forget to wear orange on Monday, 7th October and join in for the monthly Zoom chat. They will snap a photo of everyone in their orange!
• If you’re on social media, you can change your profile picture and cover photos to promote Polio Awareness Month.
• Continue to use the hashtags #StillHere and #PolioAwarenessMonth to keep the campaign moving!

Thanks for helping us spread the word!

• Polio Australia Incorporated
• PO Box 2799, North Parramatta NSW 1750
• Phone: +61 3 9016 7678
• Email: office@polioaustralia.org.au
• Websites: www.poliohealth.org.au / www.polioaustralia.org.au