Some of Our Parts

Deadline Extended: More Time to Apply for the Spring 2025 Career Mentoring Program!

The mentee application deadline for AusDN’s Spring 2025 Career Mentoring Program has been extended to Friday, 18th July!

If you haven’t applied yet, now’s your chance to submit your application form here. ​​​​​​

Still hesitating about applying? Scroll down to hear Rosie’s story.

• Register for the last information session: It will be held at 2pm (AEST) next Monday, 30 June 2025.
• RSVP via the link here.

See the full list of participating organisations: The list gets longer!

Real Story, Real Impact: Meet Rosie and Lisa

Rosie was paired with her mentor Lisa, Service Manager at QBE.

The tailored guidance and support she received empowered her to undertake her first job interview, build her confidence through networking and developing meaningful connections.

• Read about Rosie and Lisa’s Journey (LinkedIn article)

It’s Mid-Year: Time to Spring Into Your Career!

AusDN’s free, national Career Mentoring Program connects you with industry leaders who are eager to share their wisdom, experiences, and insider tips to help you achieve your dreams.

Whether you’re aiming to sharpen your interview skills, navigate career challenges, or expand your professional network, our mentors are your gateway to success.

How to Apply

• New and previous applicants (before 2025): Create a Mentorloop account and complete an application form here.
• Already on Mentorloop? Just message the Program Coordinator via Mentorloop saying: “I’m interested in participating in the Spring 2025 intake.” So they can consider you in their matching process.
• Applications close at midnight on Friday, 18 July 2025.

More Organisations Have Joined the Program!

AusDN are thrilled to have icare and IP Australia back to the mentor program!

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the amazing organisations participating in the Spring 2025 cohort:

• ANZ Banking Group Ltd (Aust)
• Australian Securities & Investments Commission
• Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited
• Coles Group Limited
• Fair Work Ombudsman
• George Weston Foods Limited
• icare
• IP Australia
• Maddocks
• McMillan Shakespeare Group
• Optus
• Pfizer Australia
• Qantas Airways Limited
• University of Canberra

More to come…stay tuned!

Frequently Asked Questions

• Visit the AusDN website and the Frequently Asked Questions here or contact their Programs Team at Applications@AusDN.org.au or call 02 8270 9200.

Welcome to the Listening Together Project

Research designed by, and for, young people with disability and young carers.

Researchers at the Australian National University are studying how young people with disability and young carers define good listening, and whether they feel listened to by the organizations and services in their lives.

Are you a person with a disability or a young carer aged 15-29, living in Australia?

Fill out one of these surveys about how you define good listening, and whether you feel listened to by the organizations and services in your lives!

There are two surveys to choose from: a long survey and a short survey, but both are co-designed by young people with disability and young carers.

• Click here to access the long survey
• Click here to access the short survey

Go here to access the information about the survey, including the easy read information sheet.

For More Information about this Project Contact:

• Name: Dr Laura Davy
• Position: Senior Lecturer, Crawford School of Public Policy
• Telephone: 02 6125 2558
• Email: Laura.Davy@anu.edu.au

ANU Human Research Ethics Coordinator

Phone: (02) 6125 3427
Email: Human.Ethics.Officer@anu.edu.au
Tell them this number: Protocol H/2024/0988

Applications Open for Research Grant to Support Researchers with Disability

SCOPE is offering a grant of up to $30,000 to support researchers with disability to carry out a project that aims to improve the lives of people with disability.

Applications for the 2025 grant are now open to early-career researchers who completed their PhD up to five years ago (excluding career disruptions) and are employed at an Australian university or other setting, such as a community service organization.

• The grant is for a 1–2 year research project that aligns with Scope’s research priority areas.

Associate Professor Stella Koritsas, Head of Research, said the grant is an important part of SCOPE’s commitment to ensuring research is led by people with disability.

“At Scope, we believe that research should be guided by the voices, experiences, and leadership of the communities it seeks to serve. This grant is an opportunity to support researchers with disability and foster equity.”

The grant is in recognition of Dr Jennifer Fitzgerald AM, Chief Executive Officer of Scope from 2012 until 2022 and champion for people with disability and their families.

It was established to recognize her significant contribution to Scope and the disability sector, and her ongoing commitment to research and evidence-based practice.

DOWNLOAD THE GUIDELINES AND APPLICATION FORM HERE

Funds can be used to support a new project or an existing project where there is a funding gap. For full eligibility criteria, see the application form.

To apply, email your completed application form to Associate Professor Stella Koritsas at SKoritsas@scopeaust.org.au.

• Applications close on Friday 6 June 2025.

Volunteers Wanted for the Terrain Mapping using Radar Foot Project

Researchers from the Exertion Games Lab in Monash Faculty of IT’s Department of Human-Centred Computing are undertaking an innovative research project to generate detailed, terrain maps that capture surface type, slope, stairs and environmental factors like temperature and moisture.

These maps will help enhance safety and accessibility for pedestrians, cyclists and people with mobility or visual impairments by identifying hazards (e.g. wet surfaces, flood paths and stairs).

If you wish to volunteer for this study, you will wear a lightweight sensor on your shoes for one month when you’re on campus.

Ideally, you’ll track your movements for more than four hours, 3 to 5 days a week.

You’ll also use the companion app to upload more information about your surroundings when prompted – such as images of the terrain.

After the study you will receive a $20 gift card for your time and have the chance to provide feedback about the project in an optional follow-up interview.

The opportunity is open to all staff and students at Monash, including volunteers who:

• use wheelchairs and need to take accessible routes around campus
• have visual impairments and need environmental modifications and mobility aids to effectively navigate the terrain
• cycle and must take cyclist-friendly routes across campus.

If you express your interest, the research team will contact eligible participants and organize a briefing session to introduce the sensor and provide more detailed information.

The research team, led by Uvindu Kodikara and Ruchira Abeywardhane under the supervision of Dr Don Samitha Elvitigala, are seeking volunteers to participate in a month-long user study.

• This study is fully approved by the Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee (Project ID: 42537)

Have questions? Get in touch with project co-lead Uvindu Kodikara at uvindukodikara@gmail.com.

YOU CAN SUBMIT YOUR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST HERE

Unlock Your Career Potential: Apply for Our Spring Mentoring Program!

Be Coached, Connected and Grow in your Career Journey

• Applications for the Australian Disability Network’s Spring intake of their Career Mentoring Program are now open!

This free, national program matches people with disabilities with experienced professionals from leading Australian organisations.

The Spring cohort runs from August to December 2025.

You are eligible if you:

• Are 18 years old or above
• Have any types of disability, mental health condition or chronic illness
• Can commit to the program from August to December 2025

SUBMIT A MENTEE APPLICATION HERE!

How Does it Work?

Mentors and mentees meet six to eight times over four months to set goals, discuss experiences, and explore career pathways.

This Program Offers:

• Personalised Mentorship: One-on-one guidance tailored to your career goals.
• Skill Development: Enhance your professional skills with targeted advice and practical tips.
• Networking Opportunities: Expand your professional network and connect with mentors and fellow mentees.
• Career Advancement: Gain insights and strategies to navigate your career path and achieve your professional aspirations.
• Long-term Impact: Build lasting relationships with your mentor that can continue to support your career development even after the program ends.

Join Our Information Sessions

Learn more about the program and application process in our information sessions:

• Session 1: Thursday, 22 May 2025 at 2 – 3pm (AEST). RSVP via the link here
• Session 2: Wednesday, 11 June 2025 at 2 – 3pm (AEST). RSVP via the link here
• Session 3: Monday, 30 June 2025 at 2 – 3pm (AEST). RSVP via the link here

Register now to secure your spot!

• View session details here.

How to Apply

Submit your application via Mentorloop.

Applications close at midnight on Monday, 30 June 2025.

• Previous applicants before 2025: Create a Mentorloop account and complete an application form.
• Existing Mentorloop users: Message the Program Coordinator via Mentorloop saying that you are ‘interested in participating in the Spring 2025 intake’. So we can consider you in our next matching process.

SUBMIT A MENTEE APPLICATION HERE!

Frequently Asked Questions

• Visit our website and the Frequently Asked Questions here or contact our Programs Team at Applications@AusDN.org.au or call 02 8270 9200.

Student Sponsorship to ADCET UDL Symposium 2025

ADCET is offering 10 student sponsorships for the 2025 Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Symposium:

• 5 in-person registrations for Sydney-based students
• 5 online registrations for students nationwide

Interested students should apply by Friday, May 30 2025, by submitting a brief statement that includes:

• Their interest in Universal Design for Learning
• Current program of study
• Preferred attendance format (in-person or online)

For further information and the application process, please direct students to:

Student Invitation: 2025 Universal Design for Learning Symposium

Exciting National Careers & Volunteer Week Events!

Design Your Career

• 15 May, 1:30 – 2:30pm, Clayton campus

In celebration of National Careers Week, this interactive session draws on insights from the Stanford Life Design Lab.

Students will explore tools, strategies, and design thinking principles to help them plan their career pathways with creativity and confidence.

Volunteer Your Way to Career Success

• 19 May, 12 – 1pm, Online Webinar

To celebrate National Volunteer Week, this panel event features student volunteers and industry professionals sharing how volunteering can boost employability, build networks, and unlock new opportunities.

• Check the Career Connect Upcoming Events page and register for the events on UniHub.

MATT Showcase: an Open Invitation

Alex Wilson is head of outreach at the Monash Assistive Technology Team, a student team focusing on creating assistive technology solutions for underserved communities.

Alex and his team are excited to announce their MATT Showcase event coming up next Tuesday the 6th of May from 12-2pm in the Building 63 Collaboration Space, Monash Clayton campus.

This event focuses on showcasing all of the wonderful work that their projects teams have been putting in, and they would really value your attendance!

MATT Showcase – Come and See Our Projects!

• Time: 12-2pm
• Date: 6th of May
• Location: Building 63, Collaboration Space

Come by for a visit as we showcase all the work the team has put into our projects!

*For more information check out their website!

Digital Access News: Vision Australia April 2025

Making PDF Documents Accessible

When creating accessible PDFs, don’t forget to check and set the correct reading order.

Unlike web pages, PDFs don’t automatically follow a logical reading sequence for screen readers and other assistive technologies.

What looks visually organised on the page might be read in a completely different order by screen readers, causing confusion for users.

In Adobe Acrobat Pro, you can check the reading order by using the Tags panel or the Reading Order tool.

In the Tags panel, expand group-level tags (e.g. article <Art>) to reveal the block-level tags. As you navigate through the tags, the tagged content is outlined in the document pane, showing you exactly how content will be read.

Using the down arrow key is a quick way to move through the tags.

Taking a few minutes to verify and fix the reading order can dramatically improve the experience for people using assistive technologies.

Making Video Content Accessible

From captioning to visual clarity, are your videos reaching everyone they could be?

This article from Vision Australia breaks down seven practical techniques to make your video content more accessible, benefiting not just viewers with disabilities but improving the experience for your entire audience.

Learn how to create quality captions, optimise audio, ensure visual clarity, and more in this essential read for content creators.

Read about video accessibility here

Help Us Explore Sensory Safe Spaces in VR!

Are you neurodivergent and find that you seek out safe spaces where you can control sensory input?

At busy places like university, it can be difficult!

We’re developing sensory-friendly environments in virtual reality (VR) that people can take anywhere.

We are currently conducting usability testing and we’d love your feedback!

What’s involved?

• Roam around a customisable VR space designed to help create a sensory-safe experience.
• Afterward, you’ll participate in a short interview and complete a questionnaire.
• Total time: 50 minutes.

We’re looking for participants who:

• Are neurodivergent with sensory disorders related to sight or sound.
• Do not have vision impairments or a history of motion sickness in VR.
• Your input will help shape future VR applications designed for sensory comfort and inclusion!

Interested?

For more details or to sign up, please contact Arbab Ahmed at:
📧 aahm0045@student.monash.edu
📞 +61 483 043 267

MUHREC Project ID: 45026

Project Title: Safe Spaces: Immersive environments that accommodate safety and wellbeing

*This research has been approved by the Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee