Nossal Institute awarded fellowship to build Indonesian disability inclusion advocacy skills

Three people are in a living room. The screen of a video camera is in the corner of the image. A dark haired man leans against a pale wall he is talking to a woman sitting on a couch. A second woman sits on the titled floor. The women wear headscarfs — The Nossal Institute for Global Health has been granted an Australia Awards Fellowship.

The Nossal Institute for Global Health has been granted an Australia Awards Fellowship to work with Fellows from four Indonesian organisations of people with disability (OPDs), to develop digital stories for evidence-informed advocacy.

The Indonesian organisations are the Centre for Advocacy for Women and Children with Disability, SAPDA; Inclusive Youth Indonesia, PII; Bawayang (BWY) an affiliate of the Indonesian Association for the Welfare of the Deaf; and the Healthy Disability Association of Sukoharjo, SEHATI.

These organisations work to empower people with disability, including the empowerment of women and girls, and ensure equitable access to services and participation in social and economic life. Effective advocacy is critical for OPDs to drive change and advance the rights and wellbeing of people with disability.

The Australia Awards Fellowship will support the Nossal Institute for Global Health to foster collaboration and contribute to strengthening the impact and reach of advocacy messaging by participating OPDs.

Nossal Institute Disability, Inclusion and Rehabilitation Dr Alex Robinson said: “These Australia Awards Fellowships provide a valuable opportunity for us to work closely with our Indonesian colleagues. Realising the rights of people with disability and 2030 Agenda commitments to leave no one behind can only be achieved through collaboration. This is equally true here in Australia and in Indonesia.

“In that spirit, we are very much looking forward to exchanging ideas, strengthening our partnerships, and co-developing some great and impactful stories.”

The Fellows will build capability in communicating advocacy messages and will engage in practical experience, collecting evidence in ‘real life’ scenarios. Through the use of media production and editing techniques, these storytelling-based approaches will provide opportunities to support programs of disability advocacy and communicate real impact and change.

Ms Nurul Saadah Andriani, Director, Sentra Advokasi Perempuan, Difabel Dan Anak (SAPDA) said: “We are excited to have the opportunity to learn new skills to engage policymakers, government agencies, and other stakeholders. We hope sharing our evidence-based stories will influence legislation, policies, and programs that directly impact the lives of individuals with disabilities.”

The program will be delivered in Melbourne in October followed by remote mentoring from Nossal Institute experts, enabling OPDs to deliver improved advocacy products.

Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Australia Awards Fellowships aim to build networks of influence and leadership by strengthening partnerships between Australian organisations and partner organisations in the region.