Victorian Disability Advisory Council

About the Victorian Disability Advisory Council

The Victorian Disability Advisory Council (VDAC) was established in July 2007 under the Disability Act 2006.

The council:

provides independent advice to the Minister for Disability
advises on policy and strategy
helps to increase the inclusion and participation of Victorians with disability.

To fulfil its functions, the council:

develops an annual forward agenda
holds meetings every two months and participates in additional meetings focused on particular topics
works with government and the community to promote disability inclusion
supports the development, implementation and monitoring of Inclusive Victoria: state disability plan (2022-2026).

The chairperson leads the council, playing a key role in:

facilitating meetings
building strong relationships with members and stakeholders.

The Office for Disability in the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing supports the council and is the Secretariat for the council.

Current VDAC members

The following people make up the seventh council appointed since 2007. They help the Victorian Government continue its important work to make the state more inclusive and accessible.

Chairperson: Chris Varney
Deputy Chairperson: Mija Gwyn
Husna Amani
Stella Barton
Kelly Ann Blake
Amir Brand-Abdi
Bianca Failla
Helen Freris
Melissa Hale
Jen Hargrave
Katrina Harrison
Timothy Harte
Nicole Karidis
Laura Pettenuzzo

Council members bring:

a wide range of lived experience of disability
expertise in disability inclusion related to advocacy, policy, and program delivery.

The Victorian Government is committed to ensuring that government boards and committees reflect the diversity of the Victorian community. The current council has more than 50% women. It also has representatives who are:

Aboriginal
LGBTIQA+
culturally diverse
regional Victorians
young people
carers.

This council will serve a fixed term until July 2028.

Find out more about the members

Chris Varney (Chairperson)

Learn more about Chris

Chris (he/him) is proudly autistic. He is the Founding Director and Chief Enabling Officer of I CAN Network. I CAN® is Australia’s largest autistic-led organisation. I CAN mentors over 3,000 young people every year through the I CAN School® and I CAN Online programs. Since 2015, Chris has employed close to 200 autistic people to deliver mentoring programs at scale.

In 2017, Chris received the Supreme Court of Victoria’s Best Achievement in Human Rights Award. Chris is:

national patron of the Australian Association for Special Education and
a non-executive director of the Australian Autism Alliance. He has been the Chairperson of the Victorian Disability Advisory Council since 2022.

Chris is passionate about disability job creation and employment. He lives with his young family in Greater Geelong.

Disability community: autistic

Location: regional

Focus areas: inclusive education, inclusive workforces and job creation.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xp4HL6QOb1c?autoplay=0&start=0&rel=0

Chris Varney - Victorian Disability Advisory Council Chair

View transcript

Mija Gwyn (Deputy Chairperson)

Find out more about Mija

Mija (she/her) is Deaf and uses Auslan as her first language. She resides on Wadi Wadi and Muthi Muthi lands. Mija is the Head of Youth Disability Advocacy Service (YDAS). She has led and coordinated community development, film festivals and arts projects in the United Kingdom and Australia.

Mija has sat on advisory committees in the health and disability sectors. Previously, she was the President for Deaf Victoria. She has a:

Bachelor of Arts from University of Melbourne,
Master of Communication from Griffith University, and a
Master of Public Policy and Management from the University of Melbourne. Mija has been the Deputy Chairperson of VDAC since her appointment in 2022.

Disability community: Deaf and hard of hearing community

Location: regional

Focus areas: Youth, intersectionality, NDIS, health, and regional and rural issues.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/VBuodS_PWPI?autoplay=0&start=0&rel=0

Mija Gwyn - Victorian Disability Advisory Council Deputy Chairperson

View transcript

Husna Amani

Find out more about Husna Amani

Husna (she/her) is an emerging social worker based on Wurundjeri Country. She has a strong commitment to inclusion, access and social justice. She volunteers with Democracy in Colour.

Husna is also a member of Polaron Language Services Multicultural Advisory Panel.

Husna has previously served on the board of Youth Affairs Council Victoria. Her work includes the areas of:

youth
disability and
multiculturalism. In these areas, she has:
co-designed resources
led consultations and
supported campaigns with and for disabled young people and culturally and racially marginalised communities. She has also written about her experiences of belonging and navigating her identities as a disabled woman of colour. She has done this through her work with Women with Disabilities Victoria.

Husna’s focus is on advancing:

disability justice
racial justice, and
equity for people with marginalised, intersecting identities. Focus and/or interest areas: Racial justice, disability justice, accessibility, multiculturalism, systemic change.

Stella Barton

Find out more about Stella Barton

Stella (she/her) has a Bachelor of Arts (Sociology) from Swinburne University.

In 2024, Stella competed in the Paris Paralympics. She competed in Para Dressage and finished 7th from a field of 22 competitors.

Stella is dedicated to working to create equal opportunities for disabled people. She is an active participant on various advocacy committees. Stella is eager to leverage her skills and lived experience to:

promote accessibility
engender inclusivity
raise public awareness to create meaningful change in the community. Stella also understands the power of the arts and sport to develop community and communicate ideas. Stella enjoys painting and drawing as her forms of creative expression. Stella has been actively involved in campaigns for greater access to public transport, especially in her local community.

Focus and/or interest areas: create equal opportunities for disabled people, the power of the arts and sport to develop community and communicate ideas, greater access to public transport, especially in her local community.

Location: metropolitan.

Kelly Ann Blake

Find out more about Kelly Ann Blake

Kelly Ann (she/her) is a proud Wadawurrung woman with Dja Dja Wurrung kinship connection. Her professional background includes roles as a:

Biocultural Project Officer
community leader
Adjunct Research Fellow at La Trobe University. Kelly Ann brings lived experience, Indigenous / First Nations perspectives and strong advocacy to her work. This includes:
work across government
conservation
research
education. Kelly Ann is the founder of Kaal Kaal Murrup – Dingo Spirit Cultural Consultancy. She believes in healing Country and Country healing people. Her leadership weaves Indigenous and Western knowledge systems.

Kelly Ann is passionate about disability advocacy and awareness, particularly for Indigenous / First Nations peoples and women. She is committed to ensuring policy and service design reflect diverse ways of knowing, doing, being, and caring. Kelly Ann is also committed to achieving this in accessible and culturally safe ways.

Kelly Ann has had a number of publications on Indigenous Archaeology and its use in healing the impacts of colonial settlement.

Focus and/or interest areas: Disability Access Plans in workplaces, supporting Country so Country can support people with all abilities

Disability community: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Location: Living on Dja Dja Wurrung Country in rural Central Victoria

Amir Brand-Abdi

Find out more about Amir Brand-Abdi

Amir (he/him) currently works as a Social Procurement Administrator with the Northwest Program Alliance / John Holland.

In his current role, Amir:

supports inclusive employment practices
contributes to progressing social procurement strategies that benefit people from all backgrounds (particularly those from culturally and linguistically diverse communities). Amir brings a strong background in:
social inclusion
advocacy
community engagement
project facilitation. Alongside this, Amir has lived experience of disability and a deep commitment to diversity.

Amir’s dedication to community service and inclusion has earned him high-level recognition. This includes:

receiving the Victorian Award from Friends of Refugees in 2018.

The award recognised Amir’s outstanding contribution to the Australian community through All Abilities sport and community service.
The President of the Australian Human Rights Commission presented the award.

being a former captain of the Australian Blind Soccer Team.

Amir has represented Australia internationally in several blind soccer and goalball tournaments.
His sporting achievements reflect his strong leadership. They also reflect his commitment to empowering people with disability through sport and advocacy. Focus and/or interest areas:

Social inclusion, advocacy and community engagement
Inclusive employment
Empowering people with disability through sport. Location: metropolitan

https://www.youtube.com/embed/0jwNuws4JNM?autoplay=0&start=0&rel=0

Amir Brand-Abdi - Victorian Disability Advisory Council Member

View transcript

Bianca Failla

Find out more about Bianca Failla

Bianca (she/her) is the Principal Lawyer of Human Rights & Disability Law Partners. She is a human rights lawyer with over 10 years experience advocating for disadvantaged clients. Her previous work includes:

investigating and conciliating disability discrimination cases at the Australian Human Rights Commission
providing legal advice and representation in:

mental health law
guardianship
administration
National Disability Insurance Scheme appeals at Victoria Legal Aid. Bianca has also volunteered as National Vice President for the United Nations Association of Australia’s Young Professionals Network.

Bianca is a member of the Law Institute of Victoria’s Disability Law Committee. She has published articles on legal options for parents experiencing disability discrimination in the Victorian child protection system.

Focus and/or interest areas: Mental health law, disability discrimination, National Disability Insurance Scheme

Location: metropolitan

Helen Freris

Find out more about Helen Freris

Helen (she/her) is based in metropolitan Melbourne. She is a not-for-profit, community, and disability sector leader. Helen has more than 20 years’ experience in:

capacity building
service and training delivery
program design and coordination. Helen is strongly committed to:
social justice
equity
belonging. Helen has a particular interest in the intersection of disability, gender, ethnicity and indigenous status.

Helen holds qualifications in:

social work
family dispute resolution
community sector management. Her most recent role was as advocacy lead at Women with Disabilities Victoria.

Helen also serves on several bodies including:

as a director of Blind Citizens Australia
as an executive of the World Blind Union Asia Pacific region
the Executive Committee of the Australian Disability and Development consortium. Focus and/or interest areas: social justice, equity and belonging. Particular interest in the intersection of disability, gender, ethnicity and Indigenous status.

Location: metropolitan

Melissa Hale

Find out more about Melissa Hale

Melissa (she/her) is the Manager of Disability Advocacy Resource Unit. The organisation resources and builds the capacity of the disability advocacy sector in Victoria. The Unit is part of the Victorian Council of Social Services (VCOSS).

In addition to this, Melissa’s achievements include:

an alumni and valedictorian of the 2021 Williamson Leadership Program with Leadership Victoria
a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors
member of the Accessible Transport Advisory Committee with the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning Head of Deaf Women’s Cricket with Deaf Cricket Australia. Melissa is a proud Deaf woman. She is married to James and together they have 4 young teenagers and an overgrown puppy, Jack. Sport is a huge part of Melissa’s world, with her whole family kicking goals in their own sports.

Melissa has a passion for creating opportunities for Deaf and hard of hearing people, and other people with disabilities. Melissa is also passionate about leading people in spaces where decisions are made that affect them. Melissa’s career purpose is to influence change in society to become more disability inclusive. Her aim is for people with disability to have more spaces and communities where they feel a sense of belonging.

Focus and/or interest areas:

Leadership opportunities for people with disability
Disability inclusion Disability community: the Deaf and hard of hearing community

Location: metropolitan

Jen Hargrave

Find out more about Jen Hargrave

Jen (she/her) has extensive experience promoting disability rights and women’s rights. Her previous roles include:

working in university Disability Liaison Units
volunteering on the Women’s Information and Referral Exchange help line
doing systemic advocacy as senior policy officer at Women with Disabilities Victoria
investigating women’s safety in disability services with the Victorian Government’s Ethel Temby scholarship
researching recovery from violence with Sexual Assault Services Victoria. In university research teams, Jen studies:
violence prevalence, prevention, response, recovery
fair access to services (including the NDIS, health, family violence and emergency responses). Focus and/or interest areas: gender equality, family violence prevention and response, safeguarding, access to information, housing and transport.

Disability community: disability pride

Location: metropolitan

Katrina Harrison

Find out more about Katrina Harrison

Katrina (she/her) is a proud Palawa woman who survived 20 years of family violence and abuse.

Katrina is driven by her daughters to make positive changes in her life and her community. She has been an advocate for strengthening family violence prevention and response efforts. In particular for Aboriginal women and people living with a disability.

Katrina is a former member of the Victim Survivors’ Advisory Council, and the Dhelk Dja forum.

Focus and/or interest areas: Katrina is a dedicated mother and grandmother. She is deeply committed to family and community. Katrina spends time nurturing her relationships with family and friends.

She is passionate about seeing policy and practice reform informed by people with lived experience.

Location: Katrina is a proud Palawa woman, living on Gunaikurnai land.

Timothy Harte

Find out more about Timothy Harte

Tim (they/them) is an advocate for disability rights, and inclusive governance and development. Tim has worked in different roles, including as:

an Independent Director of the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations
Chair of the Surf Coast Shire Council’s All Abilities Advisory Committee. (Tim was the youngest Chair of a government access and inclusion advisory committee in Australia in this role).
a former President of Physical Disability Australia
a former Co-Chair of the Commonwealth Children and Youth Disability Network (CCYDN). Tim is a PhD candidate at Deakin University and Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). Tim has published research focusing on sustainable electrolytes. Tim has also authored global policy documents through CCYDN. They were recognised on the 2025 D-30 Global Disability Impact List.

Tim has spoken at the United Nations on advancing disability rights.

Focus and/or interest areas:

Inclusive STEM and disability in science
Rural and regional access and inclusion
Intersectionality and disability justice
Youth voice and leadership
Inclusive emergency management and climate adaptation
Disability governance, co-design, and systems reform Disability community: Neurological, physical, sensory and cognitive impairments.

Location: regional

Nicole Karidis

Find out more about Nicole Karidis

Nicole (she/her) is an Access Consultant with a passion for inclusive design across:

architecture
products
the built environment
public events. Nicole has a background in media and arts project management. She works across sectors to improve accessibility through practical advice, creative engagement, and inclusive strategy.

Nicole’s work includes:

providing accessibility advice for buildings and infrastructure
working as an Inclusion Specialist for major cultural events
writing about accessible experiences for Melbourne visitor guides
managing media and communications for an access consulting firm
serving as a Trustee of the Vali Myers Art Gallery Trust
participating as a panellist on inclusive design forums
publishing articles on co-design and inclusive practice. Nicole has lived experience as a person with bilateral leg amputations due to an accident at 18 years of age. This experience drives Nicole’s advocacy for embedding accessibility from the outset of every design. This includes creating environments and experiences that are inclusive, functional and appealing.

Focus and/or interest areas: Universal design, co-design, and inclusive design that is functional, beautiful, and considered from the beginning.

Location: metropolitan

Laura Pettenuzzo

Find out more about Laura Pettenuzzo

Laura (she/her) is a:

disabled writer
speaker
accessible communications professional. Laura has worked in local government and in various disability organisations. This includes most recently at:
Youth Disability Advocacy Service (YDAS)
CPActive / Cerebral Palsy Alliance. Laura’s memoir and opinion pieces have appeared in places such as Griffith Review, ABC Lifestyle and The Age. Laura advocates for accessibility on many committees and groups. For instance, she is currently:
on the Board of Disability Rights and Culture (DRC)
co-editing an upcoming nonfiction anthology by multiply marginalised disabled writers. Laura is the founder and leader of All for Access, a business specialising in plain language and Easy Read.

Focus and/or interest areas: Accessible communication, awareness of the ongoing pandemic, disability pride and disability justice, LGBTQIA+ rights.

Location: metropolitan

https://www.youtube.com/embed/LeyQWyHajyI?autoplay=0&start=0&rel=0

Laura Pettenuzzo - Victorian Disability Advisory Council Member

View transcript

More information

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For information on how to make a Freedom of Information request to access documents held by the Victorian Disability Advisory Council, visit the Making a Freedom of Information request on the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing website.

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Victorian Disability Advisory Council

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About the Victorian Disability Advisory Council

Current VDAC members

Find out more about the members

Chris Varney (Chairperson)

Mija Gwyn (Deputy Chairperson)

Husna Amani

Stella Barton

Kelly Ann Blake

Amir Brand-Abdi

Bianca Failla

Helen Freris

Melissa Hale

Jen Hargrave

Katrina Harrison

Timothy Harte

Nicole Karidis

Laura Pettenuzzo

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